The International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is celebrated worldwide and every year on the 17th day of May. It is a day set aside for the celebration of sexual and gender diversities. It was created in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, opinion leaders, social movements, the public and the media to the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTI people internationally. In just about a decade, the day has established itself as the single most important date for LGBTI communities. It is now celebrated in more than 130 countries, including 37 where same-sex acts are illegal, with 1600 events reported from 1280 organizations in 2014. Here in the United Kingdom, the event is marked across the country by various LGBT organisations and the highlight of the day is usually the hoisting of the Rainbow flag (symbol of the LGBT community) in many public places, including town halls and civic centres, and speech giving by both government officials and private individuals in solidarity with the LGBT communities.
The day May 17th was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. As a result, it has received official recognition from several States, international institutions, including the European Parliament, and by countless local authorities. Furthermore, many United Nations agencies also mark it with various events. The day was first known as the ‘International Day against Homophobia’ and in 2009, Transphobia was added explicitly in the title of the name, in the recognition of the very different issues at stake between sexual orientation and gender expression. It was this year that Biphobia was added to the title as an acknowledgement of the specific issues faced by bisexual people.
As we celebrate this unique day in the history of LGBT communities, it is necessary to draw the attention of world to the fact that at the moment, at least 81 countries across the world criminalize same sex relationships. This means that 40% of the world population (or 2.8 billion people) are not free to choose who they love. Millions of homosexual and bisexual people live in a constant state of fear. Sexual and gender minorities face public stigmatization, police violence, state repression, attacks and murders. Their most basic human rights are being denied daily, while in 10 countries, including countries in Africa, the death penalty can be applied for same sex acts.
As someone of African descent, I am in no doubt that Africa is the most homophobic continent in the world. There are, at the moment, about 20 countries in the continent where being gay is criminal offence. Apart from government legislations against LGBT people, they are also seen as taboo and an abomination by society in general. Some of these countries are Cameroon, Ghana, Uganda, Malawi and Nigeria. LGBT people are generally regarded as outcasts and derided upon. Homosexuality and transgender are seen to be against African conservative traditional beliefs. In these countries, homosexuality has been described in the most provocative ways by their leaders. In Uganda, President Museveni said ‘homosexuals are disgusting’. President Mugabe of Zimbabwe said ‘homosexuals are worse than pigs’ and threatened to kill them. The Gambian president, Yayah Jammeh warned all homosexuals to flee his country or face death by beheading. His country, like most other African countries, punishes homosexuality with up to 14 years in prison. He had previously called LGBT people as ‘vermin’ and has compared his fight against them to ‘fighting malaria-causing mosquitoes.’ He said, ‘L-G-B-T’ can only stand for Leprosy, Gonorrhea, Bacteria and Tuberculosis. All these threats have left many African gays to either commit suicide or to go underground in fear of attack on their lives. There are few that are fortunate, (like myself), that have been able to come to the United Kingdom and other European countries to seek protection. At the moment, many African gay men and lesbians are being tried and imprisoned. There is a witch hunt and perceived and real gay men are daily attacked and in some cases, murdered in cold blood. The threat against gay people in Africa is not speculative but real.
The International Lesbian and Gay Association reported in May 2014 reported that gay activists in Nigeria have reported instances of mobs attacking people they believed to be homosexual and beating some of the victims to near death. These victims, on being taken to the police station are then further roughed up by police officers. Furthermore, the Swedish Migration Board report of a fact finding mission (FFM) to Nigeria conducted between 11 and 16 May 2014, released in December 2014, stated ‘The consulted interlocutors agreed that Nigerians in general are against homosexuality. Cornerstones in society’s perception of homosexuality include opinions that homosexuality is unnatural, sinful, and an abomination, as well as the importance of family and reproduction. When addressing LGBT issues, the focus in Nigeria is on homosexuals, and men primarily. Other persons concerned within the LGBT designation, such as transgender and intersex persons, are overwhelmingly unseen in society. Furthermore, many Nigerians do not consider the situation for homosexuals a significant problem. Many Nigerians are attached to what is considered African values and are profoundly religious. Homosexuality, however, is largely considered non-African, and churches and mosques preach that it is the work of the devil. There is no religion in the country that is not opposed to homosexuality. Within this context, a politician who starts advocating for the rights of homosexuals risk losing his/her position. The issue is taboo in society. The man on the street condemns homosexuality. A homosexual is seen as the black sheep of the family, and is ostracised by society. Criteria perceived as indicators of homosexuality, and which may attract attention for attack and persecution, include; being unmarried and childless, shared housing, appearance (non-conformists may attract attention as well as effeminate men and masculine women)’. The above report paints a very clear and vivid picture of the precarious circumstances in which gay men and lesbians conduct their affairs not only in Nigeria but indeed, in the whole of Africa.
As we celebrate IDAHOTB day, it is vital for everyone who loves freedom and equality to lend their voices against these oppressive laws against LGBT people. These laws only make people flee their countries for safety. These laws lead to friends and families becoming informers and turns citizens against each other. Unfortunately, both church and state are now inciting homophobic hatred to gain strength with their followers. This is absolute backwardness in Africa, when, in other parts of the world, many nations are moving forward in their acceptance of homosexuality. I ask Britain and other gay-friendly countries to support the activities of LGBT organizations in countries. In this way, they too will be able to support their LGBT communities across the world. And to all anti-gay countries, let us say it loud and clear that it’s a NO TO HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA AND BIPHOBIA.
Abraham Eiluorior
Abraham is an asylum seeker and lives in Sunderland.
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