Sunday, December 5, 2010

MALAWI EXPANDS LAWS ON HOMOSEXUALITY

Malawi's parliament passed a bill criminalising sex between two women and it now goes to President Bingu wa Mutharika for his signature. Malawi's penal code currently prohibits sex between two men and the law was applied in the case of Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza who were sentenced to 14 years in prison with hard labour for celebrating their love with a traditional same-sex ceremony. The couple were pardoned by President Bingu wa Muthairka on May 30th. The expansion of the law criminalising homosexuality has drawn condemnation from the Association for Secular Humanism in Malawi and the German government, the Nyasa Times reports.

The Malawian parliament has passed a bill proposed by the Government to criminalize homosexuality between women which has attracted criticism from Association for Secular Humanism in Malawi and German government.

Unlike homosexual relations between men, female homosexuality was not previously contained in the penal code. The bill was introduced as a bid to ensure greater equality between men and women.

Markus Löning, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy, said in a statement in reaction to the law: “The German Government sees the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality as a core human rights concern. In this regard, the criminalization of female homosexuality in Malawi is a serious setback.

“I urge President Mutharika of Malawi not to sign this legislation and instead to honour his declared commitment to work for the decriminalization of homosexuality in his country.”

The Association for Secular Humanism in Malawi  through its Executive Director George Thindwa said in a statement that Attorney General Dr. Jane Assah should resign because of conflict interest as she is a Bishop of a Pentecostal Christian Church a development that is inconsistent with her role as an impartial advisor to government on legal matters.

“We are concerned that her extreme religious beliefs and personal moral code may be a cause for bias in the general application of constitutional human rights in respect of homosexuals. She should recuse herself from giving official opinions or representing Malawi on such issues,”  reads the statement made available to Nyasa Times.

Secular Humanism said criminalization of homosexuals is a retrogressive and unconstitutional move as “the private behaviour of consenting adults that does no harm to another is no legitimate concern of the state”.

”Individual’s or group’s perception of what is repulsive, likewise, has no place in our laws. Knowledge changes with time. Current scientific knowledge as to the causes of homosexuality clearly shows that it is genetic or that it occurs in the womb,” said the statement.

It adds: “While it is not the normal natural state it is, in fact, a natural state. Homosexuals have no choice as to sexuality. Homosexuality may be considered as a third sex. There should be no criminalisation of a condition that is natural.”.

The association ‘observes that “there are many Malawian homosexuals who have never had any contact with westerners or so-called ‘homosexual culture’.”.

The association urges President Bingu wa Mutharika to “ withhold consent to the Bill”.
Attorney General Dr. Jane Assah recently appeared before the UN Human Rights Council for Malawi's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva, Switzerland where she defended Malawi's treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons.

After negotiating the release of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had asked Members of Parliament to update laws discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation to reflect international standards.

Friday, October 1, 2010

LGBTI NIGERIA SAY HAPPY GOLDEN JUBILEE

It is with great nostalgia that I Rashidi Williams on behalf of the Lesbian,Gay,Bisexual,Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community in Nigeria congratulates Nigeria on 50years of nationhood. The LGBTI community together with all Nigeria this day say a big thank you our founding fathers for the non relentless struggle for independence from our colonial masters - the British.
Today marks the beginning of another phase/journey in the history of our great country. Nigeria remains a great country of good people in the midst of diversity. We remain united in the midst of all our troubles from the civil wars in the 1960s, the Boko Haram insurgence, the Jos Crisis amongst many other national challenge that our country is bedeviled with. Our unity as a nation keeps going from strength to strength. Who do we say the thank you to – the British who by an Act of their Parliament declared us a independent nation this day in 1960 or our hero of independence who fought so that Nigeria may be what she was destined to be .
While this is time that we all must celebrate as a nation and as individual citizens of this great nation, it is also a time when we as a nation and as individuals also engage in reflective thinking as to what each one of us can do to make Nigeria the country of our dreams – a land flowing with milk and honey. I deed there is already milk and honey flowing in all directions. Th question is where is the Leadership that will propel us out as a nation with great potentials even than the so called super power of the world at present.The time has come for Nigeria to arise from its slumber as we move into another era of nationhood.
The time for Nigeria to show unprecedented leadership in the affairs of the Africa and the World is no other time but now. Now is the day of the great challenge of leadership looking straight into the face of every Nigeria and awaiting right opportunity for us grab it and use it(positive leadership) to propel Nigeria forward. It is especially calling on all political office seekers who wants to rulke Nigeria in the next dispensation.
The LGBTI community in Nigeria cannot wait for that time when the culture that values openness and shuns impunity and the violation of fundamental human rights principles and standards. A time when Nigeria can say to all its citizens that equality before the law is for all Nigerians irrespective of status(sexual orientation). A time when the LGBTI will be given the opportunity to showcase to the rest of Nigeria the potential that is in us as individuals and communities. The LGBTI community wishes to state in clearly that Freedom , the respect for human rights and the rule are essentaility to the socio-economic development of our country. Developing Nigeria means building and developing the capacity of each individual citizens to contribute to national development. This cannot be done in fear – fear that our own very lives are at stake in our own country with legislation/laws that discriminates against us as human beings and as Nigerian citizens.We believe that the next political administration/dispensation will do what it takes to ratify the International Human Rights treaties/conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory locally.
As we go into the last quarter of the year and also approach an election year in a festive mood, the LGBTI community in Nigeria calls upon all aspiring political office seekers to conduct their electioneering void of violence but rather concentrate on winning the hearts of Nigeria as to what they will do if the mantle of leading the giant of Africa falls on their shoulders. The LGBTI community supports the one man one vote initiative and urges the Independent National Electoral Commission to repeat the June 1993 history.
Happy 50th Independence Anniversary.
Long Live Nigeria!
Long Live Africa!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Lesbian Pride in Soweto..................

10
Lesbian Pride on Full Display in Soweto
Lesbians marched through the streets of the Soweto township in South Africa for Soweto Pride Day in an environment where they are often victims of sexual violence, IOLNews reports.

Thousands of black lesbians were due to take to the streets of Soweto today to celebrate their sexuality and humanity at the annual Soweto Pride Day.

Soweto Pride, which was initiated in 2004 by the Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW), aims to promote tolerance of sexual diversity in the township.

The event will also commemorate and honour Soweto’s fallen victims and survivors of crimes motivated by prejudice – including migrants facing xenophobic violence and other minority groups that are stigmatised and discriminated against.

Soweto Pride is held every year on the Saturday closest to Heritage Day, and includes a lively protest march from the streets of Zone Two Meadowlands and through the residential and business areas of Soweto.

A political programme at the end-point is followed by a cultural programme to celebrate the struggles and victories of black lesbians, as the broader women’s movement and as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

Community, religious and political leaders have been invited to denounce hate crimes in their speeches at the event. These were to be followed by various activities, including an exhibition and voluntary counselling and testing.

Soweto Pride is also an occasion for the lesbian community to continue to create a political and social space for its visibility and to amplify its voice.

According to FEW’s programme co-ordinator, Phindi Malaza, the event is an opportunity for the broader community to express its solidarity and support of lesbians.

“The goal of Soweto Pride is to ensure that lesbians residing in the township no longer fall victim to homophobic attacks or any other crime. We want lesbians to feel safe and protected during this day and beyond,” says Malaza.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

UPR Kenya United Nations Human Right Council Geneva

UPR Kenya United Nations Human Right Council Geneva

15th Session of the Human Rights Council
Item 6: Universal Periodic Review – Statement by
Action Canada for Population and Development (ACPD)

Mr. President,

ACPD with Minority Women in Action, the Coalition of African Lesbians and Pan Africa ILGA, wishes to stress the following points in relation to the Universal Periodic Review of Kenya:

We welcome the State’s support on various recommendations including the promise to review national laws to fully uphold the principle of non-discrimination, eradicate the use of torture and ill-treatment by public officials and take effective measures to safeguard the work of human rights defenders. We also recall the State’s ratification of various international and regional human rights instruments including the protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the rights of women in Africa.

However, we express disappointment that the Kenyan government has rejected recommendations to take measures to provide for the protection and equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons. The criminalization of consensual same-sex conduct encoded in Sections 162 and 165 of the Penal Code fuels stigma, discrimination and violence against sexual minorities. Human rights are universal, inalienable and inherent. These principles apply to all citizens of Kenya including lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex Kenyans.

The importance of human rights was emphasized by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in a high-level panel at the current session of the Human Rights Council who said:

“No doubt deeply rooted cultural sensitivities can be aroused when we talk about sexual orientation. Social attitudes run deep and take time to change. But cultural considerations should not stand in the way of basic human rights.”

LGBTI Kenyans are repeatedly discriminated against and continue to face threats and violence as well as torture, ill-treatment and harassment at the hands of public authorities simply because of who we are and who we love. We regret the silence of the State in the face of these violations, such as in the highly publicized attach on 12 February, 2010 in Mtwapa targeting homosexual individuals that saw organized physical violence, life threats and hate speech.

In this dawn of a new constitutional dispensation, we urge the State of Kenya to seize this moment and respect, protect and fulfill the rights of all Kenyans including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons. Our rights, the rights of LGBTI people, are human rights.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

MCROBE KILLING GEL FOR USE DURING VAGIANL INTERCOURSE

A microbe-killing gel for use during vaginal sex developed by the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) has been praised by experts at the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna as a breakthrough that may lead to similar products being developed for use during anal sex.

The gel contains 1 percent of the antiretroviral drug Tenofovir and was found to reduce a woman’s risk of being infected with HIV during vaginal intercourse by 39 percent, as well as being 51 percent effective in reducing her risk of catching genital herpes.

The more the women in the trial used the gel, the greater the protective effect, with women who used it in 80 percent of sex acts more than halving their chances of becoming infected with HIV.

The results were cheered by members of the International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) group, a network of people trying to develop an effective anal microbicide for use in combating HIV.

“The positive results from the CAPRISA 004 study represent a very significant milestone in HIV prevention research and they increase optimism that we can develop safe and effective antiretroviral rectal microbicides,” IRMA’s scientific vice-chair Dr Ian McGowan said.

Dr McGowan said anal intercourse was a common human sexual behaviour, practised by up to 10 percent of the world’s population, including both heterosexuals and men who have sex with men.

“As with vaginal microbicides, safe and effective rectal microbicides are urgently needed by millions of people,” he said.

Unprotected anal intercourse is said to be 10 to 20 times more likely to result in HIV transmission compared to unprotected vaginal intercourse, because of the thin and porous nature of the rectal lining.

IRMA chair Jim Pickett said internationally, gay men and others who practised anal intercourse had been largely ignored.

“There is a paucity of data regarding anal intercourse, homosexual and heterosexual, due to politics, stigma, criminalisation, and outright denial,” he said.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

IDAHO 2010: STATEMENT BY QUEER ALLIANCE NIGERIA




LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF PRESS
NIGERIA

International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia 2010
A Statement by Queer Alliance Nigeria.

We are here today as citizens of Nigeria to add our voice against homophobia and transphobia and to remind our government, religious bodies, media, people and society that they may run us out of their churches, mosques, homes, jobs and neighborhood, but they cannot run us out of this nation nor reduce the love of God that includes us. This year’s International Day against Homophobia and transphobia is on the theme: Religions, homophobia, transphobia.
We are gathered here today as active players in the social and political development of our great nation. As activist and pressmen we share a lot in common and we have responsibility and a honorable tradition in promoting human rights for all Nigerian citizens. We therefore have come together to raise our voices using your platform to address against a particular and peculiar form of discrimination and violence against a vulnerable sub population. It is speaking out for our lives and rights: International Day against Homophobia and transphobia.
The world over, the influence of religion cannot be overstated. Religion is one single important aspect of our lives as human beings. It plays a very significant part in our everyday lives, choices and decision. And with all influence we cannot but also talk about the ills that are also associated with using the religion and its influence for the wrong purpose. Organized religion as we all know is a factor responsible for some of the world’s most dreaded atrocities. The Boko – Haram insurgence, the Jos Crisis, and many others are among the ills that its influence has brought about. In March 2009, during the public hearing on the Same Gender (Prohibition) Act, religion played a very prominent role through its leaders.
It is a sad situation in deed that religion which is supposed to be a rallying point for all irrespective of our differences is now a dividing bridge and a platform for the both state and non state orchestrated violence. It is also saddening to know that some religious leaders are behind the scene.
While religion is the main fuel for homophobia and transphobia, the reality is that our religious leaders in Nigeria and the African Continent have practically refused to explore to understand the concept of sexuality, orientation and diversity. We believe that sexuality is not a dark part of man’s life that must be shrouded in secrecy. But is a rare gift of life from the creator that must be expressed lovingly. Religious leaders could help explore this concept and its relation with religion and spirituality.
Nigeria’s constitution guarantees the right to association, freedom of speech and several other non alienable rights. Our country is also a signatory to international conventions, notably is Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the African Charter on Human Rights which protects sexual minorities, the ratification of which we are yet to witness locally. At this point in the history of our country, we are going through a period in which the decisive support for the rule of law, principles of freedom of speech, artistic and intellectual expression, association, religious liberty, an open society and the respect and recognition of the rights of sexual minorities’ in Nigeria have become an absolute necessity. It is our hope that our great nation through its religious leaders can provide support for all human rights that are entitled to all Nigerians without borders and also help develop it elsewhere. It is also our hope that our religious leaders can come to the table and dialogue with us.
As a country we do not need a religiously ordered society but a religiously and spiritually ordered mind that will propel us to love our neighbors as ourselves irrespective of our sexual and other differences. This in turn will then transpire out into the socially ordered Nigerian society that we all yearn for.
As we use today to call and clamor for the respect and recognition of sexual minorities’ in Nigeria, we look forward to the day that our rights as sexual minorities shall be upheld and protected constitutionally.

QUEER ALLIANCE NIGERIA

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Portugal to Sign Gay Marrialge Bill

Portugal’s top court gives gay marriage green light

There is something to celebrate for gay couples in Portugal.

Having won parliament’s backing for same-sex marriage, the Constitutional Court has now given its green light to the measure.

The signature of Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva is now all that is needed to make the bill law. He sent it to the country’s top court last month, after expressing doubts over whether it was constitutional.

But the tribunal’s president Rui Moura Ramos explained why no problems were found with the proposal. While it does not fit the traditional concept of marriage, as outlined in the constitution, he said this concept is open and can evolve.

Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva has 20 days to either veto the legislation or sign it into law. If it is ratified, it would come into effect just ahead of a visit to the staunchly Roman Catholic country by Pope Benedict XVI.

Monday, March 15, 2010

AFRICA AND HUMAN RIGHTS BY ARC. DESMOND TUTU

In Africa, a step backward on human rights

By Desmond Tutu
Friday, March 12, 2010

Hate has no place in the house of God. No one should be excluded from our love, our compassion or our concern because of race or gender, faith or ethnicity -- or because of their sexual orientation. Nor should anyone be excluded from health care on any of these grounds. In my country of South Africa, we struggled for years against the evil system of apartheid that divided human beings, children of the same God, by racial classification and then denied many of them fundamental human rights. We knew this was wrong. Thankfully, the world supported us in our struggle for freedom and dignity.

This Story
Love all God's children, straight or gay
How culture wars are won
It is time to stand up against another wrong.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are part of so many families. They are part of the human family. They are part of God's family. And of course they are part of the African family. But a wave of hate is spreading across my beloved continent. People are again being denied their fundamental rights and freedoms. Men have been falsely charged and imprisoned in Senegal, and health services for these men and their community have suffered. In Malawi, men have been jailed and humiliated for expressing their partnerships with other men. Just this month, mobs in Mtwapa Township, Kenya, attacked men they suspected of being gay. Kenyan religious leaders, I am ashamed to say, threatened an HIV clinic there for providing counseling services to all members of that community, because the clerics wanted gay men excluded.

Uganda's parliament is debating legislation that would make homosexuality punishable by life imprisonment, and more discriminatory legislation has been debated in Rwanda and Burundi.


These are terrible backward steps for human rights in Africa.

Our lesbian and gay brothers and sisters across Africa are living in fear.

And they are living in hiding -- away from care, away from the protection the state should offer to every citizen and away from health care in the AIDS era, when all of us, especially Africans, need access to essential HIV services. That this pandering to intolerance is being done by politicians looking for scapegoats for their failures is not surprising. But it is a great wrong. An even larger offense is that it is being done in the name of God. Show me where Christ said "Love thy fellow man, except for the gay ones." Gay people, too, are made in my God's image. I would never worship a homophobic God.

"But they are sinners," I can hear the preachers and politicians say. "They are choosing a life of sin for which they must be punished." My scientist and medical friends have shared with me a reality that so many gay people have confirmed, I now know it in my heart to be true. No one chooses to be gay. Sexual orientation, like skin color, is another feature of our diversity as a human family. Isn't it amazing that we are all made in God's image, and yet there is so much diversity among his people? Does God love his dark- or his light-skinned children less? The brave more than the timid? And does any of us know the mind of God so well that we can decide for him who is included, and who is excluded, from the circle of his love?

The wave of hate must stop. Politicians who profit from exploiting this hate, from fanning it, must not be tempted by this easy way to profit from fear and misunderstanding. And my fellow clerics, of all faiths, must stand up for the principles of universal dignity and fellowship. Exclusion is never the way forward on our shared paths to freedom and justice.

The writer is archbishop emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010

VATICAN AND GAY SEX SCANDAL

The Vatican has been hit by a gay sex scandal after allegations that a chorister had procured male prostitutes for a papal gentleman-in-waiting.

The chorister, 29-year-old Thomas Chinedu Ehiem, was sacked after police heard him talking on a wiretap to Angelo Balducci, a Gentleman of His Holiness.

Papal gentlemen-in-waiting are called upon to act as ushers at the Vatican for major occasions.

Balducci, who was also a construction consultant to the Vatican, as well as being a senior government employee, is said to given Ehiem a description of the men he wanted and it has been reported that Ehiem may have procured a number of male prostitutes for him.

Balducci was being investigated by police over allegations of corruption when the claims of gay sex were revealed. He is alleged to have steered government contracts towards preferred bidders.

Excerpts of the wiretaps and police documents were published in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

They showed that the pair had been in regular contact before Balducci was arrested last month and that they had discussed gay sex.

According to the newspaper, police said they were part of an organised male prostitution network and one of the men referred to was a student for the priesthood.

Baldacci remains in custody after being arrested last month. His lawyer has refused to comment and the Vatican has not released any statement on the claims.

A news magazine called Panoramas is due to publish an interview with Ehiem tomorrow. According to the Guardian, Ehiem will say: “”He [Baldacci] asked me if I could procure other men for him. He told me he was married and that I had to do it in great secrecy.”

The Catholic Church sees homosexuality as a sin and “intrinsically disordered”, while the Pope has spoken out against it a number of times.

The scandal is the latest to rock the Vatican, after investigations found endemic abuse of children in church-run institutio

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Kenyan police raid 'gay wedding' and arrest five men



Police in Mtwapa, just north of the Kenyan coastal town of Mombasa, say they have arrested five men whom they accuse of being homosexuals.

District officer George Matandura said two of the men had been found with wedding rings, attempting to get married, in Kikambala beach resort.

The other three men were handed to the police by members of the public; two of them had reportedly been beaten.

Homosexuality is illegal in Kenya but arrests are extremely rare.

Crowds gathered outside the police station where the men were taken in protest at the presence of alleged homosexuals.

The wedding was reportedly due to take place at a private villa in the resort, but locals heard of the plans and alerted the police, who raided a house and arrested the men.

'Repugnant' behaviour

"We are grateful to the public for alerting the police. They should continue co-operating with the police to arrest more," Mr Matundura said.

"It is an offence, an unnatural offence, and also their behaviour is repugnant to the morality of the people."

We shall use all means to curb this vice
Sheikh Ali Hussein
Council of Imams and Preachers

The district officer said the five, aged between 20 and 35, would "undergo a medical examination before we charge them with homosexuality," the AFP news agency reported.

"We will move swiftly and close down bars which condone gays, lesbians, prostitution and drug abuse in their premises," Mr Matundura added.

A member of a Kenyan gay rights organisation condemned the arrests and said it had appealed to the Human Rights Commission to step in.

But the marriage allegedly planned was condemned by Muslim and Christian clerics.

"We cannot allow these young boys to ruin their future through homosexuality," Sheikh Ali Hussein of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya told AFP.

"We shall use all means to curb this vice."

Bishop Lawrence Chai, of the National Council of Churches of Kenya, said: "This is immoral and we shall not allow it, especially here in Mtwapa."

The five men are due to appear in court soon.

Media coverage

On Thursday, two other men abandoned their plans to get married at a seaside villa in the same area after local authorities complained.

The couple and their guests fled the coastal city when word spread that the police, government officers and members of the public were looking for them.

Apart from in South Africa, homosexual behaviour is illegal across Africa.

Four months ago a Kenyan gay couple married in London - an event which received wide media coverage inside Kenya.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

UGADAN ANTI - HOMOSEXUALITY BILL: ANGLICANS AGAINST THE BILL

The country’s Anglicans yesterday added their voice against the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. Like the Catholics before them, the Church of Uganda officially rejected the Bill.

They proposed that instead of the death penalty for gays who seduce boys - as the Bill put forward by Ndorwa West David Bahati demands – the law should be changed to ensure that vulnerable boys are properly protected.

Archbishop Luke Orombi, in his first public comments on the controversial Bill, however said they do not recognise homosexuality as “a human right”.
“The Church of Uganda believes that homosexual practice is incompatible with the Scripture,” the prelate said in a statement issued yesterday, citing a resolution of the 1998 Lambeth Conference in Britain.

He added: “At the same time, the Church of Uganda is committed at all levels to offer counseling, healing and prayer for people with homosexual disorientation, especially in our schools and other institutions of learning.”

“The Church is a safe place for individuals, who are confused about their sexuality or struggling with sexual brokenness, to seek help and healing. As a Church; we affirm the necessity of appropriate amendments within the existing legislation...”

Mr Bahati, who tabled the Bill last year, yesterday insisted in comments to Christians and pastors fellowshipping at Christian Life Church in Bwaise, a city suburb, that he is not giving up.


“As a Member of Parliament, I have a constitutional right to move a Private Member’s Bill and will not be shaken by any external forces because I have the support from within my country,” he said, adding: “Many Ugandans are behind me and we have to fight this battle jointly.”

However, the latest foray by Church of Uganda, which until last year played host and spiritual home for breakaway conformist American clerics/Anglicans disenchanted over acceptance of homosexuals in the Episcopal Church, deprives MP Bahati of the second biggest bloc after the Catholic Church here earlier raised objections to capital punishment embedded in the Bill.

According to Mr Bahati, the Bill seeks to legitimise marriage only as a union between a man and woman, penalise homosexuals, prohibit and or disown pro-gay treaties and freeze licensing of promoter organisations.


Some provisions of the Bill, including the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality, borderless jurisdiction and criminalisation of counseling of gays, have been criticised both locally and internationally, especially by human rights activists
US President Barack Obama, among other powerful western leaders, last week derided the Bill as “odious”, two months after President Museveni urged Parliament to go slow on it due to associated foreign policy sensitivity.

Sanctions plea
Yesterday’s statement sent to media houses by Church of Uganda’s Communications Director Amanda Onapito, specifically suggests changes to Sections 128-147 that variously touch on sexual-related offences such as indecent assault, homosexuality and defilement to ensure “proportionality” in sanctions.

“The ideal situation would be one where necessary amendment is made to existing legislation to also enumerate other sexual offences such as lesbianism and bestiality,” the statement, already endorsed by the House of Bishops, reads in part.

“This would not require a fresh Bill on homosexuality per se but rather an amendment to the existing provisions which would also change the title to something like: The Penal Code Unnatural Offences Amendment Bill.”

The Anglican Communion has in recent years stood on the edge of division on the issue of gays in the congregation with liberals backing their accommodation while conservatives detest the practice as “sinful and unbiblical”.Church of Uganda has sided with the conformists, helping organise the 2008 Global Anglican Future Conference in Jerusalem after boycotting the Lambeth Conference in London over Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan William’s perceived tolerance of gays.



Meanwhile, a man in Isingiro District in western Uganda was remanded in custody after being accused of sodomising a 13-year-old boy.

The prosecution told the court that the 27-year-old had waylaid the boy as he returned from grazing goats and threatened to stab him before forcing him into sex against “the order of nature”.
The magistrate in Mbarara said the evidence in the file was “too scanty to proceed” and he adjourned the hearing.

Ends

Saturday, January 16, 2010

RWANDA PAVES WAY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS RESPECT FOR LGBTI

Rwanda paves the way for universal respect
of human rights in Africa by refusing
to criminalise homosexuality





In December 2009, the lower House of the Rwandan Parliament was set to vote upon a revised Penal Code, Article 217 of which would have made homosexuality a criminal offence for the first time in the East African nation.

Following a strong mobilisation from diplomats and human rights activists in the region, Tharcisse Karugarama, Minister of Justice, declared that the Rwandan government "cannot and will not in any way criminalize homosexuality", reaffirming that sexual orientation was "a private matter and each individual has his or her own orientation – this is not a State matter at all".

Michael Cashman MEP, Co-president of the European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights, enthusiastically congratulated Rwandan authorities on their decision: "In a context increasingly repressive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in African countries, Rwanda did the right thing by refusing to criminalise homosexuality. This is yet another example of Rwanda being a role-model for African nations."

Mr Cashman further added: "With this courageous decision, Rwanda is paving the way for everyone's human rights to be respected in the region. The European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights calls on other African nations to follow the lead of Rwanda, and abide by Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and People's Rights."

Homosexuality is currently a criminal offence in several African countries, and punished by death in Mauritania, Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan, and potentially Uganda.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

QUEER ALLIANCE NIGERIA -STRATEGIC PLANS

QUEER ALLIANCE NIGERIA
Our rights… Our lives

OUR IDENTITY

THE VISION: The vision of Queer Alliance Nigeria is basically towards a non discriminatory Nigerian society especially on the grounds of sexual orientation and any other grounds.

THE MISSION: Queer Alliance Nigeria is a human rights and health advocacy / support group for the LGBTI community in Nigeria. Our mission statement is to facilitate an enabling environment for the liberation of LGBTI Nigeria through advocacy, education and publications. To provide health related information / services to the LGBTI community in Lagos and Nigeria.

Queer Alliance intends to achieve this mission through collaborations with other LGBTI organizations and human rights outfits, thereby creating and environment where the human rights of LGBTI persons are respected and recognized as members of the Nigerian society.

Queer Alliance will work for the establishment of a socially ordered community where sexual orientation shall not constitute a barrier to the attainment and enjoyments of all fundamental human rights and liberation that are entitled to us as human beings irrespective of sexual orientation. The establishment of a good and excellent working relationship with funds providers, LGBTI members and LGBTI advocacy groups in Nigeria.

We shall also strive to collaborate with other stakeholders in human rights advocacy in areas of mutual interest both home/abroad.

CORE VALUES:
INTEGRITY: Consistent, committed and transparent in our decisions and conduct. Fulfilling our mission and conducting ourselves in a way that is true to our identity.

DIVERSITY: We shall seek to learn from the different ways of life in our community and the Nigerian society at large, opinions as represented by LGBTI persons in Nigeria themselves. We respect ad actively encourage the participation of LGBTI and non-LGBTI alike in order to achieve our aims.

PARTICIPATION: We seek to create a dynamic environment, where everyone can get involved in the building up of the community and the Nigerian society at large.

DIALOGUE: Engage in dialogue rather than debate whose outcome might produce strife.




QUEER ALLIANCE TOP 5 PRIORITIES

1. Human rights advocacy and activism for the LGBTI community in Nigeria.
2. Advocating for the health needs of LGBTI persons in Nigeria and provide services where possible appropriately.
3. Publications:
(a) Produce quarterly magazine that features, health, religion, romance amongst others that is aimed at educating the LGBTI community and the Nigeria society at large on homosexual.
(b)Maintaining a weblog with information as regards sexuality and other social matters and probably upgrade it to a website.
(c) Production of tracts /leaflets that is aimed at supporting the “coming out” process.
4. Empowerment: Empowering the less educationally qualified LGBTI persons on building income and resources to sustain their livelihood and leadership skills for educationally qualified LGBTI persons.
5. Research for better advocacy for the fundamental human rights of LGBTI persons in Nigeria.


STRATEGIC PLANS (2010 – 2013)
OUR ACTIONS (IDAHO AS DEADLINE)
ACTION 1: HUMAN RIGHTS / REFORM

TARGETS:
By September 2010, we shall strive to have in place a relationship with the legal Defense and Assistance Project in order to provide assistance to LGBTI persons who are being persecuted by legal entities. At the moment there is an institutional relationship with the Independent Project for referrals and further action.

By IDAHO 2011: To have an LGBTI human rights committee in place (collaboration with other LGBTI rights org) thereby developing a human rights strategy based on LGBTI right violations.

By IDAHO 2012: To have formed a relationship with religious progressive in Nigeria as regards sexuality, human rights and religion.

By IDAHO 2013: To have formed a partnership arrangement with the National Human Rights Commission on advocacy for LGBTI persons in Nigeria / and other LGBTI organizations or supportive groups. Also Queer Alliance would have developed working relationships with lawyers from within the LGBTI community, in order the legal services being provided for persons who are been persecuted by legal and social entities.

ACTIONS 2: HEALTH AND RELATED SERVICES.

TARGETS:
By December 1st 2010: Queer Alliance Nigerian website would be launched and dully operational with a health page that will provide information on heath and gag friendly health services centres.

By IDAHO 2010: Queer Alliance would have established an institutional relationship with the Presidency Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief of 68 military Hospital Yaba for referral services on HIV prevention, care and treatment.

By December 2010: Queer Alliance Nigeria would have trained 25 MSM/WSW peer educators and sexual health promoters from the 6 geopolitical zones of the country in order that all LGBTI persons be reached with the message of HIV prevention care and treatment.

By IDAHO 2011: Queer Alliance Nigeria would have taken a step further in providing for the health made of WSW on grounds of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment.

By IDAHO 2012/13: Queer Alliance Nigeria in partnership with doctors who are LGBTI or LGBTI friendly would take a step further in trying to create or have in place an exclusively LGBTI health centre on a part-time basis for members of the LGBTI community.

ACTION 3: EMPOWERMENT
By IDAHO 2010: Queer Alliance Nigeria would have come up with implementable empowerment programs in vocational skills building for members of he LGBTI community who are less educational ualified and economical undependable for onward implementation before the year in question runs out.

By December 2011/IDAHO 2012: Queer Alliance Nigeria in collaboration with other LGBTI organizations would have taken the initiative if not educated the first National Queer youth Empowerment summit that in targeted at all members of the LGBTI community in Nigeria with emphasis in leadership skills development.

ACTION 4: PUBLICATION
TARGET:
By Dec 2010: Queer Alliance Nigeria would use journalism as a tool for activism by having a website which would be fully operational with information on sexuality, human rights, health and amongst other with strong emphasis placed on educating the Nigeria public on LGBTI issues.

By IDAHO 2011: When Queer Alliance Nigeria website would have been operational, we shall use the internet to place advocacy and campaign messages for the liberation of the LGBTI community. Messages as regards human rights and sexual orientation would be prominently highlighted on the website.

By IDAHO 2012: Queer Alliance Nigeria issued take the bold step towards the establishment o an LGBTI journal that will feature health, romance, religion, entertainment among other issues but which will be distributed (not for free neither for profit) in the community.

ACTION 5: CAPACITY BUILDING.
TARGET:
By Dec 2011: Queer Alliance Nigeria would have undergone the process and be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission as a non profit organization with the name CENTRE FOR HEALTH AND SEXUAL RIGHTS if not Queer Alliance for registration’s sake.

Before IDAHO 2011: Queer Alliance Executive Director shall have undergone a Human Right, Training or Fellowship either locally or abroad to enable him carry out the functions of the office.

By IDAHO 2012: Two other volunteers/staff of Queer Alliance who are committed to its vision and mission statement would also have undergone a training in human rights.

By Dec 2011: Queer Alliance Nigeria would support and be instrumental in forming the Lagos LGBTI choir, that will be on its way to staying the first performance.

By 2013: Queer Alliance would have identify other possible source of funding locally in order to complement donors effort.

In the meantime, the sole responsibility of running the organization rests with the management team whose function is over sited and coordinated by the board of trustees. The head of the organization shall be the Executive Director but who reports to the Board of Trustees and whose actions and office is monitored by the Board.