Introduction: Mozambique is a large country with a small LGBT representation. Despite the absence of aggressive anti-gay action by authorities, gay citizens keep their secrets and make no showing of Pride in public. A single organization called LAMBDA quietly goes about its business of health, sexual education and human rights; it also presses to become a registered NGO. In June 2015, homosexuality was decriminalized.
Mozambique was colonized by Portugal in 1505 and became independent on June 25, 1975. A civil war followed (1975-92) when an estimated one million Mozambicans perished and 1.7 million took refuge in neighboring states. By mid-1995 the refugees had returned as part of the largest repatriation witnessed in sub-Saharan Africa. Mozambique is an LEDC (less economically developed country). Homosexuality is not mentioned in Mozambican law books, which only penalize “practices against nature”. Mozambican society “does not act peacefully towards homosexuality”, leading to discrimination in the family, at school and at work. But compared to most Southern and East African nations, homosexuality is still treated light-handedly in Mozambique.
Name: Mozambique
Population: 19680000
Capital: Maputo - Pop. 1221000
Area: 801590 sq. km/ sq. miles
Language: Portuguese, indigenous dialects
Religion: Indigenous beliefs, Christian, Muslim
Status of Homosexuality: Not illegal
Telephone Country Code: 258
