Introduction: Researching cultural matters on the Internet that pertain to Somalia and Somaliland is often confusing because both ‘territories’ are very similar and derive from the Somali tradition. Reading the following stories and reports it’s not always clear which territory is being referred to so it is easier (for outsiders) to consider the whole of the land as Somalia. In either location the state and fate of homosexuals is the same — confusing, risky, secretive and sometimes dangerous.
Algeria
All Africa News & Reports
Angola
Benin
Berkina Faso
Botswana
Burundi
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central Africa Republic
Chad
Comoros
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Ivory Coast
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Republic of The Congo
Rwanda
Sahrawi Arab Dem. Republic
Sao Tome
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Somaliland
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Swaziland (Eswatini)
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Kenya: The Gray Area of Gay Refugees
Compiled by Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com February 2012 Introduction A gay Ugandan couple fled to Uganda, thousands of kilometers from home with little more than the clothes on their backs. They came as brothers to live in a scorching refugee camp in northern Kenya. Surrounded by thousands of others who have fled wars and drought in
Gay Guinea-Bissau
Compiled by Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com February 2012 Introduction The good news is that both male and female homosexual acts are legal in tiny Guinea-Bissau on Africa’s west coast. The bad news is that this is Africa where homophobia runs high. Homosexuality in Guinea-Bissau In December 2008, Guinea-Bissau was one of 66 nations to sign a
Gay Life in Djibouti, Africa
In the tiny country of Djibouti on the eastern horn of African coast there are many gay and lesbian people but they have little public social life. Virtually all are living undercover and in fear. Their situation is risky and tenuous because there is no social support or organization that can help in a legal fight if someone is arrested or threatened. There is little Internet and no services for health, education or play. The only LGBT community is a fragile and uncertain friendship network. It’s difficult to get close or organize when there is so much homophobia in the culture.
Gay Comoros Islands, Africa
The territory of Comoros is archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean The country has a claim on a fourth major island, southeastern-most Mayotte (Maore) which continues to be administered by France. Gay life in Comoros is mostly underground and secretive due to Muslim prejudice. Many LGBT people marry in the traditional manner to avoid detection. Only on Mayotte is there any slight relief for gays since it is technically French territory but this is tenuous. There are virtually no known cases of same-sex activity having ever come before the courts. Comoros does not have an active gay sex worker community that Madagascar has. Societal pressure in this heavily Muslim country is such that homosexuals do not openly discuss their sexual orientation, and thus no public debate on the issue has been held.
Gay Life in Gabon
Compiled by Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com February 2012 Introduction Gabon has been a victim of it own people since independence with brutal leaders, military violence, irrational homophobia and tribal warfare. It is a sad state of being even as business does reasonably well. Despite political and humanistic chaos, a small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable
Tunisia Country Photos
Tunisia’s area is almost 165,000 square kilometres (64,000 sq mi), with an estimated population of just over 10.4 million. Its name is derived from the capital Tunis located in the north-east. Tunisia began the famous ‘Arab Spring’ of revolution in 2010 with an intensive campaign of civil resistance, including a series of street demonstrations taking
Gay Tunisia: A “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” Situation
by Farah Samti and Jaber Belkhiria 26 January 2012 From: Tunisia Live.net The socio-political upheaval Tunisia has undergone since the revolution has led many Tunisians to question their place within this new society – Tunisia’s often undiscussed homosexual community is no exception to this uncertainty. While the fall of Ben Ali has afforded a greater
Gay South Africa
Intro: From international pariah under apartheid to world class human rights leader, South Africa has made the most remarkable turn-around of any country in the 20th century. Lesbigays are protected by a new constitution and now celebrate true and equal diversity with other minorities. By Richard Ammon Updated March 2012 Gay Pride For me, no
Nigeria Celebrates Homophobia and Hetero Infidelity
Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com December 12, 2011 The following homophobic and irrational opinion article appeared in the Nigerian Vanguard newspaper today written by Kola Animasaun. This was written in light of the impending passage of a virulent anti-gay statute in the Nigerian senate. (I quote the first four paragraphs) “Where do human rights begin and where do
South Sudan – Gay Life Not Proud
World’s newest country off to bad start on LGBT rights By Paul Canning July 14, 2011 South Sudan, the world’s newest country, was proclaimed 11 July and its President, Salva Kiir Mayardit has declared that his promise of equality would not be extended to lesbians and gays. South Sudan was formerly subject to the Sudanese
Africa and Homosexuality: Is It Natural and Native?
On March 5 this year the British Broadcasting Company, always looking for unusual or controversial subject matter to entertain its audience, found spice in sponsoring a debate about homosexuality in Africa. It’s a topic that is guaranteed to stir up dissonance and disagreement and, true to form, the televised ‘discussion’ indeed did just that. With
Botswana Okavango Delta
Botswana Okavango Delta The Okavango Delta (or Okavango Swamp), in Botswana, is the world’s largest inland delta. It is formed where the Okavango River empties onto a swamp in an endorheic basin in the Kalahari Desert, where most of the water is lost to evaporation and transpiration instead of draining into the sea. Each year
Botswana Capital City of Gaborone
Botswana Capital City of Gaborone Gaborone is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 195,000, about ten percent of the total population. (Botswana is a mostly rural country with only six cities.) Because the Gaborone had no major tribal affiliation, in ‘neutral territory,’ and was close to the fresh water in
From Botswana’s Okavango Delta to Gaborone
From wild animals to city streets, the two day drive from the Okavango Delta east to Francistown (2nd largest city) then south to the capital of Gaborone is a contrast in landscape, habitat and roadside attractions. It’s a long drive filled with a variety of animal and plant life in swamps, grass veld on and
Namibia – Random Rural Scenes
Namibia Random Rural Scenes Namibia is a huge country almost the size of Western Europe. With over 824.000 square kilometers and a small population of just over two million it is one of the least populated countries in the world. It’s human density is a mere 2.5 people per square kilometer. (Contrast that with
Namibian Capital of Windhoek
Namibian Capital of Windhoek Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It population is about 250,529. A population influx from all over Namibia has caused researchers to estimate the figure to be well over 300,000. It is a clean, modern, internet-connected bustling center with a range of architecture from
Luderitz City on the Atlantic Coast
Luderitz City on the Atlantic Coast Namibia is one of the largest countries in Africa, about the size of Western Europe. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March 1990, following the Namibian War of Independence. Its capital and largest city is Windhoek. It has a population of 2.1 million people and a stable
Etosha National Game Park
Etosha National Game Park Etosha National Park is one of Southern Africa’s and most important Game Reserves. Etosha Game park was declared a National Park in 1907 and covering an area of 22 270 square km, it is home to 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and, surprisingly, one
Gay Namibia Re-awakens From a Failed Past
Intro: a long drive around this seemingly endless and empty country reveals much natural beauty and on closer inspection a modest LGBT population struggling to re-invent itself and advocate for recognition and rights. They are spirited, courageous and determined to bring justice for LGBT citizens and education for the whole country
Gay Life in Namibia
Intro: a long drive around this seemingly endless and empty country reveals much natural beauty and on closer inspection a modest LGBT population struggling to re-invent itself and advocate for recogniton and rights. They are spirited, courageous and determined to bring justice and education for LGBT citizens. In 2016 the city of Swakopmund on the
Gay Rwanda 2011
Stigmatized and unwelcome, Rwanda’s leading lesbian ‘warriors’ battles uphill for small achievements against a rudely homophobic country–despite one of the century’s worst bloodbaths that resulted from tribal discrimination. The government does not appear to have learned its lesson from history. Note: since this story was written Naomi Ruzindana has emigrated to Sweden where she is
Freedom in Egypt–What it Means for Gays
By Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com February 13, 2011 Well, after eighteen days of protest and demonstration to bring down a corrupt dictator and allow free and fair elections, what will this mean for the LGBT (gay) citizens who were certainly present in Tahrir Square? There was plenty of talk in the media about repression, corruption. imprisonment,
Some LGBT Highlights in Botswana 2004-11
Intro: Posted here are some excerpts from various sources of information about the LGBT struggle for rights and recognition in Botswana, It is a frustrating effort with government blockages and homophobia along the way. However, despite much difficult news there are a couple of good recent stories posted here at the end: love conquers all.
Gay Life in Ghana–In Danger and In the Closet
Intro: Three stories from Ghana reveal the repression and fear that gay people live with in their personal lives, on the streets, and accessing health care. There seems no room for discussion or tolerance in this homophobic Christian and Islamic culture.