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
Rwanda is home to approximately 10.1 million people, one of the densest population in continental Africa. Most people engage in subsistence agriculture. It’s a verdant country of fertile and hilly terrain. The country has received considerable international attention due to its 1994 genocide, in which over one million people were killed. In 2008, Rwanda became the first country in history to elect a national legislature in which a majority of members are women. There is no mention of homosexuality in the statutes of Rwanda since homosexuals ‘don’t exist’ and have no legal standing. But laws are loosely interpreted by those in power, and anyone can be detained for an indefinite time without specific charges and LGBT people are harassed and persecuted. Some gay activists have to live outside the country.
Name: Rwanda
Population: 7733000
Capital: Kigali - Pop. 656000
Area: 26338 sq. km/ sq. miles
Language: Kinyarwanda, French, English, Kiswahili
Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Adventist, Muslim
Status of Homosexuality: Not mentioned in laws (high homophobia)
Telephone Country Code: 250
Gay Rwanda 2008 (updated 2016)
GlobalGayz interviews a young gay Rwandan, Alan Malege, about the strong anti-gay religious and social attitudes in his country. Despite seemingly unchangeable and overwhelming circumstances he and his gay friends display remarkable resourcefulness in finding each other. Introduction Rwanda is a land locked country in east central Africa. It’s located between Uganda,Tanzania, Burundi and Democratic