Click here for the invitation and MS Teams link and click here for the programme.
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) remind us that same-sex relationships are still banned in many countries across the African continent. The ILGA note that out of 54 African countries, only 22 do not criminalise homosexuality and/or same-sex attraction. In some countries in Africa, homosexuality is punishable by death. In Nigeria, 47 men were arrested at a private birthday party at a hotel. Police said they were initiated into a gay club. The men said they attended a birthday party. In October 2019, 16 young gay men in Uganda were arrested for participating in "Let’s Walk Uganda". The more these arrests trend in the media,
the more they endorse laws outlawing same sex relationships in these contexts; and the more they foster hate speech and hate crimes on homosexual-identifying citizens from religious and political leaders who support the criminalisation of same sex attraction.
South Africa is one of the 22 countries in Africa that does not criminalise homosexuality. Although homosexuality is unbanned in South Africa and the 21 other African countries where it is not criminalised, LGBTQ+ communities still experience daily stigma, social discrimination and, at times, severe violence because of their sexual orientation and gender identities in their different contexts. For LGBTQ+ people in South Africa, for instance, the past two years were very difficult. In 2021, according to various media reports, 24 people had been murdered in bias-driven attacks. Despite South Africa’s constitution supporting human rights, and legalising same sex marriage, there are still murders, hate crimes and hate speech towards LGBTQ+ people.