Housing? No right for Homosexuals

Gambia: Action Alert - Condemn Attacks on the Right to Housing

Picked this from IGLHRC

President Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh of the Gambia has called on citizens of this West African nation to deny housing to "homosexuals," making LGBT people targets for discrimination and violence yet again. IGLHRC believes that his statements violate the rights to freedom from discrimination, to adequate housing, to dignity, and to security.

Denial of Housing to LGBT People in the Gambia

On May 23, 2009, President Jammeh urged party members of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), who represent the majority in the country's National Assembly, not to rent or allow homosexuals to stay in their compounds. The statement was made at a monument commemorating the 1994 coup that brought Jammeh, a former lieutenant in the Gambian army, into power.

Last year, President Jammeh publicly denounced homosexuality and gave LGBT people in Gambia an ultimatum to leave the country by stating that he would "cut of the head" of anyone believed to be homosexual discovered in Gambia. He also warned Gambian hotel owners not to rent rooms to homosexuals.

The right to adequate housing is guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and articulated in the Yogyakarta Principles on the application of international human rights law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity. Additionally, the rights to dignity and security, components of the right to adequate housing, are guaranteed under the Gambian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. States may not permit forced evictions and must ensure nondiscrimination in access to adequate housing for all of its citizens.

Ahhhh!

Same old, same old. See, we gay people are considered pariahs, non people. So those who are gay feel happy that they can in self righteousness deny us simple things which other 'people' have a right to.

In Uganda, if you are a known homosexual, dont be suprised if no landlord will have you... Or again, you may find one who is ok. And doesnt mind.

But this shouldnt worry you. Our world is one of thorns and rose flowers. One thing that those who dont like us are gifted with is the gift of prejudice. We cannot be human beings, we cannot be normal, so because we are normal, we hide right under their noses...!

It is a beautiful day. The country is in a drought state. People in the east and north are literally dying of hunger. Bad deal there. Our institutions have been ravaged by lots of bad governance. Course, we are a moral people so we have to continue pouring much energy in the pursuit of sin and immorality and homosexuality.

But last night, it rained. Drizzled, more or less. Dampened the ubiquitous dust. And the air is cool, nice and still. Overcast. A relief from the bright sun and heat of most of the days of this week. Possibly the rains are near. Have to keep praying hard. That it rains, that less people suffer from the hunger. I hear seed is being eaten, so we might be getting into a cycle of hunger. Or we shall wake up and do something about food security!

But it is a beautiful day, I am alive, and know it....

gug