Ethiopian gays vow to have their voices heard
Last Updated: April 9, 2009
By Mongezi Mhlongo (BTM Reporter)
ETHIOPIA – 09 April 2009: For the first time in Ethiopia, gay people are meeting and making concrete connections despite religious leaders in that country calling on government to, in addition to the penal code, ban homosexuality on the constitution as well.
Members of Ethioglbt are meeting and working to effect positive change, something that they admit, will take time.
Sonic Casuist, a member of Ethioglbt says the gay community in Ethiopia has been living in shadows.
“And now for the first time they are meeting together and making real tangible connections with each other. Our main initiative is to form a real community; we are doing that and rigorously working towards it.”
In a move to cast out homosexuality, in December 2006 clerics of various denominations urged law makers in Ethiopia to ban homosexuality, arguing that it was a foreign practice.
Abune Paolos of Ethopia’s Orthodox Church, the second most influential church in Ethiopia with 40 percent of the population being its devoted followers, had told reporters that homosexuals are “stupid” and should not be tolerated.
“For people to act in this manner they have to be dumb, stupid like animals. We strongly condemn this behavior, they have to be disciplined and their acts discriminated, they have to be taught a lesson.”
In spite of these oppressive suggestions, the LGBTI community has implemented an initiative that aims to document violations geared towards the LGBTI community in that country.
“I have a group of people with whom I work with in order to advance LGBTI lives here. Right now we are beginning to document any attacks or incidents of abuse against LGBTI people”, Casuist said.
Homosexuality in Ethiopia still remains taboo and considered, by many, to be a punishable sin because of the predominantly religious society.
While homosexuality is illegal under that country’s penal code, punishable by three years imprisonment, the constitution makes no reference to homosexuality.
Showing posts with label Ethiopia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ethiopia. Show all posts
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Now, news from Ethiopia
ethiopian gays threatened as clerics seek homosexuality ban
Why are we such easy prey for all the moralists in the world? Why do all sorts of moralists find it pertinent to use the state to punish us for our sexuality? Why?
Mongezi Mhlongo (BTM reporter)
Ethiopia – 27January 2009: Ethiopian religious leaders have called on the country’s government to amend the constitution and ban homosexuality, a law which was never mentioned in the constitution of that country before.
In a meeting held in December 2008 in Addis Ababa, where heads of various congregations including the Roman Catholic, Ethiopian Orthodox and Protestant churches met, a resolution was made that seeks to end homosexuality which was branded as “the pinnacle of immorality.”
According Sonic Casuist of ETHIOGLBTI, a gay rights group in Ethiopia, homosexuality is still perceived as taboo and nonexistent in that country and many homosexuals are still in the closet.
“It is hidden, no one is out. The general population would like to claim that it does not exist”, she revealed.
Abune Paolos of Ethopia’s Orthodox Church, the second most influential church in Ethiopia with 40 percent of the population being its devoted followers, told reporters that homosexuals are “stupid” and should not be tolerated.
“For people to act in this manner they have to be dumb, stupid like animals. We strongly condemn this behavior, they have to be disciplined and their acts discriminated, they have to be taught a lesson.”
While homosexuality is illegal under the country’s penal code it is not mentioned in the constitution.
“The Ethiopian constitution bans any discrimination based on gender or any other reasons. However the penal code states that homosexuality is illegal”, Casuist pointed out.
She further highlighted that even though homosexuality is illegal in the country the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community congregates at secluded places.
“For those of us who live here we make and build our communities. We get together and we have places to go in the evenings however nothing is out in the open, it’s a hidden community”, Casuist said.
ETHIOGLBTI is a group that aims to increase public awareness and understanding of LGBTI issues in Ethiopia
Why are we such easy prey for all the moralists in the world? Why do all sorts of moralists find it pertinent to use the state to punish us for our sexuality? Why?
Mongezi Mhlongo (BTM reporter)
Ethiopia – 27January 2009: Ethiopian religious leaders have called on the country’s government to amend the constitution and ban homosexuality, a law which was never mentioned in the constitution of that country before.
In a meeting held in December 2008 in Addis Ababa, where heads of various congregations including the Roman Catholic, Ethiopian Orthodox and Protestant churches met, a resolution was made that seeks to end homosexuality which was branded as “the pinnacle of immorality.”
According Sonic Casuist of ETHIOGLBTI, a gay rights group in Ethiopia, homosexuality is still perceived as taboo and nonexistent in that country and many homosexuals are still in the closet.
“It is hidden, no one is out. The general population would like to claim that it does not exist”, she revealed.
Abune Paolos of Ethopia’s Orthodox Church, the second most influential church in Ethiopia with 40 percent of the population being its devoted followers, told reporters that homosexuals are “stupid” and should not be tolerated.
“For people to act in this manner they have to be dumb, stupid like animals. We strongly condemn this behavior, they have to be disciplined and their acts discriminated, they have to be taught a lesson.”
While homosexuality is illegal under the country’s penal code it is not mentioned in the constitution.
“The Ethiopian constitution bans any discrimination based on gender or any other reasons. However the penal code states that homosexuality is illegal”, Casuist pointed out.
She further highlighted that even though homosexuality is illegal in the country the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community congregates at secluded places.
“For those of us who live here we make and build our communities. We get together and we have places to go in the evenings however nothing is out in the open, it’s a hidden community”, Casuist said.
ETHIOGLBTI is a group that aims to increase public awareness and understanding of LGBTI issues in Ethiopia
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