Why Homosexuality in Africa is a Death Sentence
From The Grio – “A threat to just anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” The wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King has perhaps never been better applied than to the brutal murder of Ugandan gay rights activist, David Kato.
According to reports by the Associated Press, Kato was bludgeoned to death with a hammer on Wednesday after a man entered his home with the express intent of killing him. Homosexuality in Uganda is illegal, and like many states on the African continent, gay men and women are harassed, not embraced. Insulted, not respected. Shunned by family, friends and their religious communities. The outcry against their supposed immoral character and behavior reflects the ignorance inherent in a disparately unequal society: that somehow it is justifiable to deny others the simple joys of humanity. The African sun has set, and this is a sad day in Uganda.
In October 2010, David Kato was featured on the cover of a local newspaper called Rolling Stone (not to be confused with the American publication of the same name) in a story titled “100 Pictures of Uganda’s Top Homos Leak”. In a nation with such unbridled hatred of homosexuals, the article was more akin to a “hit-list”. Kato’s photo was placed under a yellow banner which read “Hang Them”. The visceral sentiment expressed was reflective of a significant majority of the nation’s bigoted attitudes on homosexuality: conflating gays with deviant sexual acts and going so far as to allege that they intend to “recruit” Ugandan children.
The publication garnered international attention and criticism from human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch. According to activists, a wave of attacks ensued against those mentioned in the article and others throughout the country presumed to be homosexuals. Some gays and lesbians have simply gone missing and are assumed to be dead. The police arrest and imprison others with no regard to their human rights. David Kato and two other gay activists sued the newspaper involved, claiming that it had violated their constitutional rights to privacy and won the case earlier this month. But his victory proved bittersweet — as he became a martyr for his cause.
What strikes me most is the indifference with which the news of his murder was met. The police officers assigned to the case dismissed his death as a robbery, claiming it had nothing to do with his homosexuality. The editor of the Rolling Stone newspaper that had published Kato’s photo as a target, said that he intended for the government to punish Kato and the other gay men and women listed. The editor’s only regret was that civilians had chosen to murder him. This kind of homophobia is commonplace and rampant in the African world and among blacks in the greater diaspora — from North and South America throughout the Caribbean and Europe. In Nigeria homosexuality is punishable by death. Uganda is considering a similar anti-homosexuality bill, and South Africa — the most liberal of the African states on this issue — have tolerated gangs who perform “corrective” rapes on lesbians. What is wrong with our people? Where did this begin and why does the African-American community, in particular, remain silent on such horrific human rights abuses?
Black Americans have led the way on the campaign for international civil rights protections, but we have one rotting skeleton in the closet. It seems we are deeply uncomfortable with homosexuality — both as a concept and an action, as a noun and a verb.
Like our African neighbors, brothers and sisters — we simply choose to ignore it even exists. Many Ugandans questioned on Kato’s death, claimed that homosexuality was imported by Europeans, as if it was a staple food group or mineral. As if the construct of love and desire was capable of being manufactured. Sadly, this level of ignorance is not unique to Uganda or Sub-Saharan Africa. Many black Americans, when confronted with the realities of a gay lifestyle within our own community strike out against it with visceral hatred and disgust. I have read many reactions on theGrio’s notice boards and Facebook comment’s page, in which the commentary is so divisive and the rhetoric so heated any time the word gay is used, that a meaningful conversation is hardly possible.
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My thoughts as well.
Thank you for this article. Possibly the most thought-provoking piece I’ve read from Clutch in months.
how bout they put to death all the rapist and child molesters instead..
Like our African neighbors, brothers and sisters — we simply choose to ignore it even exists
I’m appalled by this simplistic conclusion without any sort of substantiated evidence or merit.
Homosexuality is heavily condoned, as it is seen as being morally wrong and eroding on cultural norms and value systems. Moreover, it is viewed as being a ‘Western’ concept which shouldn’t be adopted for fear of it being another way of the West taking over. These sentiments might be viewed as being ‘primitive’ and not in-tune with reality but sexual orientation is a no-go zone topic of discussion for reasons stemming from fear, ridicule, cultural implications, societal perceptions of accepting persons etc.
A large percentage of African nations do not operate on the freedom of speech board America or most Western nations enjoy. There is a covert bureaucratic system in place that hinders certain issues that may be deemed as being controversial such as abortion, homosexuality, etc from being addressed in the public foray. To say that we simply choose to ignore it even exists is an extreme assumption that I take issue with.
Of course we know it exists, and there are activists championing for equal gay and lesbian rights night and day. However what you need to understand is that our activists, who breathe, live, eat, pray to see the day that this is a non-issue lack the support from the very same people they are trying to reach and educate, the governments have turned a blind eye to the issue, the media sensationalizes the issue, their efforts are as good as a whisper. Unfortunate but true.
We’ve not ignored it, TRUST. Can’t find the term to call it, but ignorance although rampant is not generalizable to the entire African population!
R.I.P. DAVID KATO
Clutch,
I would like to see more positive stories from Africa often. Tired of seeing depressing news from the motherland.
Thanks a bunch.
The Grio,com wrote this piece not this site.
This is so true! it seems like the only things you hear about africa is negativity. brazil has the exact same stuff going on as africa (extreme poverty, war,AIDS epidemic) yet all you hear about brazil is how beautiful the people are and about their butts. its so sad how ANYTHING from africa automatically has a negative connotation. yet people will hoo and haw over anything that says “brazilian”… dont even get me started on “the brazilian butt”
where is the positive stuff from africa? and why are egyptians and mococcans stand alone peoples seperate from nigeria and ghana? they are all in africa so why do people refuse to call egyptian people africans?
thats just like people getting offended and saying ” sorry i’m not america i’m californian”….lol
I agree with African Mami. There is no doubt the murder of David Kato and others alike are all dreadful, however ignorance is not necessarily to be the cause.
Instead of just assuming why people would behave in this manner, one should really look for the answer(s). One of them is that Africans view homosexuality as a Western import, mainly because (as is true in my country) the Europeans who come to the country for whatever reason usually develop sexual relationships with African boys in exchange for money. So many Africans view it as they view other prostitution, unnatural. Though homosexuality is natural, Africans (note:mostly older Africans) consider homosexuality to be a means to an end (end being money) and those engaged in it to be eroding traditions.
Also,in fear of neo-imperialism the mere fact that the West is using homosexual rights as a bargaining tool (we give you this if you agree to that), makes the Africans suspicious. Since this is a method the West has used before only to further national interests and to make the African nations feel powerless, Africans automatically reject it.
Naturally these are not the only causes of homophobia on the continent and they in no way, shape, or form excuse the heinous acts carried out by one human being onto another just because the latter desires their natural equal rights. However, simplifying the topic and relying on Western media as a source will be highlly unbeneficial in understanding the problem so as to cap it.
RIP David Kato
PS, oknow has a good point as well, pointing out the hypocrisy of the situation
“Why homosexuality in Africa is a death sentence”..It should be “Why homosexuality in SOME parts of Africa a death sentence …Clutch magazine and many others stop refering to Africa as if its a country please keep in mind its a continent….They have done many documenties on this topic and I will just say one thing its because of peoples RELIGIOUS beliefs….In the documentary each time they ask “why is homosexuality bad” they replied “because in the BIBLE is says……”
@IMAGINE…
“Why homosexuality in Africa is a death sentence”..It should be “Why homosexuality in SOME parts of Africa a death sentence …Clutch magazine and many others stop refering to Africa as if its a country please keep in mind its a continent….
CO-SIGN….when it comes to Africa the Western media could care less about checking up on facts, at the end of the day it’s one big “generalizable ‘country’”
This article is not written by Clutch it’s a article from Grio.com. I think Clutch is smart enough to know that. Wouldn’t you think, we wouldn’t all be here if they didn’t.
@ Imagine, I was about to comment on the same thing about AFrica not being a country, it is a continent. I come from one of the countries, South Africa.
@ Vee,
* Thank you for calling me out on the fact that the article was written by the GRIO and not Clutch, as I had alluded to in my point “Clutch magazine and many others stop refering to Africa as if its a country please keep in mind its a continent….” for that I apologize.*
HOWEVER my plea for more positive stories from the motherland still stands. Since I began reading Clutch magazine sometime in October of last year, I’ve only come across two positive features thus far. There could be more in the archives, but most of the time the sob stories get more shine.
One thing is that we sob every damn day in Africa, but we also laugh too. I want to see more positive stories! THE END.
It also drives me crazy when Africa is referred to as one country. “I went to Africa”, what does that mean??? Where in Africa did you go??? Nigeria and South Africa are not the same place. Namibia and Sudan are not the same place, just as Canada is not Mexico or the US etc…. All these places present different cultures, challenges and opportunities! What bothers me is that people will decide, for example, that they wont be visiting South Africa because they heard about some of the issues going on in Zimbabwe. It doesn’t make any sense. This article failed to inform its readers that unlike the US, gay people can get married, adopt and are specifically protected by the constitution in South Africa.
Ok just a act as a point of correction to you uninformed “Americans” (Westerners). Homosexuality doesn’t carry a death penalty in NIGERIA. I can’t blame you because most of you are so IGNORANT (i don’t use this word loosely) of the world at large outside of your little bubble called the USA. There are many Gays in Nigeria, Openly for that matter. Google “Charlie boy and Derenle,” there are hundreds I mean hundreds of openly gay women (lesbianism is VERY common among women in Nigeria) maybe you’ll educate yourselves a bit more, and stop displaying your utter ignorance of the world outside what CNN, GLAAD and other corporate censored media FEED you. Homosexuals are only sentenced to death in Northern States mainly (zamfara, borno, kano, zaria etc). These states are predominantly Islamic (some even sharia states), and guess what the highest amount of gays come from this part of the country. Even political leaders like “Atiku” and “Babaginda” have been rumored to be gay.
The average Nigerian doesn’t endorse, condone or accept Homosexuality, we have absolutely no obligation to, but we don’t go around murdering gay people. It is our RIGHT not to accept this kind of lifestyle, you (westerners) don’t have any BLOODY right to dictate to us what you feel is right or wrong. Stay in your country and do that, we are very capable of taking care of ourselves. Thank you
P.S: Please in future do your research and stop spewing your complete lack of knowledge on matters that occur in countries that you may or have may not visited.
Woooow, sweeping generalizations much? Westerners don’t have a right to express their opinion on this matter? We have the right just as much as you do.
@anon25
what part of my comment said anything about “westerners” not having the right to express their opinion? As always, you are like those people who read/see something and interpret it into what you want. To summarize my comment so you can better UNDERSTAND what i was trying to say. I said that in the future, the author should do more research about the topic they are discussing and not exaggerate and falsely report the reality of topic at hand.
As you might know, the consequences of poor and false reporting have destroyed a whole generation of people, case in point the Iraq war (*no nukes were found* FYI) that has destroyed the lives of millions of people.
P.S: Read more carefully next time. OK sweetie *sarcasm* (just so you don’t misinterpret it)
” It is our RIGHT not to accept this kind of lifestyle, you (westerners) don’t have any BLOODY right to dictate to us what you feel is right or wrong.”
How did I misinterpret that? I have the right to give my opinion on this matter. My being a Westerner doesn’t infringe upon that right.
@ Tiger supporter. Ok, please don’t generalize here. It was a badly written article with a lot of holes, as a few posters have stated. Not the best example of how it reflects on Clutch readership. Wasn’t even written by a clutch reporter. Don’t be so quick to anger at us. I understand your frustration with western media. many of us “westerners” feel the same.
I’m not American and while I do understand the view of Americans are stuck in their little bubble and they don’t realize there is a world outside them (I grew up hearing this on a constant basis) this article as it’s very base and core is attempting to inform people of what is going on outside their world. Yes, it approached Africa as a country and not a continent and while that is frustrating I think people worldwide make that mistake. I’m not trying to front for the authors of this article but that’s really how it is. A lot of people WORLDWIDE forget this fact.
But like I mentioned I too felt Americans were ignorant but viewing them like that, being hateful towards them for what I thought was their ignorance is IGNORANT. Obviously there are some who know what are going on, some who have a bit of an idea and those who don’t have a clue. I’m sure I’m not always aware of what’s going on in America….but I try to keep as updated with world issues as I am with my country’s issues. Use your time to educate others properly because even though someone might not be African, might not be from your country, that very person who you clue in might be so touched that they want to help. They might be able to help in a way that you might not have been able to ALONE. I’ve witnessed this in my own country.
Anger does nothing to promote a more unified and beautiful world.
@ charbaby
I am not even going to sugercoat anything.
I do not have time to educate the Western media about Africa. They are hell bent on depicting the continent as being ‘dark and primitive’. When you have articles like this that generalize a whole continent, ignorance is not what comes to mind, LAZINESS is what does.
*PLEASE NOTE I MENTIONED WESTERN MEDIA, not individuals.* I EXPECT MORE FROM THE MEDIA. THE SAME KNOW-HOW THEY HAVE FOR BIAS REPORTING, IS THE SAME KNOWLEDGE THAT COULD BE APPLIED TO REPORTING FROM A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD* NO DEBATE ON THAT.
Instead of media outlets rushing in with unsubstantiated, exclusive, sensationalist news. Why can’t they take their time to gather FACTS and opinions before writing? Just because its Africa, the need for thorough reporting goes through the window? C’mon!
In regards to the ‘hate’ you talk of. I am assuming you are talking to Tiger Supporter.(if not sorry).To me he or she was just frank and to the point. No BS’n around.
@African Mami
none of what i wrote was directed towards you. that entire comment was for Tiger Supporter. But I’ll break it down:
- I wasn’t covering for the media not using facts or being grounded in their reporting. I used to work in media so I know what it is to get facts straight and cover holes in a story. Lord knows how many times we couldn’t run a piece because it was too ambiguous.
- What I was stating is it is a fact that people do think of Africa as a country instead of a continent. How is me just puttin that out there trying to cover for The Grio or for any publication/media outlet? I’m stating what is truth; forget the media, EVERYDAY human beings view Africa as a country.
- I wasn’t encouraging anyone to educate the media but rather the common man. I’m not saying you gotta get a billboard on the highway, but by the very fact that more than one commenter stated ‘Africa is a continent’ that was a means of education. In fact I saw one commenter who stated she didn’t know about corrective rapes happening in South Africa. She became aware because an individual brought it up. That is what I was encouraging.
- Lastly, I’m for thourough reporting in every country, on every topic. Never did I say because the topic is Africa one can report however they like. What I stated was at the very BASE of this whole situation the writers sought to inform people about what is going on outside their little bubble. I commend them for that effort but I do hope in the future they can pull it together and bring a solid piece together.
I really don’t know why you tried to twist it but don’t
There are African countries that are much more excepting of gay people. South Africa, for example, has legalised gay marriage years ago and specifically mentions gay people in the constitution. More balanced articles would be great.
“and South Africa — the most liberal of the African states on this issue — have tolerated gangs who perform “corrective” rapes on lesbians.”" The ignorance of some Americans (note that I am not generalising here) is shocking at times. Does the fact that many Americans like opening fire on innocent people (especially at school) mean that your country tolerates mass murderers? Those people, juast like those who attack lesbians are criminals who carry out criminal activities and then have the nerve to justify them. This article exposes your ignorance, laziness and lack of research on South Africa. Being gay is a a right that enshrined in the constitution of South Africa and gay people even have the right to marry and adopt. Next time you decide to write anything about South Africa, kindly take the time to do some research on the country instead of relying on propaganda you are being fed by the Wester media.
oh ok didnt know that until now
Corrective rapes on lesbians in South Africa? As a liberal, I’m very appalled by this. smh
homosexuality didnt even hit Africa like the west. I am not trying to generalize everything but my five years of living in Africa you dont hear gays/lesb they probably laugh at your face and say homosexuality is a western lifestyle not because they are homophobic its just something they are not accustomed to.Yeah they dont induldge in homosexuality (but for some westerners that is a shock I suppose)And no they dont kill ppl for that the heck they are probably a few gays on the continent they joke about it and call it a Western problem not theres lol.
this title is misleading. Africa is a CONTINENT with 53 countries… with the Sudan split its about to be 54… millions of languages and therefore millions of different cultural & linguistic lexicon. In some African countries, gays are believed to be sages or better connected to God and the ancestors, in others its an abomination. this ubiquitous DARK CONTINENT narrative is so tired, and sickening. Come on already, 1st world people, catch up. There’s internet now, there is no excuse to be this uninformed. Read something.
Love,
An African
@MissRae
There is gay bashing everywhere. Not being defensive or trying to overshadow the fact that human beings have suffered abuse because of their sexuality, but dont act like the same and worse is unheard of wherever you’re from. In South Africa, gay people can marry, adopt children and have proper families… we have gay supreme court justices. South Africans could equally say they find it ignorant, shocking and backwards of America to still not recognise gays as sovereign individuals who can self determine like everyone else… but then again, South Africans understand that America is HUUUUUGE, and comprises a cross-section of people with diff levels of education, different cultures and different outlooks on life…and that these factors will determine their stance on certain issues.
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