LOME, Togo — Pour les personnes LGBT, des barrières d’accès à la justice sont renforcées par le regard de la société, qui ne tolère pas l’homosexualité et les pratiques y afférentes.
Category: LGBTQI+Faith in Africa
The following stories on LGBTQI+ rights and religion in Sub-Saharan Africa emerged from two journalism training workshops we held in South Africa for journalists, editors and media professionals from more than 30 countries across the continent. The 2017 and 2018 workshops were made possible with support from the Arcus Foundation and Heinrich Böll Stiftung Southern Africa.
For Togo’s LGBTQ community, justice remains just out of reach
LOME, Togo –LGBTQ people face numerous barriers to accessing justice in Togo, including the fear of being jailed if their sexual orientation or gender identity is made public.
In Sierra Leone, human rights defenders stay silent on LGBTQ discrimination
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (RNS) Human rights campaigners in the West African nation are cherry-picking which rights they defend on the basis of religion, culture, and tradition, leaving LGBTQ communities vulnerable.
LGBTQI+ South Africans struggle to fund higher education
CAPE TOWN — Amid social and religious discrimination, sexual and gender minorities are often shunned by traditional support networks and struggle to access higher education.
Sex workers balance risk and reward in Lesotho
MASERU, Lesotho — Following a recent police raid and facing serious legal and health risks, sex work provides financial reward and opportunity to some women in this Southern African nation.
In Mauritius, transgender women fight prejudice and find themselves
PORT LOUIS, Mauritius — Fear of losing one’s job or being ridiculed by friends and family often pushes transgender people to hide their feelings and identities on the African island nation.
Gay and lesbian Nigerians seeking deliverance find mental health anguish instead
LAGOS — Distrust of Nigeria’s mental health system prevents many sexual and gender minorities from seeking professional help when coming to terms with their faith and sexuality.
For gays and lesbians in Mombasa, coming out cuts both ways
MOMBASA, Kenya — Members of Mombasa’s LGBTI community discuss the pain and pleasure of coming out to friends, family and society at large.
Clergy counselors stoke LGBT fears at Ghana high schools
KUMASI, Ghana — In Ghana, LGBT students are expelled for “sexual misconduct” or silenced for fear of being demonized by school counselors who double as religious leaders.
Nigerian megachurch’s claim to ‘pray the gay away’ bristles LGBT activists
LAGOS — Megachurch pastor and televangelist T.B. Joshua’s Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN) claims to “drive demons” out of sexual minorities on live television. LGBT activists and psychologists say the practice can bring about new harms.
