In Malawi’s Central Region district of Dedza, Tamanda (not her real name) had a seemingly typical childhood. Yet, beneath the surface, she grappled with the weight of a profound secret; living between her true self and society’s expectations.
Category: LGBTQI+Faith in Africa
The following stories on LGBTQI+ rights and religion in Sub-Saharan Africa stem from Taboom’s regular workshops for journalists, editors and media professionals across the continent. Since 2016 we have trained and mentored hundreds of journalists from more than 35 countries in the region.
The Silent Storm: Mental Health After “Conversion Therapy”
This piece narrates Issa Otome’s traumatic experience of “conversion therapy”, shedding light on the mental health challenges endured by survivors. The article emphasizes the prevalence of such practices, especially among youth, and looks into the legal and emotional consequences.
Gay Muslims Face Discrimination, Banished From Mosque
Several gay Christian men in Lilongwe this reporter spoke to said they have never been outright rejected from a church but have heard pastors preach discriminatory homilies against homosexuality.
Rejected from church, some transgender Zambians find solace in prayer groups
Several transgender people in Zambia have disclosed the challenges they face attending church services due to discrimination and stigma by church leaders and members.
A transman’s death catalyzes an outpouring of love and action
Julias’ story reads like cruel fiction. Raised as a girl, Julias spent years conforming to societal expectations for girls and women. After Julias told his parents and husband that he was not the woman they thought but rather a transgender man, Julias’ family took him for an exorcism at a church.
How Uganda’s healthcare system is failing LGBTQ+ people
Annita Matsika a senior health journalist based in Mbarara, notes that in Western Uganda, a region of about 20 million people, there are only two drop-in health clinics known to offer LGBTQ+ people safe and inclusive treatment.
Could the historic case of a trans sex worker end Malawi’s anti-LGBTIQ law?
As Jana Gonani hurried past security guards to meet her visitors, her chequered shirt was half open, showing off a multicoloured necklace.
“I just like the necklace because the peace colours resemble rainbow colours, the colours that show who I am. I have no intention to hide my identity even whilst here in prison,” she said in an interview with openDemocracy and PIJ in November.
Intersex Children Face Church Stigma in Uganda
Intersex children in Mbale find themselves at the intersection of neglect, discrimination, and ignorance as religious institutions, including the Anglican Church, continue to marginalize them.
Human rights group cautions against church “exorcisms” for LGBTQ+ people
Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) has pleaded with churches to stop the inhuman and barbaric practice of claiming to ‘expel evil spirits’ from LGBTQ+ people.
How sex workers are exploited in Northern Uganda
While sex work offers some financial support, it is illegal in Uganda, leaving sex workers vulnerable to abuse.
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