Sexual minorities, human rights and public health strategies in Africa

Abstract

Remarkable progress has been made towards the recognition of sexual minority rights in Africa. At the same time, a marked increase in attacks, rhetorical abuse, and restrictive legislation against sexual minorities or ‘homosexuality’ makes activism for sexual rights a risky endeavour in many African countries. Campaigns for sexual rights and ‘coming out’ are frequently perceived as a form of Western cultural imperialism, leading to an exportation of Western gay identities and provoking a patriotic defensiveness. Cultures of quiet acceptance of same-sex relationships or secretive bisexuality are meanwhile also problematic given the high rate of HIV prevalence on much of the continent. This article examines specific initiatives that are using subtle, somewhat covert means to negotiate a path between rights activism and secretive bisexuality. It argues that strategies primarily focused on health concerns that simultaneously yet discreetly promote sexual rights are having some success in challenging prevalent homophobic or ‘silencing’ cultures and discourses.

Gay rights, the devil and the end times: public religion and the enchantment of the homosexuality debate in Zambia

“…This assumption is supported by some anthropological findings, for example among the Tonga people in Southern Zambia (Colson 2006: 148-169), and by wider research that provides substantial evidence of same-sex practices in various African cultures and societies (Epprecht 2004;Murray and Roscoe 1998). As Marc Epprecht points out in his discussion of sexuality among the Shona people in Zimbabwe (a neighbouring country of Zambia), reproductive heterosexuality was clearly the norm in traditional society but at the same time there was a 'culture of discretion around sexual matters' (Epprecht 2012a: 522).…”

Sexual orientation, (anti-)discrimination and human rights in a ‘Christian nation’: the politicization of homosexuality in Zambia

“…Banda, has responded to this is not clear. Yet apart from demonstrating the existence of opinions, even in State House, that diverge from the dominant public opinion, it also illustrates that in addition to a human rights discourse, a public health discourse is another possible strategy to call attention to sexual minority issues (see also Epprecht 2012). ix According to (Epprecht 2013, 1), in 2009 the Ugandan courts 'affirmed the right to privacy for LGBTI by issuing an injunction to stop a newspaper from publishing the names and addresses of alleged "top homosexuals"'.…”

Ruled by hetero-norms? Raising some moral questions for teachers in South Africa

“…Rights are socially constructed, and whilst teachers express-ambiguous-support for gays and lesbians, the important point is that South African law and the culture of rights has inflected teaching discourses, disrupting, even if partially, the heterosexual compulsion. Instead of the illogical rhetoric associating homosexuality with being un-African (Epprecht, 2012), the discourse of rights provides teachers with an alternative grounded in shared obligations and ethical/moral responsibility towards gays and lesbians at school, thus providing an opportunity to challenge heterosexual domination and regulation: M2 (FCS) … we have rights, irrespective of your religion … I may not agree [with] what they stand for, you know, but I have to respect it. F3 (ARS) As a teacher you have to accept them … I have to ensure that I make them feel comfortable and also warn others not to exclude them but treat them like other children because they are the same as other kids and their rights are equal to those of other kids.…”

“…Whilst Epprecht (2012) has noted the historical existence of homosexuality in Southern Africa, teachers construct an 'abnormal' sexuality untenable within cultural norms. Cultural norms are deployed in defense of heterosexuality as well as gender inequalities.…”

“…A dominant view in much of Africa is that homosexuality is a western perversion, un-African, and eroding African culture and values. Researchers in Africa have now contested these views and show ample evidence of same-sex desires that predates colonialism (Epprecht, 2012).…”