The irony of Homosexuality in Africa

Homosexuality has created an enormous debate in the African society. While the homosexuals and lesbians continue to fight for their rights, the heterosexuals have self-appointed themselves as the judges of queer behaviour. The question is who decides that homosexuality is wrong and heterosexuality is right? The situation has become quite complex, as some countries are indirectly forced to accept it or miss out on foreign aid. But again, shall Africans stoop so low in the name of foreign support? Gay sex is a very controversial and sensitive issue in Africa. As a matter of fact homosexuality is a taboo in many African countries, even in South Africa where it is legal by law. The truth is that homosexuals are there in the African society and in plenty, but they are in the closet because of fear of persecution. If for instance homosexuality is legalized today, how then does a society so unfamiliar to such behaviour go about it? Will the homophobic behaviour reduce or increase? There are a couple of things that society has to familiarize itself with regarding the issue of homosexuality. This behaviour neither started yesterday nor the day before, and let the trivial rumour that homosexuality came with the coloniser be discarded. According to Leo Igwe a director of international humanist and ethical union in West Africa “homosexuality is as old as Africans in Africa.” Homosexuality was part of Africa before colonialism and in fact homophobia – the fear, hatred, persecution and liquidation of gays and lesbians, is what Africans have that is not African, this act of homophobia came to Africa clothed in religious doctrines and has since been a crime due to colonial legislation that African governments have refuse to amend. This behaviour has been in existence since time immemorial, going back all the way to the Old Testament, in Noah’s days. However, according the bible God does not approve of same-sex marriages or intercourse for that matter. In Genesis 9:24, Ham’s descendants are eternally punished with slavery for what Ham did and Noah places a curse of Canaan. There are many books in the bible that are against homosexuality, including the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:23. Hence, an act unwanted by God. Interestingly, homosexuals have their own way of interpreting these chapters in the bible. To them Ham committed incest and that is why he was punished, it has nothing to do with homosexuality. And the men who wanted to have sex with the guests at Lots house in Genesis 19 were attempting to rape- (forceful sex). So according to the homosexuals God is against rape and incest not homosexuality. There are several ideologies that society has on what gay and lesbians look like or how they behave. In this world of the queer, they also have categories; the lesbians are the women that have romantic or sexual relationships with other women, the gay are mainly assumed to be homosexual men having sexual or romantic relationships with other men, the bisexuals are comfortable being in same-sex relationships or opposite sex. But there is the paradox of the transgender- this term refers to persons whose gender identity, gender expression does not conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth. But does that mean if person is transgender they are gay or lesbian depending on the sex? Often we have come across children that fit the description of transgender, and then we politely refer to them as tom-boys – girls that enjoy behaving like boys, or Cissies- boys having unsuitable feminine qualities. So is it possible that gay and lesbians are born like that? We ought to think about this statement, why would a person choose to be gay with all the victimization that goes around? Isn’t it possible that they were born that way? In certain cases we are inclined to believe that homosexuals were naturally made that way, since they too claim that is how they were made, as there is no apparent reason to understand why someone would choose to take that route in life that requires you to be in the closet. In countries like Zimbabwe where homosexuality is also a dangerous topic to tackle, it is believed that because of the strict laws, gays marry lesbians just for the sake of satisfying the public, but in actual sense they live separate lives. Homosexuals claim that homosexuality is no harm to the participants or to anyone else in society. As a matter of fact, it feels right to those that are involved in the behaviour and quite frankly it is nobody’s business. The homosexuals believe that their relationships are as valid as the heterosexual relationships. On the other hand, there are the ‘visa-seekers’ who have found victimization of homosexuality and lesbianism a convenient lie to obtain visas to foreign countries. With the claim of being under so much pressure and fear for their lives, in a country like Uganda where the president also acknowledged that the country is full of thieves, cheats must also be counted among. After the death of a gay activist David Kato, the American Embassy was flooded with people claiming they too were in danger, and needed to leave Uganda immediately. South Africa was the 5th country in the world to legalize homosexuality and the first country on the African continent; it still remains the only country on the continent that legally recognized same-sex marriages. Section 9(3) of the South African constitution prohibits unjust discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation But the victimization of people in same - sex marriages is alarming for a country that has it as legal; in fact, it can safely be assumed that it is worse than any other country where same-sex marriages are illegal. The term ‘corrective rape’ first came into existence in South Africa. This is a practice common in South Africa where men rape lesbian women with the aim of “curing” them from lesbianism. This ‘cure’ has done more damage to the victims as they have been affected with HIV/AIDS and some have suffered depressions. Legalizing homosexuality generally defeats the purpose if lesbians and gay man still have to be in the closet even when the law allows them to come out. Some might argue that being homophobic is as bad as being discriminated against because of your colour-racism, and also being discriminated against because of a disability or gender wise for that matter. But then some will argue that gender race and impairment all relate to what a person is, well as homosexuality relates to what a person does. Religious fanatics and some unrealistic dogmas are what have seen homophobia triumph in society. Acceptance is something that we should consider trying. Instead of victimizing, maybe extending a helping hand to these people who we often believe are emotionally challenged would change the world for these people. For once let us look at them as human beings first other than just pointing them out as queers. On the other hand, let us watch out for the people that have made it their life’s mission to turn as many people gay as they can, just because they feel the need to make a point. amamunanura@gmail.com