Jessica Stern, researcher for Human Rights Watch Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Program
Lesbians in South Africa face abuse and violence simply for not fitting social expectations of how women should look and act.
official name: Burkina Faso capital: Ouagadougou head of state: President Blaise Compaore state: multi-party democracy population: 13,902,972 independence: from France in 1960 languages: French (official) and other Sudanic languages religion: traditional African 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mostly Catholic) 10% currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF) Legal wise There is no law against gays. Penal Code criminalizes sexual contacts with someone under the age of consent with a penalty of up to 3 years' imprisonment. Gay sexual activity is legal. The age of consent is equal as of the Penal Code of 1996.
Communication
mainline telephones: 97,400 (2005) cellular telephones: 572,200 (2005) internet country code: .bf internet service providers: 373 (2005) internet users: 53,200 (2005)
protect sa from sexual apartheid OPINION � September 7, 2006: In his column on these pages, We need to talk straight about same-sex marriage (September 1), Patekile Holomisa stated that �the Constitutional Assembly, which drafted and adopted the constitution, never contemplated that the provision of unfair discrimination against homosexuals would ever be construed as endorsing same-sex marriages�. It seems that there is very little understanding of what the constitution of SA means to South African citizens. [more]
jinja cops hunt for gays UGANDA � September 7, 2006: Police in Jinja has instituted an operation to crack down on gays who are reportedly on the verge of overthrowing the straight sex generation in the district.
An Officer at Jinja Central police Station told this reporter on Tuesday that police will not watch as gays invade Jinja and other neighbouring districts like kampala, Masaka and Mbarara. [more]
Jessica Stern, researcher for Human Rights Watch Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Program
