WELCOMING YOU IN THE NEW YEAR!

By Nthateng Mhlambiso (BTM Managing Editor)

Warmest greetings to our readers in a very important year to South Africa of hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup. When we, at Behind the Mask, wear our soccer T-shirts to work on Fridays, getting excited about this big event, we will not forget the day to day challenges suffered by the gay community in Africa, we will continue to serve you with LGBTI news as they happen in different countries.

Touching on some of the news highlights during the festive season:

* Rwanda saw the Bill criminalizing homosexual conduct discarded, while Ugandans are still up in arms fighting against their country’s own Antigay Bill, which carries ridiculous provisions against homosexuals.

* In an ambiguous statement Ugandan MP David Bahati, accused of calling for a “gay death penalty”, said he had been misrepresented by the media and that the death penalty is only trying to criminalise child abusers.

He said the new offence of aggravated homosexuality is a penalty against any “defilement” of under18s by either heterosexuals or homosexuals. Whatever this means!

However Ugandan officials seem to have softened up a bit on the provisions of the Bill since President Yoweri Museveni has criticized the death penalty saying it is too harsh and encouraged his ruling National Resistance movement Party to overturn the provision.

* On the other hand American Evangelists who were part of a three day conference aiming to cure homosexuals in Uganda, organized by Family Life Network have said that they had no intention of helping stoke the kind of anger that led to the establishment of a Bill imposing a death sentence for homosexuals.

* Moving to Malawi, Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) a Human rights organization that is inclusive of LGBTI people had its offices ransacked and office property taken by the police, something that shocked activists working in this office.

Also recently police have arrested and charged a couple with “public indecency” after the two men got married in a symbolic, traditional ceremony in December.

* In Kenya the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya has told Committee of Experts, drafting the country’s new constitution that it wants LGBTI rights to be recognised. GALCK, in its proposal called on law experts to include fundamental human rights of all minorities.

* On a positive side Kenya’s government has been commended by the LGBTI community in that country for its involvement in the fight against HIV and AIDS within the gay community.

 * In South Africa the gay community is also gearing up for the one of the biggest events, the Cape Town Pride taking place on 20 February to 7 March.

As the year begins let us stay positive and continue to fight for what we believe in.

Aluta Continua!