activist murdered

October 4, 2004: Prominent lesbian activist, Fannyann Eddy, was murdered while working late in the offices of SLLAGA (Sierra Leone Lesbian and Gay Association) at the end of last week in what many fear was a homophobic hate crime judging by the brutal nature of the attack.

Tributes from fellow activists, international human rights organisations and funding bodies have been flooding in following the harrowing news of Fannyann's death. In a brief report on the incident Hans Binswanger, the senior advisor on the Africa region for the World Bank, wrote, "Fannyann Viola Eddy, the courageous lesbian and gay activist from Sierra Leone, and founder of the Sierra Leone Lesbian and Gay Association (SLLAGA), was brutally murdered last Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Assailants entered the office of SLLAGA at night when nobody [else] was in the entire building, and after apparently raping and stabbing her head with a sharp object, they finally broke her neck. The lesbian and gay community of Sierra Leone is in deep shock and totally frightened by this event."

Fannyann had spent time in southern Africa as a refugee from hostilities in Sierra Leone and visited the offices of GALZ in Zimbabwe to learn from them how to mobilise in a hostile environment. "Fannyann was an activist in the real sense of the word." Said Keith Goddard, the director of GALZ in a tribute to Fannyann. "She dedicated herself to the cause of normalizing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in society through direct action and she was an example to those of us who play the victim and claim that nothing is possible in the hostile climates in which we exist. In 2002 she came to the GALZ Offices in Harare, Zimbabwe looking for assistance in the setting up of an LGBT group in her home country, Sierra Leone. It was obvious she had all the determination and willpower to do so. Even in Zimbabwe, where she was a refugee, she brushed with members of our police force and others who tried to threaten her because she was lesbian. Naturally, she refused to be intimidated."

Even though Fannyann had the opportunity to remain in southern Africa she chose to return to Sierra Leone, a country which she loved deeply. In an interview published on Behind the Mask shortly after her visit to Johannesburg for the All Africa Symposium in February this year she named Sierra Leone as her favourite place in the world. In the same interview when asked about the inspiration for her career she answered. "My dreams! I hope to see more women being liberated or stand for what they believe in and hope to see a universe free of discrimination, torture and violence."

Fannyann was elected as a member of the committee of the All Africa Rights Initiative (AARI), which was born out of the February Symposium - she was also a member of the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) - steering committee formed in Namibia just weeks ago. Other members of both processes have expressed their deep shock and loss at the news of her senseless murder.

Fannyann made a submission to the UN Committee on Human rights at the Geneva meeting in April this year which discussed the Brazialian Resolution. In her impassioned presentation she highlighted the violence and often State sponsored oppression that lesbian and gay people in Africa face, ending, "Silence creates vulnerability. You, members of the Commission on Human Rights, can break the silence. You can acknowledge that we exist, throughout Africa and on every continent, and that human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity are committed every day. You can help us combat those violations and achieve our full rights and freedoms, in every society, including my beloved Sierra Leone."

Fannyann is survived by her 9 year old son and her girlfriend in South Africa, and will be sorely missed by activists and individuals across the continent.

Anyone wishing to make donations to help support Fannyann's son, girlfriend (who would like to travel to Sierra Leone to pay her last respects) and/or SLLAGA. here are the donation details:

Donations may be made to assist in 3 areas following the death of Sierra Leonean activist Fannyann Viola Eddy. Donors may chose to which fund they wish to contribute:

Donations to support Fannyann's son, Valentine, are being collected and managed by Hans Binswanger of the World Bank.

Hans Binswanger for Fannyann Eddy
Euro Account Number 500.019.839
Thurgauer Kantonalbank
Hauptstrasse
8280 Kreuzlingen
Switzerland
Swift code KBTGCH22

Payments can be in any convertible currency by electronic transfer to that account directly, or by sending a check/cheque to Hans at the following address: 1853 Ontario Place NW, Washington DC. 20009, USA.

The Bank will automatically convert the money to Euros at the exchange rate prevailing on the day when the money is received. Bank statements will regularly be made available to the family and SLLAGA.

Donations to support SLLAGA are being collected by Behind the Mask. Please indicate in the reference field "SLLAGA" for reporting purposes.

Behind the Mask
reference SLLAGA
Bank: Nedbank
Branch: 96 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Branch code: 195 005
Account no.: 195 055 8401
Swift: NEDSZAJJ

Payments can be in any convertible currency by electronic transfer to that account directly, or by sending a check/cheque to BTM at the following address: PO Box 93843, Yeoville 2143, Johannesburg, South Africa

Donations will be reconciled on a monthly basis and forwarded to SLLAGA with a report.

Donations to assist Fannyann's partner, Esther, to visit Sierra Leone to pay her last respects are being collected by Behind the Mask. Please indicate in the reference field "Esther" for reporting purposes.

Behind the Mask
reference Esther
Bank: Nedbank
Branch: 96 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Branch code: 195 005
Account no.: 195 055 8401
Swift: NEDSZAJJ

Payments can be in any convertible currency by electronic transfer to that account directly, or by sending a check/cheque to BTM at the following address: PO Box 93843, Yeoville 2143, Johannesburg, South Africa

Donations will be used for Esther's visit to Sierra Leone.
Excess funds will revert to the SLLAGA fund.