press release from the rainbow project

October 12, 2004: It is with great outrage and intense dismay that we at the rainbow project (trp) learnt about the murder of fellow human rights activist and friend Fannyann Eddy.

Fannyann, the founder and director of SLLAGA, (Sierra Leone Lesbian and Gay Association) was attacked in the SLLAGA offices while working late on Wednesday, 29 September. After gang raping her, the assailants stabbed her in the head with a sharp object, and finally broke her neck. The vicious nature of this attack certainly suggests that it was a homophobic hate crime.

Staff of the rainbow project got to know Fannyann during a symposium in Johannesburg in February where the All Africa Rights Initiative (AARI) was founded. Her strong will, verve, courage and fundamental believe in the equality of all people spoke to us. It is most probably these very characteristics that lead to her brutal murder.

We had the opportunity to spend a further 2 weeks with Fannyann when she, together with 29 women from 14 African countries gathered in Namibia in August for a meeting of the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL). It was during this visit that we were fortunate to be exposed to her incredible ability to energise fellow activists and to spur them into action. The director of trp, Ian Swartz, recalls with great fondness his last conversation with Fannyann during with she proclaimed: "I am a feminist" and vowed to keep on advocating for greater tolerance and acceptance of "especially lesbian women".

To us at trp, Fannyann's murder demonstrates the need to do just so. This year's lgbt week that will take place in early December during which a national media campaign will raise awareness around some lgbt issues and in particular the violence lgbt people face in Namibian society, will be dedicated to Fannyann.

Our hearts and minds go out to the family and friends of Fannyann, in particular her nine year old son, Valentine. We also would like to convey our heartfelt sympathy to the members of SLLAGA and would like to remind them that they are not alone. Though thousands of kilometres may physically separate us from them, we are bond together by the families we find in AARI and CAL and in our believes that all people are equal, that all human lives precious and that through our work we make this world a better one for all.