iglhrc appoints new african-based researcher

By Lesego Masike (BTM reporter)

April 25, 2007: Former Behind The Mask fellow Joel Gustave Nana Ngongang has been recently appointed as Research and Policy Associate by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC).

This Cameroonian LGBTI activist will be based in Johannesburg, South Africa, but will work throughout the Southern and Western parts of Africa. His duties include communicating with African lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) organisations and the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights on behalf of IGLHRC – which is an American-based human rights organisation.

Describing the goals he wants to achieve while working for IGLHRC, Nana said; “I wish to lessen discrimination and hate crimes based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.”

He added that he plans to increase LGBTI visibility in Africa and. “I also want to address and increase activism in Francophone countries. I want to increase the voices of the voiceless so that they can be heard”, asserted Nana.

Nana’s involvement in the LGBTI activism began in 1999 when he was a member of Association for Gays and Lesbians (AGALES) in Cameroon. In 2004, he also founded a website for gays and lesbians called Maygaypal, and was also co-founder of Alternatives Cameroun founded in 2006.

Nana is part of the Global Forum – which is an organisation dealing with issues of men having sex with other men (MSM), safer sex and HIV/ Aids, where he is the chair.

He completed his studies at the University of Yaoundé in Cameroon receiving a B.Sc. degree. In addition to his native French, Banso and Medumba, he is also fluent in English and has studied German and Estonian.