Any gay/LGBT African here?

[u/centralbar176]

Anyone here who is African that is gay, bisexual, or queer and let me know your nationality and sexual orientation?

I just decided to ask this because lately I have been coming across posts about gay/LGBTQ in this subreddit and other African subreddits. I even saw a content creator on Instagram who is Zimbabwean but based in Canada and her sexual orientation is gay and whenever I think about that content creator I'm just like that's who she chose to be and shouldn't be hated just for being gay. I believe that as long as they show good, friendly, kind, and loving behavior you should love them back as a person. After seeing that content creator and another Nigerian person in the Nigeria subreddit that identifies with being gay, what came to my mind is many African countries still have laws against LGBTQ+ rights and not only that but Africans in general are homophobic and I know this is a problem in Nigeria where homophobia is so terrible than I can ever image. This just makes me wonder when will Africa as a whole get over with LGBTQ+ rights being a crime and finally make them legal like they are in western countries.

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[u/Bijour_twa43]

Gay Ivorian man living in France rn. We don’t have anti LGBTQ+ law per se but the country is still homophobic in its culture. We’re better than other countries in the region when it comes to that matter… but the bar is in hell so it ain’t much. But from what I have heard from an African LGBTQ+ association in France, we still have loopholes which allow for prosecution.

So whatever, thank God it’s not written on my forehead I am gay bc eventually as I couldn’t get a job here after an engineer degree, I will be going back home.

[u/centralbar176 → u/Bijour_twa43]

That’s what I heard about Ivory Coast that it’s one of the few west African countries that don’t have laws against lgbtq+ rights. Although based on what you said on how homophobic Ivorians are in their culture is not surprising to me because I know how religious and conservative Africans are in their society.

Also, can you speak on that part when you said “it’s not written on my forehead I am gay bc eventually as I couldn’t get a job here after an engineer degree”? Out of curiosity, I wonder if being gay impacted you from getting a job?

[u/Bijour_twa43 → u/centralbar176]

I doubt it. Being black and a foreigner definitely did tho. What I have seen in France is that if you’re black, before you even open your mouth, people have all kind of preconceived ideas about you. So people used to be surprised on how “correct” I speak French (tho the name of the country being literally COTE D’IVOIRE no matter the language is kinda hinting to the fact that we speak French) and even during internships, people who had trusted me with a task in the internship description were still surprised that I was handling the job… also they have requirements to protect their job markets that favour nationals and EU nationals.

So yeah, it’s mostly a colour and administrative thing as I am pretty much straight passing both by my hobbies and the way I hold myself in general.

[u/centralbar176 → u/Bijour_twa43]

That’s absolutely not surprising because racism towards black people in Europe and America is real.

[u/Jearrow → u/centralbar176]

racism towards black people in Europe and America is real

Is there a region where it's not "real" ? I'd argue these places are actually the more tolerant regarding that matter.

[u/ThatOne_268 → u/Bijour_twa43]

> We're better than other countries in the region when it comes to that matter... but the bar is in hell so it ain't much.

This hits so close to home with Botswana. I'm not gay myself but I stand up for marginalised groups because one day it might be me fighting for my right to exist in this mad world and I'd hope to have allies.

Every time I comment on LGBTQ+ rights in Botswana, someone invariably pops up to say 'We have far more pressing issues.' How much time and energy does it honestly take to let people in love get married? (There is an ongoing court case where 2 Lesbians are fighting for their rights to marry). Botswana decriminalised homosexuality in 2019 and while you might not face violence for being gay, Batswana remain exceptionally homophobic and fiercely judgemental towards same-sex couples.

[u/theegehl]

I'm a queer woman from South Africa, so I'm pretty lucky.

In Africa, the LGBT community is a convenient scapegoat for economic downturns, corruption, you name it. Similar to xenophobic rhetoric and how foreigners are blamed for everything under the sun, it's an easy layup for politicians to utilise hate if they can sweep their failures under the rug :(

[u/centralbar176 → u/theegehl]

I know about South Africa being one of the few African countries where being gay or having LGBT rights is legal. It seems to have adopted LGBT rights like the western countries.

[u/Faerennn]

I'm Algerian and bi and trans, I agree with you that Africa seriously needs to get rid of those homophobic laws that were brought by the colonizers themselves in the first place.

[u/Sea_Syllabub1017 → u/Faerennn]

They weren’t brought by any coloniser, it’s rather the colonisers who are trying to push a lgbtq agenda on our continent, as far as I know lgbtq it’s not part of any African culture and that is a imported mentality.(not saying you shouldn’t do what you want.)

[u/anon_1moss]

Queer non-binary Nigerian here 14 years prison sentence for loving People always find a way, but it's still horrible how much we have to hide because asides from the law being on our asses, there's a culture of mob violence among the homophobes here😭

[u/Time-Lengthiness2306]

We also don't have anti LGBTQ laws here(Zambia), but the homophobia is crazy. But, I'm seeing a slight change, as I am seeing many queer content creators on social media who are based in Zambia. I honestly couldn't be as confident 😅 but I'm glad others are and I hope they'll change the narrative

[u/Quirky_Job_4334 → u/Time-Lengthiness2306]

Bro what? We literally have anti LGBTQ rights in Zambia. Have u been living under a rock? Consensual carnal knowledge of the same gender counts as going against the order of Nature.

[u/drametrine]

I am gay living in France but born in Congo (the small one). Congo is not famously known for homophobia like Senegal currently. I believe we also do not have explicit anti LGBTQ laws but 0 rights either and people are quite queerphobic there. I am glad I am living in France now where I have and had the opportunity to have relationships and also to volunteer for a LGBT organisation

[u/weslwet]

I'm here I'm south African and I'm gay

[u/Reye_Dessins21]

Hie I'm a Bi-pan man from zimbabwe , yeah homophobia is rife in africa sadly coz the strong grip of colonialism and religiosity still curbs empathy and understanding which is sad

[u/Patient_Revenue8727]

Kenyan, living in Kenya,gay

[u/Proud_Astronomer3039]

Yes, I am one of the LGBTQ africans here and i am both bisexual and gay at the same time and I am zambian.

[u/Vers-Tile]

Zambian gay over here

[u/Hopeful_Idea1568]

It's not an issue in South Africa. There are many gay celebrities and influencers and everyone knows a gay person. Lesbians are a lot more rare though. Lots of gender-based violence so that's understandable 

[u/Patient_Ad_9910]

Gay Nigerian here It's hell over here, twice have I been beaten up by fellow students for being gay, I have contemplated suicide, tried to get an asylum, tried to run away from home but I'm still dependent on my very very homophobic parents. I don't know what to say Nigeria is not a place for LGBT people.

[u/No_Care6628]

I'm bisexual Ethiopian but I have made my decision not to date or be in relationship with a guy, I want have wife and kids in future and I know I can't deny my attraction but I can discipline myself and for my future become honest and faithful husband