LGBTI

The Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) is expected to make a presentation at the National AIDS Council (NAC) on findings of an assessment of access to health services by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gendered community as well as a study on men who have sex with men (MSM) in May this year.

BONELA says this decision was made by former president Festus Mogae, at the NAC last week, following a query by BONELA as the presentation initially scheduled for May last year, was cancelled at the last minute, without consultation.

The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has expressed deep disappointment with Minister of Arts and Culture, Lulu Xingwana’s attitude to freedom of expression.

In a press statement, the FXI argues that, “Her statement that the art exhibition of young female artist and lesbian activist, Zanele Muholi, of naked, black women embracing each other, is ‘immoral, offensive and against nation building’, is highly regrettable and is indicative of a blatant disregard and disrespect for the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.”

Gay rights groups have condemned a Ugandan pastor who screened same-sex pornography in a church to try to bolster support for proposed anti-homosexuality legislation.

Martin Ssempa, one of the main backers of a Bill that would impose the death penalty for some offenders, aired the explicit slideshow to several hundred people during a church service in Kampala.

South African gay rights group, Behind the Mask, has described the video as ’twisted homophobic propaganda’.

OUT LGBT Well-being, a gay health rights organisation, has initiated a campaign ‘Know your status Day’, which it hopes will effectively respond to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Prism HIV and STI nurse at OUT LGBT Well-being’s Elmie Munday points out that the aim of ‘Know Your Status Day’ is to increase the need for people to go for regular HIV testing.

Uganda's ethics and integrity minister dismisses virulent criticism of his country's proposed anti-gay law by United States President, Barack Obama.

Uganda's Ethics and Integrity Minister, James Nsaba Buturo, has dismissed virulent criticism of his country's proposed anti-gay law by United States President, Barack Obama, and warned that any interference will be unacceptable.

Buturo argues that, "Somebody should tell President Obama that the parliament is doing its legislative duty in the interest of the people of Uganda."

The room was full of eager movie watchers – those interested in the digital story methodology and those just needing a bit of down time. Neither got what they had hoped.

I started off with the stories of transgender men (or transmen – men who have changed their gender from female to male) and everyone was fundamentally challenged – either to defend themselves, sex and gender as a reality or do defend individual choice and identities.

The National Peoples Movement, a political party against gays and lesbians, is to contest this year’s general elections.

The party president, Aubrey Mbatha, says, “Gays and lesbians are ungodly and sinful, but so are laws allowing children to abort without their parents’ consent, and we oppose the banning of corporal punishment at schools and homes.”

The National Peoples Movement, which claims to be lobbying for a theocratic democracy, was launched in KwaZulu-Natal four years ago.

More than 80 percent of South Africa’s population regards homosexuality as wrong. This is according to the Social Attitudes Survey in South Africa conducted by researchers at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

Despite the fact that South Africa's legal system recognises gay marriages and the Constitution guarantees equal rights to all, the survey shows widespread negative attitudes towards lesbians and gay men.