Pride vs Prejudice
Analysing the Criminalisation of homosexuality in Africa
Date: Thursday 16th June, 6pm,
Venue: G2, SOAS (WC1H 0XG)
Speakers
- Dr Oliver Phillips – Research director at the School of Law, University of Westminster. He has written and published extensively on sexuality and the law in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
- Reverend Rowland Jide Macaulay – Author, preacher and the founding Pastor of House of Rainbow Fellowship, a Christian Fellowship with groups in the UK, Nigeria and Ghana.
- Godwyns Onwuchekwa – Co-founder and coordinator of Justice for Gay Africans Society,
Chair
Ellah Allfrey – Deputy editor of Granta, and previously a senior editor at Jonathan Cape, Random House.
Description
Across Africa homosexuals are persecuted for their sexuality; they are frequently condemned by the church, vilified in the media and punished by the law. Only South Africa has legalised gay marriage, and constitutionally banned all anti-gay discrimination. In several countries, same-sex sexual activity is still punishable with the death penalty. In Uganda, MP David Bahati is continuing his attempt to put through his infamous anti-homosexuality Bill, which would advocate the indiscriminate arrest of all homosexuals, who could be imprisoned for life. Instead of protecting human rights, the law in many African countries legitimises homophobia, ensuring it is framed as ‘immoral’ and ‘unAfrican’ behaviour.
This expert panel of speakers will address the implementation of anti-gay laws across Africa and the current LGBTI struggles to undermine and change these laws. They will also discuss the struggle for personal reconciliation of gay Africans with their faith and culture within homophobic societies.
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