Collage inspired by Kampala landmarks and Ugandan symbols, overlaid with Fatteh’s map of the African continent generated by AI.
Fatteh’s monthly round-up of must-read LGBTQ+ news features Nigerian club kids, South African preachers, Gabonese singers and stories from Egypt, Ghana and Senegal.
by Beza Lealem
As the world ushered in the new year, millions of LGBTQ+ Africans marked the occasion in their own ways before settling into January. It was a month of celebrations in Ethiopia and Eritrea, where Genna/Ledet and Timket are annual highlights, despite the holidays being complicated for some LGBTQ people. Yet the festive mood was short-lived, as familiar challenges facing the community quickly resurfaced across the continent.
Headlines were dominated by all-too-familiar stories of repression and abuse, from Ghana and Uganda to Egypt and Senegal. This month, the African Human Rights Coalition revealed the extent of violence against LGB women, both within their families and communities, and in hostile environments where they have been detained or displaced. Yet there were a few signs of hope too, including a win for LGBTQ representation in the arts in Kenya and the experience of one musician in Gabon.
Against this backdrop, Fatteh focused on what support and solidarity look like on the ground, building on the momentum of our TikTok Live series. Hosted by me every couple of weeks, the live chat provides a safe space for Ethiopia’s often isolated LGBTQ community. Conducted in Amharic, the country’s working language, the conversation alternates between themes of ‘Sele Heg’ (navigating legal and safety risks) and ‘Sele Tena’ (physical, mental and sexual health).
In our January edition of the series, we explored practical, proactive steps LGBTQ people can take to protect themselves in a country where their very existence is against the law. We ended the month by launching an agony aunt service on our social platforms. ‘Mela Belugne’ answers our community’s anonymous questions, covering topics including love, safety, family, faith, work and more.
Beyond our own modest efforts to shape the conversation, reports from across Africa reflected a mix of setbacks and resilience. Here’s our round-up of January news, highlighting some of the important stories affecting LGBTQ people across the continent.
Uganda Suspended LGBTQ and Human Rights Organization Ahead of Election
Kenya’s Court of Appeal Overturns Ban on Lesbian-Themed Film ‘Rafiki’
LGBTQ Nigerians Who Influenced Alté Club Culture Are Now Being Excluded
Egyptian Police Use Apps to Entrap Gay Men on Debauchery and Deviancy Charges
Eleven Men Convicted of ‘Unnatural Acts’ in Senegal While Eleven Await Trial LGBTQ Asylum Seekers Fear Being Left Out of Kenya Refugee Camp Reforms Over 90% of Nigeria’s Educated LGBTQ Professionals Are Preparing to Emigrate
Ghana’s Education Ministry Recalls Teaching Manual with LGBTQ References
Bisexual Singer Jann Halexander Chronicles His Return to Gabon
South African Religious Leader Humiliates Child in ‘Conversion Therapy’ Video
Ghanaian Opposition MP Slams Government for Going Quiet on Anti-LGBT Law
Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act Is Hampering HIV Prevention Efforts