“Every Sodomite has 75 sexual partners”… Well, if that’s
true, then I and quite a number of queer people I personally know who actually
happen to wittingly enter and utterly savour a stable & loving monogamous
relationship must be some sort of freaks hah....lol!
The Article
published on Tuesday 18 June in the #16 edition of the Addis based Amharic
Newspaper came under a bold ‘sure to fly off the shelves, title; “The number of
Sodomites in Ethiopia has reached 16,000.”
Very few publications I’ve come across exemplify the mediocrity of
Habesha Journalistic Standards, better. How many levels of wrongness were
worded in this publication? I can’t even begin to fathom. The randomest pick of
numbers in the history of random number pickings along with a complete
fabrication of baseless facts with no aim what so ever other than to misguide
& misinform and perhaps sell a few more papers.
While I tend to
gradually get over the irritation and anger at the sheer ludicrousness of the
people who come up with such abhorring pile of nonsense, it really pains me to
think that there will be many, many people who will read and inevitably believe
this to be the absolute truth….Truly saddening!
Owing to the countless Political, Socio-economic,
Environmental, Human Rights and countless other burning issues faced by present
day Ethiopia, mass concern exclusively regarding a certain subject and a certain
minority constituents of society is quite a rare phenomenon. And it’s even more
extraordinary when the subject of this nation-wide interest and the main topic
of afternoon coffee gossip is, Homosexuality. Safe to say that not many saw it
coming. The last time such rarity came to be was back in Dec, when leaders of
all the main religions in the nation gathered to denounce a MSM and HIV themed event
to be hosted by AMSHER, which was part of the yearly global ICASA conference.
The dramatic sequence of events had come to an abrupt end when an Ethiopian
government official literally barged in, had a private word with the religious
leaders minutes before the conference
was set to take place, and put a stop to it all.
Though no one can be
certain of what was said in that private meeting that lead the clerics to
abandon their gathering, there was no mistaking the government’s actions as to
being the result of a different stance from the religious leaders’ or that it
remotely cared for the would be subjects of condemnation…that is homosexual
Ethiopians. No, not at all! After all, if twenty one years of life under the Woyane
dictatorship has thought just about every single Ethiopian anything, it is the
conniving deceitful and meticulously calculated
tactics used by P.M Meles and his leadership to maintain a strong link
with the west, and the length to which
it goes to cover up whatever gross violation of human rights it oversees in
order to preserve its ‘Western
friendly, Anti-terrorism and all round commendable poster child of image of burgeoning African Democracy. And
besides, the ICASA conference was surely going to rake in hundreds of millions
of dollars in foreign Aid in to the rotten coffers of the Junta and everything
needed to take place without a hitch.
Now, six months is
all it took to prove wrong, anyone who might have doubted this as the Gay bashing gathering had picked up
where it left off , and in fact way grander than what would have been. Mainly courtesy
of the United for Life Ethiopia’s excellent devotion to the cause. The cause of
fear mongering and incitement to hatred in broad day light, that is!
The same NGO who in
2008 had organized a similar gathering was once again behind a Conference
attended by over 2000 participants on Saturday, 9th of June.
Venue- Au Head Quarters,
Addis Ababa;
The Chinese funded and built, state of the art building was
inaugurated on Jan 28, 2012 with colourful ceremony and acknowledged in speech
by various heads of African states as being a gift from the Chinese government
and token of good will that came with no-strings attached unlike western Aid.
Perhaps the same reason why the organizers and the overseeing officials deemed
this venue most appropriate to host such a gathering which among other things, repeatedly
deliberated on the need to unconditionally reject foreign Aid with conditions.
Conditions that include LGBT human rights as being part of other “Normal” human
rights. But the Irony of it is that in this very same venue, during annual AU
conference back in January, the UN
secretary general Ban-Ki Moon had made a ground breaking speech urging all
African leaderships to accept, acknowledge and respect Gay rights as
fundamental human rights.
The assembly of over two thousand participants was made up of people from just about every walk of life and every aspect of Ethiopian society. These included; high ranking Government Officials, Members of Parliament, leaders of national Youth organizations, representatives of current and former members of the armed forces not to forget the VIP co-organizers and in charge of much of the speaking; Religious leaders of all major religions across the nation (Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, President of the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Council, President of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Iyseus, Head of the Ethiopian Catholic Church, General Secretary of the Ethiopian Evangelical Churches Fellowship).
It is extremely
unusual if not unheard of to see all the different and many a time conflicting
religious sects of the nation to come together supporting the same cause and
literally and unanimously agree on a subject. But once again, the supposedly
impending threat of homosexual infestation was one subject for all to wholly
agree to oppose and condemn unconditionally. And though Abune Paulos;
government appointed Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church seemed to spear-head
his usual ‘Homosexuality is a pinnacle of immorality’ and whatnot rhetoric mainly
based on quotes from the bible, all the
other clerics later expressed their unreserved support of his statement. All
the same, the main shit stirrer, facilitator and organizer of the gathering were
an Organization mainly affiliated with the Protestant Evangelical church
namely, United for Life Ethiopia.
A UK (Cheltenham) based, Non-Governmental Organization
claiming to work on pro-life and sanctity of marriage concerns. Capitalizing on
Ethiopia’s deeply religious cross society shared sentiment; this Christian NGO
has for many years operated in various forms in both urban and rural Ethiopia
among many similar western evangelical missions.
A fundraising appeal by
one such Evangelical mission named Exodus Global Alliance states its mission in
Ethiopia as follows;
This is in line with the NGO’s related works in other African countries and elsewhere as stated on its WebSite.
On the other hand, the case of United for Life seems rather devious.
While Anti-Abortion campaigns have dominated its operations in Ethiopia, and is
also the only subject area it purports to engadge in, as stated on the Why
Ethiopia section of its website.' it has also
played a major role in intensifying the extreme homophobic sentiment in our
Ethiopian society on numerous occasions and by using several scaremongering
strategies which misinform the public based on extremely erroneous facts,
misleading and fabricated data as well as long outdated medical and
psychological theories.
Post the 2008 conference organized by UFL,a seven part
Anti-Gay propaganda video meticulously designed to cause as much Shock as
possible, is a good example of the clearly Inflammatory Intent of this NGO.Made
up of according to their own admission, European Evangelicals some of whom are
known in their own countries for Inciting and hateful activities. One such
individual was featured in a speech were he admits to have been convicted &
imprisoned for his homophobic teaching in his home country of Sweden.
Unfortunately, these
despicable individuals were welcomed in our nation with open arms and allowed
to carry out their loathing agendas.
According to various
news reports and speaking to acquaintances in Addis I was able to learn that,
Just after Nine thirty, on this unfortunate Saturday morning, the Conference
titled; Acts of Sodomy and associated social Catastrophe in Ethiopia,
commenced.
The leader of the Ethiopian Orthodox church ( Christian
denomination with over 45 million followers) who on numerous occasions denounced
homosexuality and labelled it as ‘The
Pinnacle of Immorality’ in the 2008 gathering, opened the conference with a
Prayer followed by a lengthy speech.
The patriarch called on all Ethiopians to fight this western disease while refusing to heed calls of western nations that aim to include Gay rights as being human rights. He stated “we will never listen to the supposed out cries of those with sinful, animalistic & Insanely Morales and we will never give in to external pressures’’.
Following applause that lasted for minutes, the president of ‘United for Life’Dr Seyoum Antonios presented a study which purported to illustrate the Intricate Nature of the mental condition that is, ‘Homosexuality’. He went on to explain that Poor upbringing, personal mental disorder, Social calamity and being molested as a child’ as being the main causes of the disease widely spread mainly among the Caucasian race. And after strongly suggesting that the majority of scholars and scientists who argue homosexuality to be a natural phenomenon are themselves infected with the disease, he referred to Ban Ki Moon’s speech back in January as exemplification of western nation’s conspiracy to infiltrate the nation of Ethiopia and the whole of Africa by spreading this disease which will inevitably threaten the very core of society.
-In trying to show case the disastrous physical consequences of homosexual practices ( a strategy which successfully shocked most attendees to a point of sickness) The Dr made a slide show presentation of X ray and actual photographs of patients who due to engaging in male homosexual intercourse contracted various STDs as well as rectal tissue damage.
The patriarch called on all Ethiopians to fight this western disease while refusing to heed calls of western nations that aim to include Gay rights as being human rights. He stated “we will never listen to the supposed out cries of those with sinful, animalistic & Insanely Morales and we will never give in to external pressures’’.
Following applause that lasted for minutes, the president of ‘United for Life’Dr Seyoum Antonios presented a study which purported to illustrate the Intricate Nature of the mental condition that is, ‘Homosexuality’. He went on to explain that Poor upbringing, personal mental disorder, Social calamity and being molested as a child’ as being the main causes of the disease widely spread mainly among the Caucasian race. And after strongly suggesting that the majority of scholars and scientists who argue homosexuality to be a natural phenomenon are themselves infected with the disease, he referred to Ban Ki Moon’s speech back in January as exemplification of western nation’s conspiracy to infiltrate the nation of Ethiopia and the whole of Africa by spreading this disease which will inevitably threaten the very core of society.
-In trying to show case the disastrous physical consequences of homosexual practices ( a strategy which successfully shocked most attendees to a point of sickness) The Dr made a slide show presentation of X ray and actual photographs of patients who due to engaging in male homosexual intercourse contracted various STDs as well as rectal tissue damage.
Surely, it is by any
standards, an absolute disgrace for a medical professional to publically
degrade and nullify the Hippocratic Oath he was supposed to abide by’
regardless of his religious beliefs or whatever rewards might come of this. But
then again, Ethics is rarely among the vocabulary of just about every
institution of present day Habesha land.
Here is a play list of United for life’s extremely
misleading narrative carefully designed to misinform, shock, disgust and nauseate
any Ethiopian who might by any chance have the slightest bit of sympathy for
fellow Habeshas who because of their innate trait are condemned to a bleak existence
of utter misery, desolation and persecution.
In conclusion he urged the Ethiopian society to do all to eradicate and prevent every instance of homosexuality and strongly oppose any foreign pressures that might try to help Gays in Ethiopia, or change its laws to decriminalize homosexuality.
The conference which was very meticulously and systematically designed to instil fear, disgust and hate towards Gays and homosexual life later presented an alleged testimonial from a very frail ,HIV positive,“Ex-Gay man” who blamed rape at a young age and subsequently being infected with the homosexuality disease, to have lead him in to a life of sex work and ultimately his current illness. This was the supposed publisher of the book ‘Yesedom Nefsat’ (Sodomite Souls) which I had read and reviewed in detail in my
previous
blogpost(http://ethiolgbt.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/yesedom-nefsat-gay-ethiopian.html)
On this occasion, he
stated that he has now been completely cured of the disease (Bushinet) after
months of Holy water treatment in various Orthodox churches. After thanking
United for Life for turning his life around, He also told that most of his
former associates would like to be cured of the condition but are still living a very carefully hidden double lives due to lack of any assistance to be
cured and mainly due to fear of being
imprisoned or killed if their sexuality is revealed.
According to reports that followed, the man’s testimony proved to be very moving to many in attendance already emotional by the explicit medical presentation that had preceded it, though the facts as to why he chose to come forward and do this despite the risk to his former associates was not known to most. But, after speaking to a former associate of this individual currently living in Addis, I was able to learn that the he was paid over $5000 along with a business start-up help and full medical cover by the same NGO for publishing the book in his name and corroborating their propaganda.
Following speeches, by a number of individuals, An Ethiopian Member of Parliament(House of people’s representatives gave a lengthy speech denouncing western leaders namely, President Obama, Prime Minister David Cameroon and the UN secretary general. While indicating that the Ethiopian government has not so far had any direct pressure on the issue from the US or any Other government, he exclaimed that both his party(EPRDF) and the government does not intend to bow in to any future demands even if every cent of foreign aid is to be cut.
The MP passionately declared that; “Ethiopia will never be a breeding ground, but instead a graveyard for those who intend to nurture and spread homosexuality.
According to reports that followed, the man’s testimony proved to be very moving to many in attendance already emotional by the explicit medical presentation that had preceded it, though the facts as to why he chose to come forward and do this despite the risk to his former associates was not known to most. But, after speaking to a former associate of this individual currently living in Addis, I was able to learn that the he was paid over $5000 along with a business start-up help and full medical cover by the same NGO for publishing the book in his name and corroborating their propaganda.
Following speeches, by a number of individuals, An Ethiopian Member of Parliament(House of people’s representatives gave a lengthy speech denouncing western leaders namely, President Obama, Prime Minister David Cameroon and the UN secretary general. While indicating that the Ethiopian government has not so far had any direct pressure on the issue from the US or any Other government, he exclaimed that both his party(EPRDF) and the government does not intend to bow in to any future demands even if every cent of foreign aid is to be cut.
The MP passionately declared that; “Ethiopia will never be a breeding ground, but instead a graveyard for those who intend to nurture and spread homosexuality.
The conference
concluded on a high note with quintessentially Ethiopian patriotic rhetoric
along with stern religious vows.
The disastrous consequences of this conference will undoubtedly and inevitably affect the very existence of just about every single queer Ethiopian who already have to endure a hopeless life of fear and in hiding with no possibility of acceptance and normal life. In a country of over 85 million inhabitants, numerous cultures & traditions, consensual, loving same sex relations are unthinkable to say the least. To make matters worse, while state sponsored homophobia and violation of basic human rights might not be uncommon in numerous African nations, the fact that Ethiopia has no colonial past has made for minimal news coverage by international News organizations as well as complete lack of foreign concern for gross violation of fundamental human rights of vulnerable groups one of which is sexual minorities. If ever, there ever was any glimmer of hope that LGBT Habeshas might look forward to even considering having their voices heard from beyond the shadows of a double life and out of their hard-bolted closets, such, demonization, blunt incitement to hate and vilification based on erroneous theories & teachings are sure to stifle the life out of it all….perhaps for yet another generation.
The disastrous consequences of this conference will undoubtedly and inevitably affect the very existence of just about every single queer Ethiopian who already have to endure a hopeless life of fear and in hiding with no possibility of acceptance and normal life. In a country of over 85 million inhabitants, numerous cultures & traditions, consensual, loving same sex relations are unthinkable to say the least. To make matters worse, while state sponsored homophobia and violation of basic human rights might not be uncommon in numerous African nations, the fact that Ethiopia has no colonial past has made for minimal news coverage by international News organizations as well as complete lack of foreign concern for gross violation of fundamental human rights of vulnerable groups one of which is sexual minorities. If ever, there ever was any glimmer of hope that LGBT Habeshas might look forward to even considering having their voices heard from beyond the shadows of a double life and out of their hard-bolted closets, such, demonization, blunt incitement to hate and vilification based on erroneous theories & teachings are sure to stifle the life out of it all….perhaps for yet another generation.
In the last two decades, western backing of Woyane
leadership has always been grossly supportive mainly owing to the fact that the
geographical placement of Ethiopia makes it worth befriending for its
strategically crucial position in the horn of Africa and the red sea region. The
main practicality of this has been the use of Ethiopian air space and military
bases from which numerous drone strikes are carried out in neighbouring Somalia
by the US. Hence, Woyane’s carefully built reputation as an important Anti- terrorism
ally of the west has meant numerous
other gross violations of human right are completely overlooked and the
leadership unconditionally backed and financed by the US and other developed
nations. I hope this shameful foreign policy maintained by the west is soon replaced
by one where such relationships are not a ‘all or nothing’ but instead one
where individual concerns specially one’s regarding human rights issues , are
addressed separately regardless of other cooperative undertakings.
On the other hand, I
had always hoped that western nations should bring an end to decades of turning
a blind eye on the abhorring state of Gay (LGBT) rights in Africa. In fact I
had briefly touched on this in previous post and long before a succession of
speeches in 2011 by leaders of US, UK and other developed nations calling for a
global recognition of gay rights as fundamental human rights. This was followed
by statements which were mainly directed at Homophobic African nations. In one
of these statements, UK PM, David Cameroon made spoke of financial aid cut to
Homophobic African nations.The Southeast African country Malawi which has
received £200 million from Britain over the past three years was the first
subject of this shift in foreign policy as it had its aid cut to £19 million after
jailing gay couple Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga for fourteen
years.
But while almost all
of the targeted African nations sternly vowed to resist such pressure to accept
LGBT rights, Malawi’s President Joyce Banda would later go on to be the first to make a ground breaking
announcement of the countries intention to decriminalize homosexuality. And
though this is truly remarkable and perhaps a fundamental lesson to be learned
from by the rest of Africa, It also made much sense that as a former British
colony & a current commonwealth member, Malawi’s current leadership would
heed the counsel of and agree to unull the same colonial era laws that were
introduced by Britain itself.
Unfortunately, this has not been the case with other common wealth
member African nations and even more so with nations like ours who has no
former colonial overseer.
This is and other contributory factors are what built up to
the unparalleled concern on the issue of homosexuality and the events that
unravelled and the on-going media frenzy.
I had always acknowledged, desperately wished for and even tried to do
my bit towards breaking the silence on this ever taboo issue and having a
civilized exchange of opinions in the current context. And it seems that is what is currently
ensuing, though for all the wrong reasons.
Personally, yes I do agree that human rights and in this
case LGBT rights should be a very significant component to be considered for
financial or any other form of Aid to developing nations like ours. But it
would by no means achieve the desired change if It is used to blatantly
leverage and result in an overnight change in attitude.
Once again, I hope
that such generalized foreign policy approaches are carefully considered on
specific context basis, and effective applicability tailored to suit local religious,
cultural and other social factors if ever true acceptance, equality and
universal realization of fundamental human rights are to take effect.
Selam(ሰላም)
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