Ugandans took part in the 3rd annual Gay Pride in Africa parade on August 9th, 2014 after the invalidation of anti-gay laws.
I don’t normally get very political, but some times things happen around the world that require a mention. If you are an upwardly mobile chick living in the US, chances are you have at least one gay friend, if not a bunch of them (and probably one or two ex-boyfriends #amiright?).
In the US, gay rights have been a hot button issue for a while, and many of the states have made great strides in providing equal rights for homos. Unfortunately, that is not the case in many other countries, especially in Africa.
READ MORE: Gay Pride Street Style in London
Following the overturning of an anti-gay law in Uganda, the LGBT community threw a gay pride parade on August 9th, in Entebbe. This is the third public gay pride event they have held, but the previous events turned violent when police tried to break them up. Now that the Ugandans have the protection of the law on their side, they are free to celebrate openly.
Many of the marchers still wore masks to hide their identities, but they also waved rainbow flags signaling their support. This parade is only a small step in the fight for gay rights in Africa, but when it comes to human rights, any step, however small, is significant.
In case I haven’t hammered the point home enough, here are some legal penalties for being gay in Africa:
Botswana — A jail sentence of up to 5 years.
Mauritania — Death penalty by public stoning.
Mozambique- Probation or six months-3 years of forced labor in an agricultural colony.
Nigeria- Death penalty for men and whipping/imprisonment for women in 12 North Nigerian states. 14 years in jail for the rest of the country.
Gambia- 14 years in jail.
Ghana- Between 5-25 years in prison.
Kenya- Between 14-21 years in prison.
Malawi- Up to 14 years in prison and possible corporal punishment.
Ethiopia- A year in prison or ‘rigorous imprisonment’ for up to 10 years.
Cameroon- Fine and up to 5 years in jail.
