YAOUNDE, CAMEROON — Human rights leaders from Africa are uniting to denounce the organization of a 'Gay Hate Day' taking place on August 21st in Cameroon and the ongoing arrests of people suspected to be gay. With the support of 74,354 members of the global movement AllOut.org, the group(*) calls on Cameroonian President Paul Biya to take a stand against discrimination and decriminalize homosexuality as an important step toward addressing the growing anti-gay sentiment in the country.
Just a few days ago, the influential Archbishop of Yaoundé has contributed to this homophobic backlash, calling homosexuality "shameful" and "an affront to the family, enemy of women and creation."
"These anti-gay proponents say they are protecting our 'traditional values.' But we want to tell them that hate and homophobia are not African values," says Alice N'Kom, a Cameroonian attorney renowned for her support for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Cameroon."We are bringing together people from across the continent to tell our country that pro-equality voices in Africa are strong."
"This anti-gay movement is misinforming Cameroonians. A poster announcing the 'Gay Hate Day' claims that hemorrhoids, incontinence and various infections are consequences of homosexuality," says Yves Yomb, director of Alternatives-Cameroun, an organization working for the rights of sexual minorities in Cameroon. "Decriminalizing homosexuality is a fundamental step in responding to the misinformation, hate, and violence."
In August 2011, Roger Jean Claude Mbédé was arrested for the crime of 'homosexual behavior.' He was sentenced to three years in prison and fined after sending a text message to another man. "My family says I am dangerous and that they can't live with a homosexual", said Mbédé.
"A homophobic crackdown by the police and government would be unacceptable anywhere, but this anti-gay rally being held as Roger is fighting for his freedom shows how extreme the situation is becoming Cameroon," says AllOut.org's Executive Director Andre Banks. The global movement has been working with N'Kom and other Cameroonian activists for the past year to address the rampant levels of homophobia in the country.
"This is the right moment for us to call on President Biya to stand up for equality, discharge Roger, and revoke anti-gay laws in Cameroon," says attorney N'Kom.
AllOut.org is a global movement for love and equality. 1,000,000 strong and in every country, AllOut.org is building a world where every person can live openly and love who they choose.
(*) Signers of the Joint Declaration of African Human Rights Leaders to oppose the "Gay Hate Day" celebration, taking place on August 21st, in Cameroon include:
Alternatives-Cameroun, Cameroon
Adefho and Alice N'Kom, Cameroon
Associaçao Mulher, Lei e Desenvolvimento (MULEIDE), Mozambique
Center for Development of People (CEDEP), Malawi
Engender, South Africa
Free Gender, South Africa
Identity Kenya, Kenya
Mouvement Alternatif pour les pour les Libertés Individuelles - M.A.L.I., Morocco
PSI, South Africa
SDA Kinship, Kenya
Women Working With Women, Kenya
Dr. Mannasseh Phiri Shimbala
JOINT DECLARATION OF AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS LEADERS
to oppose the "Gay Hate Day" celebration, taking place on August 21st, in Cameroon
We, defenders of human rights in Africa, are united against hate targeted at gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
On August 21st, in Cameroon, an organization known as the Cameroonian Youth Rally (Rassemblement de la Jeunesse Camerounaise) is gathering for an anti-gay celebration, claiming that homosexuality is a "crime against humanity." This group says they are acting to protect "African values" — but hate and violence are not African values.
By fueling homophobic sentiment across our continent, these extreme anti-gay movements are putting the lives of thousands of Cameroonians in serious danger.
We call on the President of Cameroon, Mr. Paul Biya, to take a stand for human rights and stop this anti-gay crackdown. President Biya must put an end to laws that make it illegal to be gay in Cameroon.