HIV Spreads Among the Gay Population in Africa

In a recent report on BBC it was reported that AIDS was transmitting in an alarming rate among gay men in most of the sub-Saharan African countries.

The report says that of the estimated 33mil people in the world who contracted the HIV disease, two-thirds live in sub-Saharan Africa.

On the same report it said that one of the reasons that caused the circulation of the disease is prejudice towards gay people. The prejudice of the general public leads to harassment and subsequently isolation of the gay community, and this in turn leads to risky sexual practices.

Several prominent activists on gay rights in African nations proclaimed that due to “cultural, religious, and political unwillingness to accept gays as equal members of the society”, gay men will often “hide their sexual orientation” and get married and have children, but continue to have sex with men. Often transmitting HIV to the women and children in the family.

In one article by Minh T. Nguyen on history of gay civil rights, he claims that in a statistic report it was noted that gay men were more likely to not use condom when having sex, because of not running the risk of pregnancy and certainly in the BBC report, it seems to support such view, when it is claimed that men tend to use condoms when having intercourse with women but not with men.

The story of a society that is not open to gay rights, brings memories of a movie called “Philadelphia”.

In the movie, one gay character by the name of Andrew Beckett played by Tom Hanks goes into a cinema in 1983/84, where gay pornographic movies were played, and engages in risqué sex with a stranger. Fast forward 10 years later, Beckett became a successful lawyer but is dying of AIDS and is fighting a litigation battle in court for wrongful dismissal. He confesses that 10ys ago he did not know how AIDS can be contracted.

The story although based on a true story is in every sense fictional but it does portray how societies which are not receptive of homosexuals can lead them to seek what would some call “alternative lifestyles”.

In the West, in the last 30 years we have seen that gay rights movement have gained pace, especially among European countries such as Norway and Denmark where gay marriage was legalized in 1989 and 1993. In the UK, civil partnership between gay couples became legal in 2004/2005.

People became inspired by the civil rights movement initiated by people such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, of the 60s in US. Their success gave gay people a new wave of confidence to pursue their own set of rights.

The Stonewall riot of 1969 was a defining moment in the history of gay rights movement not just in US but also around the world. It led to serious altercations between police and rioters. The New York police tried to close down some local gay bars, and in return they were forced to barricade themselves inside the bars after some 500 rioters showed up.

In the UK, up until 1967, homosexuality was considered a crime, and although later it was decriminalized, in 1988, laws such as section 28 was still being passed.

Section 28, prohibited local councils to distribute leaflets, plays, books, or any other material that promoted gay relationships, this law was viewed by many gays and lesbians as discriminating and subsequently led to the establishment of a non-profit organization called Stonewall, which fought for gay rights within the UK.

Section 28 sparked controversy and in 1988, some of the most prominent individuals in UK, including actor Sir Ian McKellen marched on the streets of Manchester opposing the law.

The recognition of gay rights among governments in Western societies came because gay movements have actively fought against prejudice, and it was these movements that have shifted the perception of the general public, leading to a greater support.

When prejudice towards any group of people, whether is it is homosexuality, race, gender inequality, etc… persists in any nation, it usually is because not enough progress has been made among those who are fighting for those rights.

To conclude, a quote from the Philadelphia film, an exchange of words between the judge and the lawyer who is fighting for Andrew Beckett, seems to be befit this situation.

Judge Garret: In this courtroom, Mr.Miller, justice is blind to matters of race, creed, color, religion, and sexual orientation.
Joe Miller: With all due respect, your honour, we don’t live in this courtroom, do we?