“It degrades human dignity. It’s unnatural, and there is no question ever of allowing these people to behave worse than dogs and pigs. If dogs and pigs do not do it, why must human beings? We have our own culture, and we must re-dedicate ourselves to our traditional values that make us human beings. … What we are being persuaded to accept is sub-animal behavior and we will never allow it here. If you see people parading themselves as Lesbians and Gays, arrest them and hand them over to the police!” That being said, you can see that being openly gay in Zimbabwe does not work well in ones interests. Homosexuality is not illegal, it is sodomy that is.
The issue of gays and lesbians has for a long time been a highly contentious issue in not only Zimbabwe but around the world. It is an area that has put many a world leader to the test in how they respond to the issue of their rights. Mugabe’s disgust towards homosexuality is a sentiment that is shared by many a Zimbabwean as well.
Gays and lesbians have for a time long been subjected to all forms of discrimination which has lead to them living their lifestyle under the radar. This is not to say that all homosexuals are living under the radar, there are some who are very much out there in the open and made their sexual orientation known to all. With the inclusive government and the new Constitution expected in the near future, gays and lesbians are becoming more vocal and demanding that their rights are recognized and made a part of the new Constitution. A lot of them are fighting hard to see that they are protected under the constitution. Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) www.galz.co.zw is at the forefront of seeing to it that there is constitutional equality.
GALZ Mission Statement
The principle objective of GALZ is to build a democratic and accountable organisation and to strive for the attainment of full, equal rights and the removal of all forms of discrimination in all aspects of life for gay men, lesbians and bisexual people in Zimbabwe and to inform, educate, counsel and support people in matters relative to their health and well being.
Sexual rights are human rights.
Mugabe’s fight against homosexuality was dealt a blow in the mid to late 90s when the 1st president of Zimbabwe, Canaan Sodindo Banana was convicted of sodomy. He was jailed for a year and died a few years later but was not buried at Heroes Acre with full honours as you would expect for a former head of state. This goes to show what happens to people convicted of sodomy regardless of who you are and what you have done for the nation.
Could the extreme homophobia be a result of Mugabe’s attitudes towards them influencing people to detest homosexuals or is it based on something that they themselves truly believe to be wrong? Many Zimbabweans are Christian and there are passages in the Bible that condemn homosexuality. These include Genesis 19, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Leviticus 20:13 -
“If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”
This is something that may drive them towards making the decisions they have made about homosexuality.
What will become of the gays and lesbians on Zimbabwe?
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September 16th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
What do you believe? Is the first sentence about about how you, yourself see gays and lesbians???? “It degrades human dignity. It’s unnatural, and there is no question ever of allowing these people to behave worse than dogs and pigs. These people????? Is it your / our responsibility to set them right, what give us the right to judge them and condemn them to death, does the Bible not also say love your neighbour as yourself? Romans 13:10 “Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law…” More than anything, I believe salvation is the answer, instead of punishing them, or whatever, give them the WORD.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
I used to be under the notion that people can do whatever they want to do just as long as it does not interfere with my life. But, after seeing the way it was put in the Bible, my stance on it is that it is something that should not be done. You are right in saying ‘what gives us the right to judge and condemn them. All we can do is show them the error in their ways and what it could lead to if they continue with the lifestyle.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:10 am
This is one of those issues in which I agree with our Dear President Robert Mugabe….I rest my case.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
I guess that is something that I can’t dispute because of how I feel about it. Question for you, do you think the way he expresses his disdain towards homosexuality is a bit extreme? Could he be a bit more diplomatic about it?
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:59 am
@ Gerri, the problem with Mugabe is he is so vocal about the Gay issue, but we keep getting these stories about senior Zanu PF guys being involved in the same thing. What is he doing about it?
These days life seems to be more about being ‘politically correct’ so we better be careful about what we may say.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:07 pm
He may try and make their lives miserable in the same manner in which he treated Banana. The issue of homosexuality is a very touchy subject that can get you into a lot of trouble depending on how you approach it but it is one that cannot be avoided. What are your views on the topic if you dare say?
You may find this thread on the New Zimbabwe forums of interest: http://forum.newzimbabwe.com/index.php?showtopic=8697&st=0
September 17th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Each to their own! We have a right to love and be who we are without fear, i hope the people of Zimbabwe will seriously step out of the box…
Anyone who says they agree with Mugabe on that issue are as crazy as he is. I don’t know why you blame the west for gay people in Zimbabwe, they have been there for a long time.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Yes, people do have a right to love but isn’t it unnatural to ‘love’ someone of the same sex in that manner?
I don’t think you can call Sebastian crazy like that because there are millions of sane people around the world who would agree with him on that topic too.
One burning question I have for you is, what do you think about the Bible?
September 18th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
God is Love. He loves me, and i love him and we have a personal relationship and that is all that matters.
The bible? Do you all follow it to the later? The only thing i know is Jesus told me that the greatest commandment is Love Thy Neighbour. And that i will strive to do.
February 14th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
We humans think we know it all, and THAT is our problem. I for one had two FANSTASTIC gay friends (I am female) and these two male where one of my best friends ever! I am curious by nature, and really keen on hearing,understanding or merely accepting each and every person’s reason for behaving in one way or the other – that is my take on things generally.
What I learnt from these two wonderful people is that being gay was not A CHOICE. Believe me if they could change it, they gladly would – so as to fit better into the society. They both even have a child each with a girl (of course!). They tried dating females – like every male is “taught” to, but they felt empty, miserable and that something was missing … UNTIL they discovered/realised they were gay. That brought them so much peace (internally) and happiness. Basically, they found themselves! Doesn’t every human being just long for that rather golden moment to find themselves in one way or the other??? Isn’t it a beautiful moment when you do?? So why deprive gays of that right? EVERYONE seeks for authentic unconditional love and happiness on this planet and I personally believe gays should not be an exception …They too have needs and rights … as all human beings do.
On another note, these two gay friends really played a significant role in molding me to be the person I am today! One was a top hair-dresser and the other was into fashion. The hair-dresser was super talented and creative and he was the ONLY person i was comfortable with touching my head with my eyes closed! I let him experiment on me and the hair-cuts he gave me almost cameout 10 times more gorgeous than the magazine depicted/or than I or even he himself imagined at times! And he always knew/had that extra special umpf to fit my head shape/face. Until todate, I can never find a hair-dresser i can allow to touch my head while i snooze off a bit!
AND then the fashion “queen!” – ohh my … “before I explain how he groomed me in that area, let me let in on a little secret – I was attracted to him … so were many other girls!) He was DASHING!!! We flirted for a while (he was bi-sexual, though more attracted to other male counter-parts – don’t ask me anything more, that is all he later explained to me and I accepted that, not quite understood, I must confess … i also didn’t understand when he later told me that sometimes he would sleep with “straight men” …errrr??? … that threw me off, i.e. from a scientific point of understanding, … BUT well i somewhat accepted (we agreed to disagree!!) and let’s leave it there!). Now, let’s rewind a bit, THEN, one day he asked me to go for lunch with him. As we walked to the cafe, he held my hand, swang it back and forth and we giggled all the way to the cafe actually like two best friends! Then he broke the news. I was confused, because I only heard about it on TV and no-one, particularly at that time came out in the open about it in Zimbabwe (maybe it was just in my circle – I don’t know, but the fact is i had not come into direct contact with any one gay person yet). We were both silent for the 1st half hour of our steak and egg meal … as many questions flooded my only 20 year old brain at that time! Then he finally looked at me and said shoot! – he clearly sensed that I had millions of questions waiting to explode out of my little brain! Slowly I felt comfortable to ask and that’s how my knowledge of what it is to be gay developed. It was him who also broke the news about my hairdresser also being gay. Everything made sense, because there was a certain similar comfort and trust i felt with both of them which i did not feel with other men in my circle! Rather similar to that which i felt with VERY good girlfriends! From then on, the three of us met at least once a week over lunch or so and I fired them with the most wired of questions (e.g., so how do you have sex?? – yeah crazy right, but that’s just me – I’m just a little too direct at times!) They ALWAYS answered me in detail – happily. They were my best teachers on the subject to which i feel so blessed and grateful for today!
Now, back to the fashion grooming subject, ooh my, this dude could DRESS – he had a classic sense of style. He ended up calling me (teasing me) “Madam Elegance”; he thought my style was too elegant for a 20 year old and taught me how to be more cheek and causual. It was then that the cheek boldness in me was brought out, God help, because it even shocked HIM in the end, BUT he LOVED it – I was his make-over master piece!!! What irreplaceable perfect best friends for a girl in that important delicate phase I had; my hair was done out right – almost always perfect, it was fresh and almost always ahead of what was in. Then on the clothing side, my weekend relaxing attire was girly and cheek, exactly like a 20 year old should be (I left the elegant look only for the office job i had at that time!) Those were my best times, with my two most beloved zimbabwean gay best friends by my side!
I last saw the fashion “queen” in London 10 years ago when I was there on a study trip. He lived in a lovely pent flat on Kensington high street (or something like that) and he was completing his Masters in development studies at the centre of African studies in central London. Prior to that, he had completed a degree in Journalism whilst still in Zimbabwe actually. And he said to me; ” I will be the first Zimbabwea/African gay President” and I thought, why not!!! I mean he has what it takes, sooo! But unfortunately the next time i called London he had moved, my numbers too changed and today I actually miss him dearly much. I hope he would stumble into this one somehow and get in touch. If so, find me on facebook Princess – I can’t get over your classic original louis Vuitton trunk you had in your london flat. DAMN I want it – where the hell are you???!!! Let alone the Shona/Zimbabwean art … timeless
AND as for the hair-dresser, I’m still intouch with him! He is somewhere here in Europe too and owns a cheek Euro/Afro hair saloon, too bad it is too far from me, BUT BUT BUT, he came to my wedding a couple of years ago and made me look PREEEETY!!! He also gave a beautiful speech stating how much i inspired/helped him develop into this confident hairdresser and person he is today! Little did I know, I was touched, but also little did he know two how much he too had inspired and developed me … NB: People are put into our lives for various reason, pay close attention, with an open heart …you will be surprised to learn the treasures hidden in almost every encounter with another human being!
Life is too short, let us TRY to understand each other i.e. where we are coming from, if we can’t understand, let us then merely accept, but just don’t judge. No one had the right to judge another human being. Leave that to the Lord …