LGBT rights in Namibia
Encyclopedia
Namibia has had a troubled history in regards to the protection of the rights and civil liberties of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens. Sodomy
is illegal in Namibia
, and is punishable with prison time. Furthermore, statements by government leaders, such as Sam Nujoma
and Jerry Ekandjo
, concerning gays and lesbians have drawn both domestic and international condemnation.
However, LGBT rights
groups, such as Sister Namibia and Rainbow Project, operate freely in Namibia's major cities, even though they have been frequented by anti-gay attacks since independence in 1990. There is no information on the history of the LGBT
citizenry prior to 1990.
Sodomy
Sodomy is an anal or other copulation-like act, especially between male persons or between a man and animal, and one who practices sodomy is a "sodomite"...
is illegal in Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, and is punishable with prison time. Furthermore, statements by government leaders, such as Sam Nujoma
Sam Nujoma
Samuel Daniel Shafiishuna Nujoma is a Namibian politician who was the first President of Namibia from 1990 to 2005. He led the South-West Africa People's Organisation in its long struggle against South African rule and took office as President when Namibia obtained independence on 21 March 1990...
and Jerry Ekandjo
Jerry Ekandjo
Jerry Ekandjo is a Namibian politician, currently serving as Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development....
, concerning gays and lesbians have drawn both domestic and international condemnation.
However, LGBT rights
LGBT social movements
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender social movements share inter-related goals of social acceptance of sexual and gender minorities. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their allies have a long history of campaigning for what is generally called LGBT rights, also called gay...
groups, such as Sister Namibia and Rainbow Project, operate freely in Namibia's major cities, even though they have been frequented by anti-gay attacks since independence in 1990. There is no information on the history of the LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
citizenry prior to 1990.
See also
- LGBT rights in AfricaLGBT rights in AfricaLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender rights in Africa are limited in comparison to other areas of the world, with the BBC estimating that homosexuality is outlawed in 38 African countries...
- Human rights in AfricaHuman rights in AfricaHuman rights as a legal concept is a relatively recent notion in Africa. The United Nations System, international law and the African Union have certainly all contributed to the establishment of a human rights system in Africa, which has positively and indispensably influenced the advancement of...
External links
- UK government travel advice for Namibia: Local laws and customs
- Profile on Gay rights in Namibia
- "International confidence in Namibia damaged by anti-gay attacks", Afrol News (2001)
- Namibia content at International Lesbian and Gay Association
- "Namibia gay rights row", BBC News, 2 October 2000
- "Namibia Chips Away at African Taboos on Homosexuality", The Washington Post, 24 October 2005