Report: Burundi Gays Suffer Under Harsh New Anti-Gay Laws

Disturbing updates on the status of LGBTs in Burundi after the President Pierre Nkurunziza secretly signs legislation—previously rejected by the Senate—that attempts to legislate homosexuality out of existence in the small, impoverished East African nation. Gay men say their lives have been "marked with increased discrimination and fear" following Burundi's much-criticized draconian ban, reports the Voice of America.

The interviews conducted by the advocacy group Human Rights Watch documents the difficulties of being a gay or lesbian in Burundi, including instances of sexual violence, family rejection, police intimidation, and now the daily possibility of imprisonment.

Yves, an HIV-positive gay man who lives in Bujumbura, says that finding work has been a serious challenge for him since the law was passed. He also worries that the new law will discourage those in the gay community from seeking HIV testing and treatment for fear of scrutinization.

Another self-identified gay man from Bujumbura, Théophile, says that he was beginning to see increased tolerance among his friends and family before the issue became politicized. He describes the law as a "step backward."

The draconian legislation makes same-sex attraction or relations punishable by up to two years in prison. In November, the lower chamber of Parliament voted in favor of the amendment. The Senate rejected the amendment in February.

Under its Belgian colonization, there were no laws against sodomy or homosexuality. Key international donors such as Belgium, the Netherlands and the European Union have been highly critical of the legislation.

The action by Nkurunziza's government to formally outlaw homosexual activity began after a small group of gays and lesbians—the Association for Respect and Rights for Homosexuals—began to speak out about gay rights advances made in nearby nations such as Kenya. Nkurunziza's party, the CNDD-FDD, led several massive government-organized, anti-gay demonstrations to demand the criminalization of homosexuality. One of the March protests attracted 20,000 protesters.

Burundian Homosexuals Suffer Under New Law [VOA]

Did You Read? ...
Burundi: News Laws Criminalize Homosexuality [R20]
Thousands Attend Anti-Gay Demonstration in Burundi [R20]
Burundi Outlaws Homosexuality [R20]

Comments

[ETIENNE]

This is so sad to me..I am from Burundi and I know friends who are presently in the country and are victims of police hostility and brutality because of this law..It is so revolting because anybody can report you to the police and the next thing you know; you find yourself at the police station with absolutely no protection whatsoever..and you are asked the most degrading and dehumanizing questions...then beaten..ENOUGH is ENOUGH

[Jim]

The only way this will end is if pressure is put on the "key international donors, such as Belgium, the Netherlands and the European Union," to end all of their donations.

President Nkurunziza may not know much about human rights, but I'm sure he knows a lot about cash.

[Ravenback]

My heart goes out to you, Etienne, your friends, and others who suffer from this gross violation of human rights and decency. It makes me appreciate my life even more in the US. I have never had to live in fear of the police or the state for being gay, or people calling in to report me. As the saying goes, "There, but for the grace of God, go I."

[Luther]

This just breaks my heart, hopefully things will somehow change and about the only way it will is to cut off all international moeny to the despots.

[ETIENNE]

Thx Ravenback...

Here is more info on this subject

http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/features/burundi_widget_english/burundi_widget_english.html