Recent weeks have seen an increase in anti-gay rhetoric coning from elected officials and media in the West African nation of Ghana. Last summer, President John Evans Atta Mills denounced homosexuality and the Western Region Minister announced the "immediate arrest of all homosexuals."
Accra-based Redd Kat Pictures decided to explore same-sex issues in its monthly video series.
President John Mills, preachers, and Parliamentarians have made vigorous speeches about homosexuality being ungodly and un-African. In contest to these public statements, September's Talk Party explored life in Accra for young gay men. These men (from the Coalition Against Homophobia in Ghana) spoke proudly of their sexuality and answered questions from our curious crowd about the challenges of being gay in Ghana.
Many of the men seen in the video are from the Coalition Against Homophobia in Ghana, which was created last summer to respond to the attacks from government and media.
Under Ghanaian law, male same-sex sexual activity is officially illegal. Police have been accused of randomly arresting, detaining and beating suspected gay men.
In this context, the video of the "out and proud" gay men defending their humanity and sexuality is all the more amazing. Bless them for their courage and dedication. It's an amazing video. Watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...
Thank you so much for this video. I have two wonderful close loving gay friends in Ghana. One from Accra and one from Takoradi. They are both afraid to try to meet guys because they might be arrested or rejected by their family and friends. They are lonely and live lives of privation. I feel so sad for them and I love them very much. I was in Ghana in 2009 and hope to go back in 2012. These men are strong and courageous. They need all the love and affection they can get. Jerry
Posted by: Jerry | 21 October 2011 at 12:15
WONDERFUL! The only place in the Motherland where I have ever been is GHANA and I met the most beautiful brother there.
I am so proud of them for this work!
Posted by: TheRevKev | 22 October 2011 at 12:21