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VIDEO: African LGBT Leader Joel Nana Criticizes UK PM Cameron

ADDIS ABABA: More criticism after British Prime Minister David Cameron's suggestion that foreign aid should be decreased to countries that do not respect gay rights. Cameron made the announcement at the recent 54-nation Commonwealth meeting in Australia in response to soaring HIV rates in the global south. A number of African leaders have criticized the suggestion—as well as many African LGBT activists at ICASA 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Watch the video clip AFTER THE JUMP ...

"Cameron's statement was extremely dangerous to our movement," said South African-based attorney and human rights activist Joel Nana of the African Men for Sexual Health and Rights, responding to a question from R20. "It re-emphasizes the notion that homosexuality is un-African or European. It shows that Great Britain will cut aid over LGBT issues and nothing else. ... We're also part of mainstream African society. They're also cutting aid to youth services and people living with HIV."

"We know that Britain is facing some economic problems, " said Nana. "If Britain wants to cut aid, let them cut aid because of that, but not over LGBT rights in our name."

Nana and more than 100 African-based activists and organizations issued a statement in response to Cameron's suggestion. Many activists from Cameroon, Nigeria and other African nations believe that anti-gay persecution has escalated in recent months as a result of Cameron's threat.

Watch the video clip AFTER THE JUMP ...

Africa's Anti-Gay Laws a Key Focus at ICASA 2011 in Addis Ababa

ADDIS ABABA: The legal status of men who have sex with men (MSM) and the criminalization of HIV transmission across Africa was discussed in several plenary sessions at the 16th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The trend was also the focus of several key sessions, including the standing room only "Key Populations on HIV/AIDS: LGBT."

The Tuesday, December 6 panel was moderated by Jim Pickett of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and Paul Perchal of Canada's of EngenderHealth. The panelists included South Africa's Zoe Duby of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation and Joel Nana of the African Men for Sexual Health and Rights—read our interview from AIDS 2010 in Vienna.

Duby is in charge of the Tutu Foundation's MSM Sensitivity Training for Health Care Workers. She presented an overview of the legal landscape for African MSM: "African is the continent with the harshest laws when it comes to homosexuality and other sexual minorities. Thirty-eighty African nations have laws criminalizing homosexuality. Four nations—Mauritania, Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan—boast the death penalty for same-sex activity."

Although a number of nations such as Burundi, Cameroon, Nigeria and Uganda have proposed harsher penalties for same-sex relations, there have been some improvements. "Fourteen nations have included MSM in national strategic HIV/AIDS plans," said Duby. "And there is an emerging MSM movement in almost every nation ... as well as regional movements such as AMSHeR.

AMSHer's Joel Nana welcomed support from American and European activitists—but reminded everyone that Africans should take the lead in addresing African problems. "As the African LGBT movement, we cannot work alone," said the attorney and human rights activist. "We have to work together. But when there is an issue with Nigeria, for instance, who usually issues the statements and protests? They are in London and New York. ... Why aren't African LGBTs consulted before these actions?"

Nana and several Nigerian MSM activists in the audience referenced recent anti-Nigerian protests in New York and London. "If anything, that's made the situation worse," said one African activist in the audience. "If those Nigerians in the diaspora feel so strongly, why not return to Nigeria and do something?"

As was the case at most MSM sessions throughout ICASA 2011, the Q&A session was interrupted several times by anti-gay and religious audience members.

Nana and AMSHeR organized a one-day MSM pre-conference on the eve of ICASA 2011. The meeting was forced to change its venue after Ethiopian religious leaders demanded its cancellation at ugly press conference. The MSM pre-con was re-scheduled to a secure location at one of the United Nations compounds. Christian and Islamic clergy and faithful demonstrated across the street from the new location.

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Ethiopian Religious Leaders Protest Gay Meeting at ICASA 2011

ADDIS ABABA: The 16th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) has started with some drama. Leading Ethiopian religious leaders demanded the cancellation of the Saturday pre-conference that was scheduled to focus on men who have sex with men and HIV/AIDS.

The meeting organized by South African-based  Joel Nana and the African Men for Sexual Health and Rights—read our interview from AIDS 2010 in Vienna—was forced to change its venue after an ugly press conference condemning the day-long event.

The leaders of Ethiopia's main religious denominations faced journalists briefly. Abune Paulos, the patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church was there, along with representatives of the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, the Roman Catholic Church, and Protestant denominations.

But before anything could be said, Ethiopia's Health Minister Tewodros Adhanom arrived and asked for a word with the religious leaders in private. After nearly an hour, the leaders left without comment. The Reverend Iteffa Gobena Molte, president of the Ethiopian Evangelical Council Mekane Yesus told reporters the event would be rescheduled.

"It's postponed to another time. And when they are ready they will call upon you to come and record them," said Iteffa. Reporters initially were told the news conference had been called to condemn a planned conference on "men who have sex with men."

The website of a group called the African Men for Sexual Health and Rights, or AMSHER, says the meeting is to be held Saturday at an Addis Ababa hotel. A list of speakers posted on the website include Michel Sidibe, director of UNAIDS, and Eric Goosby, the United States Global AIDS Coordinator.

Rev. Iteffa is the Ecumenical Envoy to the African Union, which is based here in Addis Ababa.

The MSM pre-conference was re-scheduled Saturday to a secure location at one of the United Nations compounds. Armed UN troops guarded the MSM activists and meeting. No pictures were allowed. Look for my report next week...

The publicity surrounding the incident went viral across the internet and Facebook, notes the Ethiopian Reporter, which describes the events as "an unprecedented controversy in Addis Ababa."

The Federal Republic of Ethiopia is one of at least 38 of Africa's 54 nations that currently have laws penalizing same-sex relations or even sexuality. Four nations—Mauritania, Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan—boast the death penalty for gays or same-sex activity. Prosecutions are rare but same-sex acts in Ethiopia carry penalties of imprisonment of more than ten years.

MSM criminalizations laws and homophobia are the topics of a number of sessions at the United Nations and UNAIDS-sponsored ICASA 2011. Up to ten thousand people—including former President George W. Bush—are expected at the conference that opens today in Addis Ababa.

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AIDS 2010: Joel Nana on African MSM

AIDS 2010: Joel Nana on African Gay/Bi Men, HIV and Human Rights

One of the standout programs at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna was organized by The Global Forum on MSM & HIV and featured the debut of the Johns Hopkins-World Bank's global survey of HIV epidemics. The survey found that the ongoing persecution and criminalization of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men—“MSM”, in public health jargon—are undermining efforts to control the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.

More than 80 nations have laws that still criminalize same sex behavior, according to UNAIDS. And 58 countries criminalize HIV transmission or use existing laws to prosecute people for transmitting the virus. "The trend is even more pronounced across Africa and the Black Diaspora," said Joel Gustave Nana, executive director of the Johannesburg, South Africa -based African Men for Sexual Health and Rights (ASMSHer).Nana spoke with Rod 2.0 at the press conference organized by the Global Forum and UNAIDS.

We've seen these HIV prosecutions in the United States and Canada. They seem to be increasing. What are you seeing in Africa?

The prosecutions are arbitrary. The stigma, discriminatory laws and criminalization of HIV transmission encourage the spread of this disease. Why should someone seek testing or medical advice come forward if you could be arrested? There is no incentive to come forward and seek help in a repressive atmosphere.

We've recently had some good news in the States. President Obama's new National HIV/AIDS Strategy identified Black MSM as a priority in fighting AIDS. Several African nations have done this as well, right?

In most countries [in Africa] they have come to understand there is a hidden epidemic. In the continent we now have 14 countries out of 54 that include men who have sex with men in their national strategic plans. It doesn’t mean the services will be delivered to those populations, but it is an acknowledgment which is a step. I have been seeing in some countries ... they know that MSM exist and they are starting not to disturtb them. Slowly there are starting to address these groups and issues … it’s a result of the growing visibility of MSM on the continent.

What about Kenya? They were the first African nation to include MSM in their national IV strategy and there are a number of Kenyan MSM peer educators at AIDS 2010 ...

Kenya is starting to look like one of the countries that we should look up to. There is a growing LGBT movement. There is an HIV movement that is more open to include MSM. Yes, you could say there is a strong MSM movement in Kenya. It is one of the few countries countries in Africa where a MSM organization was able to place an ad in the newspaper for the International Day Against Homophobia on May 17. I do think that Kenya is starting to look like one of the few success stories in Africa, in terms of successfully integrate MSM into HIV prevention.

Thanks for talking to me.

No, thank you!

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