Wikileaks | Gay community booming in Ethiopia

https://danielberhane.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/wikileaks-gay-community-booming-in-ethiopia/

Posted by Daniel Berhane on Thursday, September 22, 2011 @ 10:30 pm 4 Comments A leaked Cable of US Embassy Addis Ababa, dated Dec. 30,2009, claims that: a thriving LGBT social scene exists in Addis Ababa. Parties are generally unannounced and held in private homes or bars, with invitations distributed via word of mouth or text messaging.events are held at least on a weekly basis, with attendance of more than 50 people not unusual. LGBT is an abbreviation to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (or transsexual). According to the Cable, citing Embassy contacts, such Such events have been forced to relocate, sometimes on short notice, because of real or perceived threats to the establishments where they are held. However, no arrests or harassment have been reported linked to these social events. The Cable notes that Ethiopia is a conservative society and Homosexual conduct is punishable under Ethiopias Crime law. However, it claims that: * Post[the Embassy] is not aware of any cases of homosexual conduct that have been prosecuted in recent years or any pending cases for homosexual acts between adults. * In the past year, post received limited reports of violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals; however, reporting may have been scarce due to fears of retribution, discrimination, or stigmatization. The anecdotal reports post is aware of come from credible sources and include forced marriages and rapes of LGBT individuals. * [social events of LGBTs] have been forced to relocate, sometimes on short notice, because of real or perceived threats to the establishments where they are held. However, no arrests or harassment have been reported linked to these social events. * As in other countries, urban residents and young people are likely to be more tolerant of homosexual behavior when compared to their rural and elder counterparts, but even among this group conservative views dominate. The US Embassy is of the opinion that there is not an appreciable level of homosexual prostitution or sex tourism in Ethiopia. The Cable also mentions a December 2008 campaign by Ethiopian religious leaders and an NGO called "United for Life" . The Campaign mainly involved the signing of a resolution by a dozens of religious leaders condemning homosexuality and urging the parliament to ban homosexuality

in the Constitution. However, the Constitution was not amended to that effect, nor does it seem likely. A group called Rainbow Ethiopia LGBT/MSM, however, described the year 2009, as follows: