This Week at Pan Africa ILGA

21/05/2012

Dear Members of Ethiopian Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transsexual Community Ethio LGBT We hope this email finds you well! It's time to give you a heads up on what's happening on ilga.org. This weekly newsletter is sent to 3285 LBGTI and allied organizations in the world, in English and French. To post an article on ilga.org, update your groups page, add pictures and a logo on ILGAs directory, apply to become a member of ILGA or renew your membership fees, please log in using peaceseeker@ethiolgbt.com, the email we have for the person acting as contact between ILGA and your group: Selam NEWS/ACTUALITIES Malawi to overturn homosexual ban, Joyce Banda says President Joyce Banda has said she wants Malawi to overturn its ban on homosexual acts - the first African country to do so since 1994. http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/nxMNqsz1Xh Obama's Gay Marriage Endorsement Not Popular in Africa American President Barack Obama's public support for same-sex marriage has sparked criticism in sub-Saharan Africa, where gay men and women continue to face discrimination, violence and jail time in many countries because of their sexual orientation.

http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/nxtE06h1Kk Rights body has finally stood up for gays and lesbians Ive been pilloried for standing up for gays and lesbians. Tough luck that wont stop me. Nor will it drive gay rights activists underground. http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/nxp1mmh1hl Download ILGA State-Sponsored Homophobia Report and Gay and Lesbian rights maps Every year, ILGA produces maps on Gay and Lesbian rights in the world as well as its State Sponsored Homophobia report. Most material is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French, this year the world map has been also produced in Chinese, Hindi and German. You can download them on this page. http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/1161 The law needs to catch up with love When I heard the words of President Obama affirming marriage for all couples, it made me proud to be an American and proud to be a person of African heritage. I thought back on meeting President Obama in the Oval Office and sharing my story with him around the need for equality for all Americans, including LGBT people. I believed him then when he responded that he would do his very best to work for fairness and equality. http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/nxzwK0k1jZ The International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) 2012 The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) A local human rights NGO on Wednesday, 17th May marks the day being the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO), as it is done on this day the world over. http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/nxFxtDz1yR International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) - May 17 1.5 billion people currently live under laws that criminalize same-sex relationships. Today is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO). From United Nations conferences to outlawed demonstrations, hundreds of events are taking place on all continents. 95 countries around the world have seen activists develop actions around May 17. http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/nxFrX4f1ox

South Africa: gay marriage called into question Same sex marriage enshrined in the constitution of South Africa which so far gives the same rights to all citizens is under threat. Traditional leaders are indeed asking for this law to be repealed. http://ilga.org/ilga/fr/article/nxFMZpQ1eU Opinion: Who Gets To Say What Is African And What Is Not? As Kenyas lesbian and gay community marks the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), the country is currently in discussion over the thorny issue of sexual minority rights. http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/nxKS4uH1Uh Ugandan gay activists seek repeal of anti-homosexual penal code Ugandan gay activists have urged President Yoweri Museveni's government to repeal the penal code that outlaws homosexuality in the East African country. http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/nxKFiXp1AN GALZ Statement To Mark International Day Against Homophobia And Transphobia 17 May each year marks International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. As GALZ, we mark this day to reflect on the daily struggles of lesbian gay bisexual transgender and Intersex people (LGBTI) and their families in an environment where homophobia is almost institutionalized. http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/nxMOP0i1xn