365 Gay
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Sentences for the 18 were to have been handed down last week by a Sharia court in the Moslem state of Bauchi.

They were arrested wearing women's clothing at a hotel where police say they had gathered for the wedding "of two men". An attorney for the men said they were at the hotel for a "graduation party".

What is it with Africa and homophobia? I really would like to understand. Homophobia exists worldwide, but reading the news it seems to me again and again that the most aggressive, hateful, virulent examples of it occur more often in Africa.

Black gay blog The Republic of T looked at this issue. One of the comments offered this analysis: "Of course, in African countries where decolonization is poor/incomplete, it certainly stands to reason that there would be this kind of "othering" going on. It is a repetition of the same assertation of difference which was used to justify their colonization in the first place. In so many ways it is like a family cycle of abuse that does not end."

And yet South Africa is a world leader in gay rights, so one must not generalize too much.