As at this morning, Africa has recorded a total number of 19,907 confirmed coronavirus cases, 4748 recoveries, and 1011 deaths. Although these figures are low, compared to many other continents of the world, the World Health Organisation predicts that the numbers could grow to about 10 million in 6 months.
The effects of the coronavirus have been hard on many African communities, especially minorities. A new report by Openly News shows how LGBTQ+ Africans have been hit hard by the virus.
A few days ago, the Ugandan police stormed an LGBT+ shelter accusing the inhabitants of the shelter of disobeying the restrictions on social distancing by congesting in a school-like-dormitory setting within the shelter.
Charles Senna, who works at the shelter run by the charity, Children of The Sun Foundation, spoke to OpenlyNews about the invasion by the Ugandan Police. “At first the only question they kept asking was why there were condoms in [the] house,” he said. “Then they changed to asking why there were so many people in the shelter … and saying that they were failing to follow the directions of the president on social distancing.”
LGBTQ+ activists believe that the raid on the LGBTQ+ shelter is just one in a rising number of such incidents happening all over the continent as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Frank Mugisha, executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) also spoke to OpenlyNews about the rising rates of persecution of LGBTQ+ persons. “The community already faces so much discrimination but now with this coronavirus, things are getting worse. We’ve had reports of LGBTQI members being blamed for the virus. Due to lockdown, many people cannot work and pay rent. We know some are being evicted and forced to return to their families who kicked them out. It’s causing a lot of anguish.” he said.
Ugandan Activists are also working hard to ensure that those arrested by the police are released soon.
There has also been an increase in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, especially by religious leaders. “Our governments are wicked, disturbing Gods order by allowing and legalising same-sex marriages, and homosexuality,” Oscar Peter Bougardt, a Cape Town pastor said on Facebook. Cape Town is the capital of South Africa, the only country in Africa where gay marriage is legalized. The Ghana Muslim Mission also said in a statement on the coronavirus that it was important to acknowledge sins “especially the most abominable acts such as homosexuality, lesbianism, transgender, destruction of water bodies and forests”.
Many HIV positive LGBTQ+ Africans are also stranded as they can not get to clinics to get their drugs and many other poor LGBTQ+ Africans have to put up with homophobia and transphobia from parents and relatives. “They are suffering a lot of homophobic and transphobic stress due to family members. They are forced to stay with them in very difficult and hostile circumstances,” Frank Mugisha, of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) said.
