East African country, Tanzania began repression of her LGBTQ+ inhabitants four years ago. A new report by Rights Africa shows that this is still the case, and sadly, there is no end in view. In 2018, The Regional Commissioner of one of Tanzania’s largest cities created an anti-gay surveillance squad to report gay people to a phone hotline.
In 2017, Vox reported that “Tanzania is rapidly becoming one of the worst countries in the world for LGBTQ individuals”. Once, at a news conference, the President of Tanzania, John Magufuli, said, “As we take this stand, do not tell us about human rights,” he said. “There is no right to go against creation written on any religious books. Keep your laws. Being gay is not allowed here in Dar es Salaam.”
Not much has changed since then.
LGBTQ+ advocates say life has gotten harder for LGBTQ+ people in Tanzania since then. A survey by Human Rights Watch showed that “the denial of care to Tanzania’s LGBTQ population has had a disastrous impact on people living with HIV”. Many have reported refrain from going to the hospital due to fear of discrimination and fear for their lives.
“I would like the government of Tanzania to allow [LGBTQ people] access to health services,” Medard, a 38-year-old gay man tells DailyXtra. “If we don’t get services, we will die.”
In Tanzania, same-sex intercourse is punishable by up to 30 years in prison. This law has emboldened homophobes to attack and persecute LGBTQ+ persons.
LGBTQ+ people in Tanzania, however, are trying their best to provide care and safe spaces for each other as they navigate a homophobia society. The rise of LGBTQ+ advocacy and legalization on the continent gives them hope.
