What “Pride” means to LGBTQ Africans
UK Black Pride, 2012 (Photo credit: Paul Lamberth)
Among the many events and gatherings that took place in London over the summer, I had the pleasure of attending UK Black Pride in August. UK Black Pride is a community-led, not-for-profit activity that brings together members of Britain’s African, Asian, Caribbean, Arab and Latin American (altogether Black) LGBTQ communities to celebrate identities and experiences in a space safe from racism and homophobia. (LGBTQ refers to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (or questioning) community.) At the Ministry of Sound, where UK Black Pride 2012 was held, I caught up with friends, danced to the live music, enjoyed the performances and connected with gays and lesbians from all corners of the African continent. Needless to say I truly enjoyed UK Black Pride, by the end of the day I had made friends with even more LGBTQ Africans and was amazed at their openness and comfort in the safe space provided by the event while, at the same time, considered the risk LGBTQ Africans would face if such an event were planned in our home countries.
Gay Pride, Uganda, 2012 (Photo credit: Anne Ackermann)
This risk was manifested when fellow LGBTQ Africans in Uganda held their own Pride. Uganda is apparently “the worst place on earth to be gay” with its infamous proposed Anti-Homosexuality bill, also known as “Kill The Gays” bill. This bill, still in parliament, would give the death penalty to anyone who participates in homosexual activity, and long prison terms for people who “promote homosexuality”, whether through accepting their LGBTQ family members and friends and/or not being homophobic. Ugandan police authorities are known to raid LGBTQ workshops and events indiscriminately.
This Ugandan Pride was the country’s first, and took place at a botanical garden in Entebbe. The event lasted a weekend and included a party, a beach parade, a march through the streets of Entebbe and a film festival where the film Call Me Kuchu was screened. The activists who organised the event knew the dangers they would be facing and indeed, the police stormed the main venue and arrested some people.
That a Pride event took place in Uganda at all was amazing, touching and inspiring news for many from the other LGBTQ communities, and many praised the organisers and attendants for their bravery. The event was just one step in bringing nearera Uganda where LGBTQ Africans can live without fear.
Gay Pride, Uganda, 2012
However in the midst of celebration, there was some criticism. For example, this short but thought-provoking post from a Tumblr user, oumkalthoum, in which he/she says “I for one am not going to celebrate Ugandans acting out the forced European definition of LGBTQ+ pride and support”. Amidst much pondering over what qualifies as “European definition of LGBTQ pride and support”, upon further discussion with oumkalthoum, it emerged that the problematic elements regarding Pride in Uganda were tied to Western reactions to and influences on the event. When other cultures adopt Western ideas of Pride and Western slogans (as if there’s only one “right” way to campaign), it stifles the cultivation of local forms of expressions that may be more efficient in targeting homophobia in the local community. When LGBTQ Africans face imprisonment, beatings, harassment and death, should Prides still be encouraged?, asks oumkalthoum.
Gay Pride, Uganda, 2012 (Photo credit: David Robinson)
The West also comes in for criticism for its concerns, or lack thereof, about African LGBTQ movements and activism: the West does not care about African LGBTQ being abused in their homeland. The West is further criticised for 1) encouraging African LGBTQ communities to hold Pride parades when it is dangerous to do so; 2) exporting homophobia to African countries; and 3) pretending to care about African LGBTQ activists when they are in some cases supporting the same governments that enact violently homophobic laws. In the case of Uganda, the relatively recent spurt of extremely homophobic ideas has been traced back to Christian evangelicals in the United States. Does it make sense for the West to help in combating the hate that was imported from the West in the first place?
Gay Pride, Uganda, 2012 (Photo credit: Anne Ackermann)
Val Kalende of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission in her piece on the Ugandan Pride for The Huffington Post wondered what Pride means to Africans and expressed concerns about Africans replicating Pride patterns from other countries. Furthermore, Sokari Ekine of Black Looks, calls out African LGBTQ activists who have become comfortable with the “US and its poor human rights record” and reminds us that US imperialism is supporting the same governments that oppress LGBTQ Africans. This is especially relevant in light of the LGBT Pride event that took place in Nairobi and was hosted by the United States embassy in June. At that time, a group of local LGBT activists and organisationsspoke out against the event and the shaky ground a Kenyan Pride event organised by the United States stood on. They called for a boycott of the event citing concerns with LGBTIQ organisations and individuals forming alliances with a country whose political alliances have created hardship for citizens (including LGBTIQ) in certain countries such as Iraq, and the coast and North-Eastern parts of Kenya.
All Pride movements have political aims, even if Gay Pride often feels more like a social event. For example, in the midst of enjoying the music and live performances of UK Black Pride, I almost forgot that one of UK Black Pride’s aims is to challenge the racism and homophobia faced by Black LGBTQ people in the UK and address the disadvantages Black LGBTQ face. UK Black Pride has also the support of Members of Parliament and trade unions.
Gay Pride, Uganda, 2012 (Photo credit: David Robinson)
On one hand, I wonder if Pride anywhere in Africa can ever be a solely social event, especially when considering that in the West such events were a precursor for change. However, I also recognise that Pride events may not necessarily be a precursor for change and improvement in the situation of LGBTQ in African countries – or even necessary for such change – and that every country should have the freedom to develop its own approach to handling homophobia and discrimination. In a recent discussion with blogger and friend dykeroad, she suggested that Pride is more powerful personally as a form of individual self-empowerment and self-affirmation. The political aspects comes as a resulted of being empowered as an individual, accepting who you are and feeling the solidarity of peers. In other words, Pride is an outlet through which LGBTQ people gain pride in the self, meet and interact with the community and know that they are not alone. When understood in this manner, Pride is as important to African LGBTQ people and communities as it is to similar communities elsewhere in the world.
Gay Pride, Uganda – We Are Here (Photo credit: David Robinson)
>via: http://www.thisisafrica.me/opinion/detail/19593/what-pride-means-to-lgbtq-africans