Gay Ghana Online Community - Recently Updated Pages

Gay Ghana Online Community Home

andy.shilongo — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:42:54 CST

Akwaaba;

welcome to the open platform of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community
235 members now....! and more than 15.000 visitors

This wiki is a tool to bring together the gay community in Ghana.
Wanna know what a wiki is and how it works? Click here!

What can you do on this site?

- You can join as a member (just click "Join this site" in the right upper corner and register. Then you will be able to add or change content, discuss issues etc.

- You find useful information about homosexuality in Ghana, gay rights, HIV-AIDS and gay sex; but you can also add what you know about those issues;

- We organise advocacy about homosexuality in Ghana and organise politial lobby; see also our newest contribution to the Royal Commonwealth Society online discussion.

- We support participation of Ghanaian gay athletes and football players in international gay games;

- You can link up with other members and send messages (just click the "member" tab above).

- You can vote for the sexiest man alive or nominate your own candidate for that title...!

- There is even a page for obroni's visiting Ghana and about cruising places;

- Get the latest update on gay news;

But because this is a wiki you can also start your own item/issue with a separate page: if you want to organise something fot the Ghanaian diaspora abroad or start a discussion about lesbian emancipation or organise and announce a party; form a special interest group like maybe a gay-Sunyani group or a gay muslim group;. Whatever you want to do for the Gay community in Ghana, you can do it here....! This site is your site. Use it.

www.gayghana.org

We need you....! to become active as member of the GayGhana core group, organising advocacy & lobby; events & manifestations; participation and representation in international Gay networking.

Interesting links:

New: Congratulations to brave Sudanese LGBT

GALAG Gay and Lesbian Association of Ghana

Lesbian scenes in Ghanaian movie

GALCK gay organisation in Kenya

The Rainbow Project, gay organisation of Namibia

Behind the Mask, the gay organisation of (South) Africa

For LGBT social networking/dating within Ghana: sexualminoritiesghana

GALZ, the gay organisation of Zimbabwe

HIVOS, a Dutch NGO that supports gay rights movements

COC, the gay organisation of the Netherlands

Gay news

Whats in the Wikipedia about gay rights

The international gay and lesbian gay human rights commission

News in BBC on Gay issues in Africa

They Say "BLACK 'N' GAY? NO WAY!

blackofe — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:07:28 CST

Do we all know why the persistent myth exists that homosexuality has been forced upon black men by the dominant white male culture?.

As mentioned earlier, homosexuality is considered “the white man’s disease” especially African! Although not directly true, slavery and colonization forced slaves to participate in homosexual acts. This forced homosexuality on slaves and the subsequent emasculation that followed, caused embarrassment, hatred, and anger amongst victim slaves. These residual feelings morphed into homophobia. The term “porch monkeys” is used to describe slaves who served their masters and their masters company on the porch of the plantation estate. Porch monkeys served as entertainment for the master and his or her guest. Disgustingly, slave masters would force their slaves to perform homosexual acts to entertain themselves and their guests at the cost of any remaining shred of a slaves dignity and pride. Porch slaves might have been ridiculed amongst other slaves for having to do this.
The master’s porch was not the only venue for homosexual acts within the slave community. Slaves were quartered according to their sex. Men quartered with men and women quartered with women. Most sexual interaction that took place between male and female slaves was for breeding slave children to be bought and sold at the masters request. Hence, out of this living arrangement, homosexual acts were taken part in by slaves as a means to release sexual frustration. Modern-day prisons mimic this arrangement. Understanding this system, one can glean that homosexuality may not have been turned to as a first recourse for slaves. Because slaves had no control over their sex lives, they may have harbored immense hatred in their masters and themselves. And from this, we see the surviving acidity of homophobia in the black community.
It is no secret that the black community has a reputation for being quite homophobic, whether or not we're more homophobic than other groups is an ongoing debate but we would be doing ourselves a disservice to pretend that the level of homophobia in our community hasn't reached a disturbing fever pitch.
How many of you have had conversations with other black people who truly believe that homosexuality is a "white man's disease" that infected black men? I've had this conversation more times than I care to remember. We as black gays and lesbians share the responsibility to redirect the dialogue and correct the misinformation.
Any other thoughs and ideas will be welcome. xoxoxo....BLACKOFE.

Gay News

andy.shilongo — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:54:35 CST

Positive news: gay marriage in Malawi?

CYBER FRAUD( A CURE TO POVERTY ?)

fidelix — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:51:55 CST

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Public Display of Affection. Do You Kiss in Public?

blackofe — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:51:26 CST

(Yes, I know. I'm still obsessed with all these photos, can you tell? Haha!) I DO,YESSSSSSSS What other people think is utterly irrelevant. I show and express my emotions and feelings and I like it when someone I’m seeing does the same. One could say, "oh it's so gross to watch other people". Well, their business is their business alone so if you don’t like it then don’t watch. It’s like looking at someone with a very grotesque pair of, oh I don't know,JEANS?, like mom jeans. If it’s annoying the hell out of me then I’m gonna look at the other way. I’m not gonna go around and say “oi, your jeans are hideous!”.

We all have our own attitudes about PDA, yes, and that's perfectly fine. Vive la différence as they say. But there are some out there who are temporarily trapped in a moment of passion -- as evident with the photo above,if they feel like snogging, let them! Who are you to deprive people of that precious moment?

Sometimes, it’s not nice to control what you shouldn’t control. Follow what your heart says and let everything go. What is wrong with being affectionate? Is it really that obscene to hold hands or to rest your head on someone’s shoulder or have a nice little snog while being at a busy cafe? No.

I remember one time when I dated this guy many, many years back. Very straight-acting scouse. We were walking around town and out of nowhere, I grabbed his hand and then he held my hand for what seemed to be hours. I kept looking at him from time to time to see what his reaction was but he didn’t bat an eyelash. Later that night when we had dinner he told me he’s never really held hands with a guy before and I was his first time; he said he felt odd at first but it felt great. I almost died.

I’m not saying that EVERYONE should go around and go on a face-eating spree… I understand that some people are against PDAs,expecially in Ghana… but for me, alas, I’m a very affectionate person.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE,OPINIONS,STORIES AND IDEAS BLOG

blackofe — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:50:15 CST

Feel free to browse around, and if you get inspired to share your story,opinions or ideas,just do it but please be real....thank you. World Peace!

A chilling situation analysis taken from the ghana_guys as yahoo groups:

Gay life in Ghana is as it is in most African countries but has some differences too as to; the way gay men behave and societal reaction to people perceived to be gays. Gays in Ghana face many problem.

Stigma
There is a lot of stigma towards gay men and lesbians living in Ghana, due to what is called societal rejection of the act of homosexuality. Living in Ghana as a gay/lesbian or homosexual is very hard since you have to live all your life trying to gain acceptance from people who don't know you and don't understand you. People think here that being a gay is about being promiscuous, or a *********, but that is not the case. Gays in Ghana, are right people who pay our taxes and do every thing as good citizens of Ghana. We are not criminals we are not evil, we are not devil, its only when it comes to sex that our sexual orientation is different and this is not one person or two to force us to change but there are thousands of Ghanaian gays here and out there.

Violence
Gays / homosexuals in Ghana are living in the state of fear which we think is a form of violence. We have been isolated and our issues are not important enough to be discussed. We are beaten, even when we attend funerals, by young men who think being gay is foolish. We are attacked and robbed and all people say to us is, what where you doing there by that time and who invited you there? There is lots and lots of name-calling and most of these people call as "supi boys or Kwedjo Besia". This leads some few bad young ones to take advantage of us and rob us and the police do nothing.

There is a situation where if you are known to be gay in school, no one comes/plays with you or wants to talk to you and all see you as a different person and points fingers at you.

I was approached by a friend who has been asked why he walks or talks with me? People see him with me and think because of that, he is evil and will never go to heaven; because gays are evil men.

I was evicted from my first room that I rented, because they said no woman visits me and that means am gay.

I was beaten by a man who thought I have no rights to reply the wife when she insult me for being gay because gays are "nothing" and want to know how I got that power to reply to the wife. He used this "who are you? Homosexual talking to my wife like that?"

Gays in Ghana suffers psychological, physical and emotional and verbal abuse.

Poverty
Poverty is an important issue for us as gays because most of us have been evicted by parents or family and we are staying with friends and most to this because they want money and because they are poor and think this is an area where they can make money.

Most of the gay men in Ghana are not into any good job and those working in the big places don't want to be associated with gay group but they still want gay sex.

Most people come from the other regions of Ghana to Accra to work and when they don't find it, they turn to prostitution. Most people don't have and can't get a little money to start a business.

Prostitution
Prostitution is common in Ghana since most of us have to survive and think prostitution is the only way out. There are lots and lots of gay men into prostitution and this comes in different forms by the different people. Most people do this at the beaches, while others in bars and clubs.

Human Right
Gays are not recognized in Ghana. The rights of gays are not rights and are not talked about since no one thinks its right to be gay. Gays are not recognized when it comes to issues relating to medical care and HIV-Aids. Even though the constitution of Ghana gives everyone the right to association, gay men can't meet to discuss issues that affect them in Ghana since it is believed that gays are not humans.

Medical
Medically gay men don't go to the hospitals for treatment especially if it is a sexually transmitted disease. Most of these diseases, you are asked to bring with you your sexual partner before treatment and gay sex been describe as criminal, most men come home and forget the hospital and fall on friends for help.

There are most cases where gay men have died of sexually transmitted diseases because they feel shy to disclose their sexuality to the doctor.

Gays get sick and we can't talk to them about HIV because even if we mention it, where is he going to get the test and when asked to provide the partner for test too what is he going to do?

Apart from leading to despair and illness, this also leads to poverty because the livelihoods of LGBT people are greatly affected when they become ill. This is exacerbated by the fact that they are often ostracised by our families because of our sexual orientation, and therefore often have very little family support when we become ill.

Law
The Ghanaian constitution has nothing to say on people sexual orientation since it among one of the oldest constitutions in the world that as not been amended. The constitution has a portion that talks about human right but does not talk about sexual rights.

Even though the criminal code of Ghana has not got any clear-cut definition on homosexuality or gay life style, the lawyer uses a portion that talks about "unnatural sex" which is sex with an animal.

Meeting places
Meeting places for gay men is not easy since the law is against "us", we can't meet or we'll be arrested by the police. Most people meet during parties and funerals of friends and love ones. Others meet in gay friendly bars and restaurants. There are few people who meet in homes. Others meet at the beaches.

Socializing places
There is lot of socialization that goes on in Ghana between LGBT's in Ghana and this is done in a similar way like in the meeting places.

HIV-aids prevalence
An interview we had with our people proves that most of them never use condoms during sex. There are few people who tell you they don't like sex with condoms and that they want it raw. There few who go round and say they want the biggest penis available and that if yours is not big, you should not try them. These are young people within the ages of 15 - 24. They are mainly the targets of adult customers who come to these places and they are made to do anything the adult says since there is the cultures of "do what ever the adult tells you to do here in Ghana" young people run after adult because they believe when they go with him they will get the money they want and when asked to get it without condom, they do it in the name of money. There are situations where you visit a friend sick and dying and you try to tell him to get HIV test, you are called names like devil and Satan.

HIV-Aids prevention
Even though there are lots and lots of HIV prevention going on in Ghana, the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transsexual) has been left out. The is no prevention or awareness targeting this community and this has caused lots of damage to us because there are most bi-sexual men in Ghana than any other groups since there is lots of discrimination, gay men go in for commercial sex workers and have sex with them in the anus. I will say that I can see the Ghana Aids commission is finding ways to reach out to MSM (Men having sex with men) in Ghana and some few clinics but not as a national programme.

How has 2009 changed you?

blackofe — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:35:05 CST

It’s just 2 days before the year 2009 comes to a close, and I thought, how has this year changed me? How different am I now, compared to the same time last year? What are the events in 2009 that greatly impacted me? Who are the key people in 2009 that most contributed to my growth and expansion as a person? And perhaps, one last question, what decisions did I make that made me much different now than who I would be had I not made that decision? (In short, how did I change myself in 2009?). fell free to tell us how 2009 changed you,the ups downs and the worse.....

For me,2009 was a year where I had been to many countries and learnt alot. It was also the year when I lost some friends and my pet judy. It was a year where i found the real person inside me. It was also a year where I started my life.
It was a year of sweet and bittersweet memories.
I wish 2010 will be better! And I wish I can now find love(for real,hehe).
I wish everyone a Prosperous and a truly joyous new year!.....LETS STAND UP!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

blackofe — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 06:38:50 CST

Hello Happy people of Ghana,this is the season of love so let's spread love. Give, without expecting anything in return, and we'll surely have a better world.

Celebrate Christmas and new year with what it's really for. It's not bad to drink and be merry but always remember to take everything in moderation.

Have fun, you guys! May we have many more Christmases and new years to celebrate. Cheers!
Your blackofe!!!

Gay visitors to Ghana

andy.shilongo — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 06:01:40 CST

Tips for those foreign visitors who love Ghanaian boys & men.
Many Gay tourists choose Ghana as the place to meet nice black boys.

How to find your Ghanaian partner for life.............

Most Gay tourists coming to Ghana (here called Obroni = white man) surf the net before they come to find a nice black boy or man to meet them and make the holiday more fun. Watch out, it can become a nightmare if you're not careful!!!

There are a few things you should know before embarking on a search for hot sex and fun or maybe even a nice ebony partner for mariage.

Dating sites are the most frequently used ways to meet a (potential) lover or gay guide in a foreign country. At sites like Outpersonals or Gaydar you will find that Ghana is the country in Africa with the most registered hopefuls. No other country in Africa has so many boys and men looking for a partner on Outpersonals with picture (often naked) than Ghana. Does this mean Ghana is the Gay paradise in Africa? No...! It may mean that there are plenty young men desperate enough to seek greener pastures elsewhere, whilst developed enough to have access to the internet and a digital camera.

Many of the men and boys you see on these sites are not even gay or bisexuall. Some just pretend to be gay and will have sex for the money. Others are just "on-line gay", that is, they will tell you hot sexy stories after which they will ask for your financial support (need a phone to call you, mother sick, brother died etc.). Once you arrive they will vanish in thin air, the name and address they give are fake. Often the pictures are fake too. They copied it somewhere from the net.
But that is not even the worst form: The next category are the ones who will meet you and maybe even have sex with you, which will then be interrupted by a "policeman" knocking on your hotel room door. Blackmail is for some a quicker way to get the cash they're after. Sometimes the policeman is a fraud but sometimes even the police is actually involved. Corrupt policemen are just part of the extortion plot. If you dont cough up the money, you will land in prison. And the embarrasment of the story in the newspapers.
After all, gay sex is considered illegal in Ghana under the "unnatural carnal knowledge" phrase (see the page on Gay rights are human rights).
Especially watch out for Christian Village (Achimota): this has realy become a no-go zone. Very dangerous. Also see the fakers2go website on this (also see links below).

Of course there are also legitimate Gay boys who sincerely look for a partner and who really do like white (older) men. Miracles happen. The grimm economic outlooks for some boys and men who do not have the opportunities that education or family relations give them, will entice more handsome young men to look for a partner from abroad. In itself that does not necessarily imply a bad perspective. An old Thai saying is that "equal relationships do not exist; there is always a big person and a small person in any relationship". There are differences in age, wealth, power, nationality, sexe, looks, brains etc. In a good relation these things level out. A beautiful young black Ghanaian boy, may be poor and have no job opportunities, but an older white men who comes to look for a boy in a poor country is usually also not the "prime beef on the market".
After all it was just about 50 years ago that most marriages in the West were also mostly forged on economic arguments; farmers doughters married farmers sons because of land property issues. Empoverished gentry married nouveau riche money moguls, for reasons of money vs. status. Middle class girls married men with a steady job for economic security or upward social mobility.

If people realize and accept eachothers plusses and minuses, a mutually beneficial relationship can develop, which may last long and satisfy both parties needs. The trick is to find the right man, and they are out there....... Even on sites like outpersonals.

At internet cafes in Christian Village Achimota, Sunyani or Berekum you will find many boys surfing the net to find a gay partner. Does that mean that half the population in these places is gay? No, many boys see their friends getting sponsor money from abbroad. They see its an easier way to get money than to find a job on a jobmarket that is not ready to accept them. Yes, in such a setting it is also easier for real gay men and boys to have a relationship. The community grudgingly tollerates their sponsor relations as it does bring money into the community and many profit from a brother or nephew with a sponsor from abroad. Some of the lucky ones even get a ticket out of there for mariage in Europe or America. Who can blame them....?

How to play it safe...

Dont jump in bed with the first georgeous boy you met on the net. Try first to get to know their surrounding, their family and friends. Oldfashioned victorian morals and a chapperone to protect your virginity would be a smart start. Observe the Ghanaian laws. Get the contact details of a lawyer and if you meet some powerful VIPs on your trip get their contacts too, so you can call in the cavallery in case someone tries to frame you.

Tourism in Ghana: Elmina

Gay events in Ghana this year:

Links:

tips on dating scams:

Good info for gay tourists in Ghana you will find on Easy Track Ghana (also tips on how to deal with scammers, police etc.)

Some stories about experiences with dating scams on Afriboyz

A usefull blog with a blacklist of known scammers with picture you will find here: squidoo.com/Online-gay-dating-scams-in-Ghana but at the moment the most upto-date version of the site is at fakers2go; on this subject also see this blog on Queerty or this one on Fast Company

US Embassy Accra on romance scams

And a different view on the same: proposing a whitelist to complement the blacklist

Queerty about Ghana as gay toursit destination

Airport hassle Accra: blog

What Happened to me two months Ago,HATE NOW?!!!

blackofe — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 04:24:38 CST

Two Month ago in kumasi,i came back from a friends place and saw my sister crying,I asked her why and she told me,ARE YOU GAY? AND ADVERTISING YOURSELF ON THE INTERNET? i couldn't quite believe it at first, and appeared pretty shocked,pretending i dont understand what she is talking about. And two hours of tears and explanations into my sexuality, we went to bed and things appeared to be, what I thought, OK between us.

The next morning, I got up and went downstairs, and she ignored me whenever I said anything to her. She soon took my nephew to school, said bye to the dog and not to me, and left.

Later that day when I came back from a friends place, I came home to find her on the sofa in front of the TV in tears. I asked her if she was OK and she told me up front that she had been crying all night and all morning at work,.. and that she HAD a brother, but now she had a poncing poofster. She then came up the stairs while I was sat texting my frends, and said; 'Oh, who you texting, your poxy gay friends' and said loads of bad things about my friends who are gay. She then told me that,SINCE MUM IS DEAD AND WE HAVE MOURN HER ALREADY,NOW SHE IS MOURNING HER BROTHER and that I was dead to her.

I dreaded coming to Accra that night. I went in and again she ignored me and didnt acknowledge me whatsoever. I went upstairs and she followed before saying stuff about the gays I speak to on MSN and online. She told me i should delate all my adverts on the internet and she will burn my laptop to stop me from chatting, and that if I dont, she was going to phone the police. From then, she kept coming into my room and checking up on me and rudely asking who I was speaking to. I didn't speak to her until that night when I went downstairs to find her crying at the table.

I asked her if she wanted to talk and she outright said to me that I was dead to her, that she didn't have a brother anymore, i have disgrace and ruined her life. On the floor crying my eyes out, this didn't stop her, and she carried out with the insults, making me sob even louder. She threatened to tell the whole family and turn against me [quite a homophobic family]. In the end, we sat down and talked about it, and because I just couldn't stand to hear this from my family, I told her I was bisexual, but as long as she knew that I did fancy men. This was the prime point anyway, because I'd just started meeting men as friends, and I hated the lying, hence why I told her. She accepted this and within the next few days, everything appeared normal.

On the saturday, I told her that I was going to meet my friend (a gay friend) who I met online and I told her this, and she threw a strop and ran into the bathroom.

From then on, we are not able to communicate like we did. Whenever I ask her a question, she just quickly answers the question with a yes or no answer and thats the end of it, and she has digs at me for no reason.

Now am back in Accra and since sexuallity is not a choice,i cant turn into something else,i call her sometimes but we dont talk for more than 30seconds. As an intelligent guy,now i think its time for me to be on my own,my mum who gave birth to me dows not exist anymore so let me live my life. am back here on gayghana to give power to my fellow Ghanaian gays....WE ARE AS NORMAL AS EVERYONE ELSE. LIVE AND LETS LIVE!!!

Gay sports/football

andy.shilongo — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:17:27 CST

kumasi guys

koko30 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:53:16 CST

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Open letter to radio station

hitman61 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:22:07 CDT

On this page we, the members of gayghana.org, will draft an open letter to the management of the Accra radio station that is hosting the Blakk Rasta show. Meanwhile there will be a

Black Rasta to entertain Barak Obama during visit to Ghana

Ghana's choise to have the most vocal homophobic hate monger of Ghana Media to entertain Gay Rights Promotor President Barak Obama is a slap in the face of human rights activists.

It clearly demonstrates the inability of Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to recognize the commitment of President Obama to consequently promote Gay rights as being Human Rights. To associate especially this President of the United States of America with a gay-bashing Rasta who produces a constant flow of hate speeches and calls for violence against gays is an insult.

Blakk Rasta in a pose with President Barack Hussein Obama It was an experience he had been yearning for, a moment his fans had been craving to witness – that time to meet with the first black president of the United States of America, Barack Obama. Ghana’s Reggae music icon Blakk Rasta had a one-on-one interaction with the world’s most powerful man, he told Myjoyonline.
Blakk Rasta was among a cross-section of Ghanaians who had breakfast with Mr Obama at the Osu Castle Gardens on Saturday.
Certainly, the song that has given Blakk Rasta the thrust to that “moment of glory” – as he loves to describe it – is his popular Barack Obama track which topped the Reggae music charts across the continent in the lead up to the 2008 US presidential elections. The song Barack Obama whose main refrain is a lyrical rendition of Mr Obama’s name, was the theme song for the occasion and had a way of staying in the heads of the visitors long after they had left, the New York Times
“This is a moment of glory, when your toil and hard work is rewarded,” Blakk Rasta told Myjoyonline of the song he says was By Divine Hand. Mr Obama granted the Reggae musician and DJ at Multimedia Group a photo opportunity after a warm embrace.
“Thanks for that inspirational song. It urged me on to victory,” the US President is said to have told Blakk Rasta.
Blakk Rasta is hopeful, that another promise by Obama for the two to meet again, will come to pass. Blakk Rasta received great international media attention during the visit of Obama, granting interviews to networks such as the VOA, German Television, CNN, the BBC and a host of others. He has been doing music for years but the launch in 2000 of his album Rasta Shrine was what really launched him into the real stardom, he said.
Since then, Blakk has launched five more albums with his latest African Rebel making interesting inroads on the reggae music charts. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com The Song Barack Obama reported on Sunday.

Despite the fact that the content of this page had been mailed to the US Embassy in Accra prior to the Presidents visit, they did not publicly distance themselves from Blakk Rasta's hate speeches and homophobic media campaign.

What is homosexuality?

andy.shilongo — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:13:33 CDT

Homosexuality is not a disease, it can not be cured. Nobody makes you a homosexual. You are born that way. You are just different...
Accept it. Celebrate diversity. Homosexuality refers to sexual behaviour with or attraction to people of the same sex, or to a homosexual orientation. In Ghana the subject of homosexuality is so taboo, that there is a lot of ignorance around. Homosexuals who are ignorant about it may feel desperate, ashamed, alone. Heterosexuals who are ignorant about this issue are often affraid of it, want to ban it out of their surroundings so they dont have to deal with it.

Being different is not a sin. All people are different in many ways. The colour of the skin is different. People have different physical and intellectual abilities. Some people have a disability which makes them differently abled. Often people are just scared of the unknown. Once they have experienced a good friend or a brother/sister admitting he/she is gay, after a first sometimes hefty schock, the uneasy feeling quickly disappears. Sometimes the uneasyness is realted to their own insecurity about their sexuality.
The social surrounding in Ghana are extremely homophobic.It puts a lot of pressure on people to go in hiding. Gay men and women experience a lot of abuse and discrimination. Gay people get married to someone from the opposite sex to appease parents, family and neighbours. These mariages often are a disaster. They rarely are happy mariages.

Some churches and pastors, claim to be able to "cure the disease". It cant be done as homosexuality is not a disease. People may pretend, under severe social pressure, to be "cured". These pastors who claim (but can not prove) that they are the ones chosen and able to interprete and express the will of God, are either misguided or charlatans. There is no proof that they have some devine gift or mission. Only they themselves claim it. They are trained mass manipulators. Dont mind them. If there is a God, it will me a merciful God and not a hateful God.
If God had a problem with it he would not have created gay people.

Some people claim homosexuality is something which is imported by the whites and infected some Africans. This is bogus. In all societies there is a minority of people (estimates range from 2% to 10% homosexuals and on top of that an unknown number of bi-sexuals. Actually, adolecents often experiment with same sex play. This does not mean the are or will become gay. In puberty children need to find out about their sexuality. Its natural. For most it will pass. No need to get exited. Some will turn out to be gay. Also no need to get exited. Live and let live.
In societies where the barriers of social pressure are removed many gays and bisexuals come out of the closet. The more repressive a culture is the more people will hide and lead a miserable life. It becomes invisible but it is still there.
In Africa only South Africa enjoys a modern constitution which guarantees gay rights and protects against discrimination. The other African countries still have a long way to go. often settled up with old English laws from days long gone by. Lets hope that with these new elections a new breeze of human rights will blow through Ghanaian politics and Ghana can again play a leading role in democracy and human rights. And remember it takes two heterosexuals to make one homosexual.

Talking about Gays as if they are one kind, also shows ignorance. Even within the gay population there is a tremendous variety of preferences and behaviours. Ignorance often makes people think of homosexuals as being feminine "sissy boys" or drag-queens. This is only one kind of homosexuals, although they often are the most visible and therefor determine stereotype views about homosexuality. Most likely because for them it is more difficult to hide.

But there are plenty other types of gays. There are gays who behave just like the average guy in the street.. You wouldnt notice the difference. The only difference is their preference for sex partners.
Then there are the transvestites or crossdressers,(men who ware woman's clothes or women who ware mens clothes). By the way there are also straight crossdressers,
There are older men who like younger boys, Boys who like older men. There are macho hardrockers with leather suits and beards. Then of course there is a difference between tops and bottoms or versatile gays. There are slaves and masters, people who enjoy pain and engage in SM (Sado Masochism - there are also heterosexuals who are in SM); the difference is plentyful, and if you learn not to be affraid you can enjoy the colourful variety of the human species as God intended it.
So why are so many heterosexuals so scared about homosexuality? It is not like they will be raped or so. Homosexuals are usually just interested in other homosexuals. It does not effect the heterosexuals. As it is not a disease it is not contageous and if you are born a heterosexual nobody can change you into a homosexual, so why be affraind? If two adults are having consensual sex in the privacy of their own home, it is nobodies else's business. Let people concern themselves with their own lives and stop messing with what other people are supposed or allowed to do according to their personal narrow minded perceptions.

That homosexual acts are illegal in Ghana is just a historic relic. The ancient Brittisch colonial laws, dating from hundreds of years ago when Western Europe was also a lot less developed, have been imposed on Ghana by the colonial masters together with the even more ancient Christian morals. Since that time culture and laws in Europe have developed to a modern tollerant and open minded society. Why is Africa sticking to the 18th century views.

Links:
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/patron-africhomo.html
The truth about gay guys; Ghana news
Article in the Standard about Gay live in Kenya

HIV/AIDS and gay sex

andy.shilongo — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:09:35 CDT

HIV/AIDS
AIDS is blamed on foreigners, gay men, and the devil. Last year, school children staged a demonstration in the New Juaben Municipality in which they demanded that all tourists visiting the country be forced to get an HIV test. Homosexuality itself is also blamed on foreigners, though most gay Ghanaians, if you can find them, will tell you their first experiences were with local friends, and sometimes relatives. When the devil is seen as the cause of AIDS, God is seen as the solution. A significant amount of gay men believe they are protected from HIV by a combination of spiritual practices and herbal medicine. Last November, Joseph Amponsah, Chairman of Hope Association of Nkoranza, an association of persons living with HIV/AIDS, went public to beg pastors to quit making HIV/AIDS patients fast for days on end because it was killing some of them. Though a number of politicians and clergymen publicly blame gay men for AIDS, the only form of transmission the government mentions in official reports is heterosexual sex. There are few, if any, HIV prevention or awareness campaigns targeting the LGBT community, even though a substantial amount of work is directed to heterosexuals. Because of the silence, a recent study found that while most gay men in Ghana knew HIV was sexually transmitted, many thought the risk was greatest with vaginal sex. As a result, they were more likely to use condoms with women than men, if they used them at all. Young men are especially at risk. If they have an older partner, they will do anything the adult says. Respect for your elders is an important part of Ghanaian culture. Besides, young men prefer older partners because they think they will get more presents or will be paid more.

Shame
When they do get sick, gay men in Ghana don't go to the hospitals for health care, especially if they might have a sexually transmitted disease. One reason is that hospitals will not treat you unless you come in with your sex partner. Gay men who can't afford a private doctor rely on over the counter drugs, or go to herbalists. Some have died of treatable STD's because they were too embarrassed to see a doctor. Talking about HIV is almost impossible here. Since we are considered criminals, where can we feel safe getting tested? Even if there were health services specifically for gay men, many say they would be afraid to use them. To those of us that struggle with self-hate, HIV seems like one more blow. If you tell a sick person to get tested, they get very angry at you and call you names like the devil and Satan. AIDS in Ghana is terrible even before death. Besides despair and illness, it can bring terrible poverty. We lose our incomes when we become ill. Already ostracised by our families, the only people we can rely on are our friends. You can contact the newly formed Gay and Lesbian Association of Ghana at gaytourghana@yahoo.com or popeducation@zwallet.com.

source: the Gully

Some common misconceptions about HIV/AIDS:

In relation to HIV/AIDS the term MSM is often mentioned. MSM stands for Men having Sex with Men. Some think that is the same as "gay". It is not. MSM comprise of all men who have sex with men, being gays, bisexuals, experimenting adolecents, raped men, men having sex with men because of absence of women (prisoners, sailors or uniformed services like police or military), heterosexual male prostitutes etc.

Misconception 1: Some believe that you don't get HIV from anal sex; that it is only easily tranmitted inside a vagina. Wrong! The risk of HIV infection is the highest with unprotected anal sex; higher even than with vaginal sex.
Misconception 2: Some think you are less likely to get infected with HIV if you are circumsized. True in a way; if you are circumsized you have a considerable lower risk, but yet the risk is way too high. If an uncircumsized barebacker (=someone who has sex without a condom) is playing russian roulette with two bullits in the barrel, the circusized person is playing with at least one bullit. The risk is unacceptable, still.
Misconception 3: If someone is fat and looks healthy he will not have HIV. Wrong! On the avarage an HIV infected person will not show any symptoms in the first 7 years. If he does not get tested he may even not know he is infected. All looks well.
Misconception 4: HIV is mostly an African problem, having sex with obroni is therefore safe as opposed to having sex with an African. Wrong: The avarage HIV infection rate is higher in the Gay community (also abroad) than among heterosexuals. It is about opportunity. e.g. in Southern Africa the infection rate among white inhabitants is as high or higher than among the black population. It is about opportunity: as the whites avaragely have more money they are attractive sex partners to many and therefore they have access to a large number of sex partners. And the HIV rate among gays in Europe and US is on the rise again.
Misconception 5: With ARV drugs HIV is now a treateble disease, like any chronical disease. Well in a way it is true, but mind: it is still not curable. Not all People Living With HIV/AIDS can physically tollerate the ARV-medicine. And people taking ARVs are still contageous to others (although their viral load will be lower) and their chance to die of an opportunistic infection is 5 times higher as for non HIV-infected people. And it is still not known how long life is elongated by the use of ARVs.
Misconception 6: Oral sex is safe. Wrong! Although the risk with oral sex is much lower, especially if you dont get the *** in you mouth, there is still a chance of infection. And as with any calculations on chance, the risk multiplies every time you do it. So if you do it often, the risk gets very real. Also the risk is higher if the person you are sucking has a higher viral load. Since you dont know or can't see how high a persons viral load is, you shouls be very carefull. It is true that people who are taking ARV have a lower viral load and are therefore less contageous, But less is not safe.

Although research has not been done yet in Ghana (because the topic is so taboo) it is safe to assume that the HIV infection rate in Ghana among homosexuals is (relatively) much higher, probably several times higher, than among heterosexuals. If the rate among heteros is around 3% average, the rate among MSM may well be over 25%. So although in Ghana the absolute number of Heterosexuals infected by HIV is much higher than the absolute number of HIV-positive Homosexuals, the risk of meeting an HIV-positive partner among Homosexuals is significantly higher; maybe one in four.
So always be careful: use a rubber...!!!!

Having said that, of course there is no need at all to become paranoia about friends who are HIV-positive. If you have a partner who is HIV-positive you can still have sex. As long as you are aware of the risks and practice safe sex and protect yourself with a good condom and use a water-based lubricant it is OK.

interesting links:
http://www.thegully.com/essays/gaymundo/0403_gay-men_hiv_ghana/msm_ghana_intro_summary.html

HIV infection rates among gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in "some African countries are 10 times that of the general male population, and stigma, poor access to treatment or testing are to blame," according to a Lancet study published online on Monday, AFP/China Post reports. University of Oxford researchers looked at published studies to examine HIV prevalence rates between 2003 and 2009. "The difference varies a lot across Africa, but in most of the countries studied," MSM HIV prevalence rates "were substantially higher than among heterosexuals," writes AFP/China Post (7/20). The higher prevalence is "driven by cultural, religious and political unwillingness to accept [MSM] as equal members of society," according to the study, BBC reports. Lead researcher Adrian Smith said there was "profound stigma and social hostility at every level of society concerning either same-sex behaviours amongst men, or homosexuality," adding that as a result, "this group becomes extremely hard to reach" (7/20). The study "stressed that the risks were not limited to gays, as many MSM also have sex with women," AFP/China Post writes (7/20). This information was reprinted from globalhealth.kff.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at globalhealth.kff.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

Article about the most recent meeting on MSM and HIV in Ghana in which an increase in MSM relations in Ghana is being reported.

Discussion on HIV/AIDS in sub-saharan Africa on Global Voices Online.

And another article about HIV-infection rate among MSM being 10 x higher than heterosexual infection rate in subsharan Africa.

Very good blog story about sex workers in Kenya dealing with HIV

africa save africa,let africa change the attitudes of africa,(africans)dont let another brother and sister and child of africa die,africa the black shining star of all africa,we will win aganist hiv/aid, please post,this is your slogo for africa,and the world,use it.frederick-kwaku,african dancer,

Article about effects of HIV/AIDS strategy for MSM on gay rights issues and decriminalisation in Malawi.

Podcast about HIV/AIDS in Asia Pacific and how they use HIV/AIDS campaign to break open the discussion on homosexuality MSM.

Advocacy and political lobby

andy.shilongo — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:15:57 CDT

'Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.'
- Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia

It is time to demand decriminalization and protection against discrimination: human rights for all Ghanaians.

It is time to organize political lobby in Ghana for decriminalization of homosexuality and gay sex. We have to seek support from politicians who are willing to promote our case. They will be hard to find, as it will make them unpopular with the majority (something politicians do not like) and they will have to face the wrath of the clergy, al the priests, immams, pastors and reverends and most reverends, bishops and archbishops, yes even the pope himself.

Now the new President has pledged to make the improvement of the human rights situation in Ghana one of his core policies, the time has come to claim the same rights for all.
Even the President may find this a hard nut to crack. But on the other hand, you do not need to be a child to promote child rights, so a politician can do the right thing without having to be gay him or herself.

We need to form a workgroup of politically active people who will start this process. Please suggest some politicians, journalists or other high profile Ghanaians who could become flagbarers for gay emancipation in Ghana in our list.

Actually we have already started by drafting a letter to HITZ FM radio station about the hate radio show of "Black Rasta" and we are now trying to mount a courtcase to challenge the "carnal knowledge" law.

Usefull links:

http://www.ucalgary.ca/~ptrembla/gay-lesbian-bisexual/3n-africa-homosexuality-resources.htm#Ghana

As example for possible action planning: the 2009 - 2014 Action Plan of the Gay and Lesbian Council of Kenya GALCK

Possible source of funding: the pink triangle (humanist gay foundation)

We can form a group here which will start activities and slowly maybe organise itself as a core group or maybe even an NGO. Once activies have started a formal organisation may be set up and then funding could be acquired.for more activities. If you want to be part of this, make yourself known to Andy Shilongo or Hitman61 and we will form an informal core group first to start doing some things together.

Anal Sex

andy.shilongo — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:45:22 CDT

Many people get revulsed at the idea of anal sex, which by the way is not a practice of all homosexual people nor is it, only a preserve of the homosexuals. Many heterosexuals do engage in anal sex, and many homosexuals do not engage in it at all. Lets talk about it today. Anal sex is stimulation of the anus during sexual activity. It can be done in several different ways: manually, orally or by anal intercourse. Anal sex can be the primary form of sexual activity or it can accompany other types of stimulation. For instance, couples sometimes include manual stimulation of the anus (either lightly rubbing the rim or inserting a finger into the anus) during vaginal intercourse. Others use the tongue in a similar fashion for oral stimulation. Anal intercourse is the insertion of a man's penis into his partner's rectum. Although anal sex is often thought of as a strictly homosexual activity, many heterosexual couples enjoy it too. Anal penetration can be pleasurable, but it can also be a source of physical discomfort. The muscle on the outside of the rectum, called the anal sphincter, ordinarily tightens if stimulated, which means that attempts at insertion of the penis, or even a finger, may be uncomfortable even if done slowly and gently. If penetration into the anus is forced, injury is possible. It is helpful to use a lubricant liberally and to relax and gradually dilate the sphincter by gentle manual stimulation before attempting penetration. Some people clear the rectum with a small disposable enema before anal intercourse. Because the rectum contains infection causing bacteria, anything (fingers, objects, penis) that has had contact with the anus should not subsequently be in contact with the vagina or mouth until it has been thoroughly washed. Strong Negative Attitudes
Some people have strong negative attitudes toward anal sex, whether it takes place between homosexual or heterosexual couples. They may think of it as being unclean, unnatural, perverted, disgusting, or simply unappealing. It is sometimes regarded as the ultimate in depravity and has regularly been condemned by religious and secular authorities. Historically, religious objections originate from the fact that a woman cannot possibly get pregnant through anal sex, as some religions only approved of sexual intercourse for the purpose of reproduction. Anal sex is subject to legal restrictions in some states, even between married couples. In general these statutes refer to anal sex acts as "crimes against nature", going back to the view that heterosexual intercourse, with its reproductive potential, is the only natural, healthy, non-sinful way of having sexual relations. These laws are strongly biased toward the prosecution of homosexuals because penetrative anal sex is far more common among gay men than it is among heterosexual couples. A Legitimate Form of Sexual Expression
Despite religious and legal prohibitions to anal sex, many people, regardless of their sexual orientation, regard it as a legitimate form of sexual expression and as one of the fulfilling ways in which people can express their desire and affection for each other. It is up to each couple to decide what is acceptable and enjoyable for them. If a couple's attitudes or values make anal sex unacceptable, or if they do not enjoy it, they should feel no pressure to engage in it. It is important to note that HIV, the virus causing AIDS, can be transmitted through anal sex, especially anal intercourse. In fact, the risk of HIV transmission is greater than it is in vaginal intercourse because the lining of the rectum tears more easily than the vagina does. The resulting skin breaks and bleeding increase the possibility of the transmission of bodily fluids containing the virus that causes AIDS. For those who choose to engage in either vaginal or anal penetrative sexual acts, using latex condoms is the best means of reducing the likelihood of HIV transmission. Copyright 2002 Sinclair Intimacy Institute

Question

My boyfriend and I have unsafe sex, and he ejaculates in my colon. What are the risks, other than passing an STD to my body, if this were to occur daily?
Because of a sphincter and a sharp curve between your rectum and your colon, it would be very difficult -- if not impossible -- for a penis to penetrate the colon. Therefore it's unlikely that your partner is actually ejaculating in your colon. He is most likely ejaculating deep in your rectum. You asked about non-STD risks, but I must point out that the risk of becoming infected with HIV and other STDs through unprotected anal intercourse with an infected partner is high. Your risk is increased by the fact that your partner always ejaculates inside you. Withdrawing before ejaculation might lessen somewhat your chances of becoming infected. Your non-STD-related risks are minimal and can easily be further decreased. To prevent other infections, avoid any oral or vaginal (if applicable) penetration involving your partner's penis after he has penetrated you anally -- unless he puts on a new condom or cleans his penis carefully in between. There are germs that are harmless in an anus but very dangerous in a mouth or vagina. Anal sex can involve friction leading to abrasions within the anal cavity where the membranes are quite delicate. Using plenty of lubrication such as Probe, Wet, or ID will help you avoid this -- as will a slow, careful entry into the anus. Remember, never use an oil-based lubrication such as lotion, baby oil or Crisco with latex condoms. If his entry or thrusting into your anus causes you severe pain, this is a sign that injury is being done and you should consider slowing down, using more lube or trying some other activity. This is one reason why using drugs that decrease your awareness of pain during anal sex is a bad idea. It's also a reason why good verbal communication with your partner decreases risk of injury during any sexual activity. In addition, keep in mind that sexual arousal will make it easier for you to relax your sphincter muscles for comfortable entry. Stories of people permanently damaging or weakening their anal sphincters through frequent anal sex are myths. Anal sex does not lead to an inability to control bowel movements.

Showcase trial to challenge "carnal knowledge" law

andy.shilongo — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:30:41 CDT

This article below appeared in a newspaper last week. We have information that the case is not what it seems to be.

STEPHEN OSEI, a 36-year-old unemployed man who is said to have unleashed his libido on a 21-year-old male student at New Edubiase in the Ashanti Region, is currently in prison custody pending further investigations into the allegation.

Harbouring the intention to engage in the unlawfully lewd act, the accused person reportedly gave the victim (name withheld) some Courvoisier Champagne to get him drunk, after which he had sexual intercourse with him through his anus.

He was remanded into prison custody by a Circuit Court in Obuasi after pleading not guilty to the charge of unlawful carnal knowledge, contrary to section 104 (1)(a) of Act 29/60 as amended by Act 554 of 1998, and would re-appear on September 23, 2009 to continue his trial.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Mohammed Agumah told the court presided over by Gilbert Ayisi Addo that on September 6, 2009, the accused person, who lives in Accra, attended a funeral with the landlady of the victim, who is the complainant in the case.

According to him, the accused returned to the house with the landlady after the funeral rite and did not travel back to Accra.

The next day at about 2.00pm, Stephen Osei invited the 21-year-old student into his room in the same house and engaged him in conversation whilst there, prosecution narrated further.
Chief Inspector Agumah continued that the accused person offered the complainant some drinks which he declined.

He said the accused person, however, managed to lure the complainant with a foreign drink with the inscription: “Courvoisier V.S.O.P. champagne”, which the complainant drank without suspecting any foul play.

Soon after that, prosecution said, the complainant became drunk and unconscious, and subsequently slept in the accused person’s room.

The accused person then took advantage of his unconsciousness and had sexual intercourse with him, Chief Agumah pointed out.

He stated that the complainant, after regaining consciousness

some hours later, realized the accused person was lying on top of him trying to penetrate him again. Complainant at this moment struggled with the accused person, held unto his manhood and prevented him from having further sexual intercourse with him, but his anus was already smeared with sperms and lubricant.

The complainant reported the incident to his brothers, who informed their parents and later lodged a complaint with the police, leading to the accused person’s arrest, said prosecution.

The prosecutor concluded by adding that the accused person admitted the offence during interrogation and after investigations, he was arraigned.

From Ernest Kofi Adu, Obuasi

A group of members is looking into this case to see if we can provide legal support to the accused and make it to a gay rights showcase against the criminalisation of homosexuality.

Tell us below what you think about it.

Good example of how this is dealt with in Kenya.

Gay rights are human rights

andy.shilongo — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 07:40:11 CDT

Hillary Clinton: U.S. Will Fight Homophobia Worldwide

Mon, Sep 28, 2009

On Sept. 11, Hillary Clinton received the Roosevelt Institute’s Four Freedoms Award. The annual awards are “presented each year to men and women whose achievements have demonstrated a commitment to those principles which President Roosevelt proclaimed in his historic speech to Congress on January 6, 1941 as essential to democracy: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear.” In her acceptance speech, Clinton said that that the United States will fight anti-LGBT violence whereever it occurs:

(We) must condemn violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In country after country after country, young men and women are persecuted, are singled out, even murdered in cold blood, because of who they love or just based on claims that they are gay. We are starting to track violence against the LGBT community, because where it happens anywhere in the world, the United States must speak out against it and work for its end. Through our annual human rights report, we are documenting human rights abuses against LGBT communities worldwide. And we are seeking out partners at the United Nations such as Brazil, France, Sweden and the Netherlands to help us address these human rights abuses.

Clinton has previously spoken about LGBT rights as human rights. Read Clinton’s full acceptance speech here. Photo: Rex Wockner

Recent discussions on Gay Rights in Ghana; various links:

article from Modern Ghana about homosexuality (positive approach)

blog on homosexuality in Ghana by Holi Ramblings

and an article in Queerty on Ghana as a tourist destination.

Article about the arrest of a Ghanaian gay man from UK

Gay in Ghana
From gay-bashings to AIDS.
By Prince

Complete Coverage

Africa
Gay Mundo

Gay Rights Dawn in Ghana
Gay Bishop Roils Anglican Unity
Gay Liberation Fights AIDS Everywhere
Creating Community in Exile
Long Road Home
Namibia: The Bermuda Triangle of African Homophobia
Property of the State: The Torture of Queer Soldiers in the Apartheid Military
Homophobia in the Gambia
Homophobia in Burundi

JUNE 24, 2004. Growing up as a gay man in Ghana is really hard. People imagine that gay people are ********** and criminals. You are taunted and harassed even as a child. At school, if people think you are gay, no one wants to play with you, or even talk to you unless it is to call you names. Anybody that does befriend you risks being harassed, too, at any age. I had a friend who was recently told that he was evil and would never go to heaven because he talked to me. Pentecostal churches perform exorcisms on people seen as being gay. We're blamed for AIDS. You get the picture. I was evicted from the first room that I rented because my landlord said no woman visited me and that meant I was gay. On the street once, when I defended myself to a woman who insulted me, I was beaten up by her husband. He wanted to know how I dared answer back, "Who are you, a homosexual, to talk to my wife like that?" Muggers and thieves prey on gay men because they know the police won't do anything about it, and most victims are too ashamed to report it. Gay Bashed
It happened to me a couple of years ago. I met this guy on the beach. When we hit it off, I agreed to meet him at the market where he sold shoes. There, several men and women accused me of forcing their friend to have sex. They beat me and took everything I had, while loudly blaming gay people for causing AIDS in Ghana. We were evil people, they said, who made God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. They would not allow this to happen in Ghana. They would beat out of me the evil spirit of homosexuality. When others at the market asked what was going on, they told them that I was a thief, and they all wanted to beat me, too. I prayed to God to save me. I was sure I was going to die. Afterwards, I naively went to the police. My attackers told them I made a pass at their friend. The police took their statement, but sent them away when they couldn't show any evidence. Then the officers offered to write my statement for me, but I quickly took the pen and started writing my own because I knew they might try to implicate me in some crime. When I asked them to do something to get back my money and the other things that had been stolen, they threatened to lock me up. There aren't any laws specifically against homosexuality in Ghana, but it is common for the police to use other laws against us, like one forbidding "unnatural sex." I let the matter drop, but then I was afraid to leave the police station. My attackers would probably have been waiting for me outside. The police let me leave by a back door. I was too ashamed to tell to anyone for a year that I had been beaten and robbed. I even tried to have "normal" sex, but it didn't work. Poverty and Violence
Every now and then, in a gay-friendly bar, I see the guy who arranged the bashing. I tried to talk to him, but he's never apologized, even though he is gay, and what he did to me could easily happen to him. In Ghana, male homosexuality is lumped in with bestiality, and gay activity brings misdemeanor charges at minimum. The police have been known to arrest gay men, rape them, and let them go. Last year in August, four young men were convicted of "indecent exposure" and "unnatural carnal knowledge" and sentenced to two years each in prison. Gay people in Ghana live in such a state of fear it is a form of violence. We are isolated, harassed, and beaten. Friends commit suicide from despair. Poverty is a big problem because a lot of us have been thrown out of our houses by our families. Many don't have any education past elementary school. Those few gay men who do have good jobs are deep in the closet and won't have anything to do with gay associations, though they still want gay sex. Almost one third of the population in Ghana is below the poverty line. People come to the capital, Accra, hoping there will be more opportunities. When they don't find work they turn to prostitution. Some gay men become professional sex workers, but most do it to help ends meet.

Source:The Gully.com

What I hope to achieve with this page is that we can organise some form of legal support for victims of gaybashing, violence,abuse, discrimination, police harrasment or blackmail practices. We need to organise regular contact with human rights organisations, get a committed lawyer to specialise in GLBT rights issues and once the organisation gains structure sollicit some funding for this legal aid maybe from HIVOS, ILGA or an other Human Rights organisation. Someone with some legal background should take the lead in this. This platform can be used to get some motivated people to work together on this and to create some social backing for it. Please also see the "to do" item on legal issues.

Sentenced to prison for being gay.

Links about legal issues concerning homosexuality:
LBGT Richts in Ghana Wikepedia
http://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/ILGA_State_Sponsored_Homophobia_2008.pdf
www.ilga.org
http://www.ilga.org/map/LGBTI_rights.jpg
Developments around gay rights in Zimbabwe and again latest out of Zimbabwe: 50% chance on decriminalisation of gay relationships by MDC
interesting blog
list of gay pride events around the world

Don't Divorce Us

andy.shilongo — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:46:20 CDT

Why not come out and save yourselves the suffering....?

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Advocacy and political lobby

'Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.'
- Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia

It is time to demand decriminalization and protection against discrimination: human rights for all Ghanaians.

Anal Sex

Showcase trial to challenge "carnal knowledge" law

Gay rights are human rights

Hillary Clinton: U.S. Will Fight Homophobia Worldwide

Don't Divorce Us

Gay Ghana Online Community - Recently Updated Pages

Gay Ghana Online Community Home

They Say "BLACK 'N' GAY? NO WAY!

Gay News

Recent Posts

Blogroll

Pages

Category Cloud

Blogroll

Pages

Category Cloud

CYBER FRAUD( A CURE TO POVERTY ?)

Public Display of Affection. Do You Kiss in Public?

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE,OPINIONS,STORIES AND IDEAS BLOG

How has 2009 changed you?

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

Gay visitors to Ghana

What Happened to me two months Ago,HATE NOW?!!!

Gay sports/football

kumasi guys

Open letter to radio station

What is homosexuality?

HIV/AIDS and gay sex

Advocacy and political lobby

'Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.' - Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia

It is time to demand decriminalization and protection against discrimination: human rights for all Ghanaians.

Anal Sex

Showcase trial to challenge "carnal knowledge" law

Gay rights are human rights

Don't Divorce Us

'Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.'
- Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia