This post was submitted by John "Jolly" Bavoso

This week I feel a little like a college professor assigning homework for an upcoming lecture. I’m a little swamped working on putting together several interviews relating to the gay rights struggle in sub-Saharan Africa for future Global Gaze columns and thought that now would be a good time to pause and offer some suggestions for some refresher reading on the subject for those interested.

For some general context on LGBT rights in this are of the world, you can check out my brief overview here. In light of recent events in Kenya, for those wanting a more specific look at certain countries, you can take a moment to read my original post about the situation in Uganda and a follow up post on what Americans can do to help in that country and in nearby Malawi.

While the majority of the stories are bleak, there is some hope out there, which I hope to show in the weeks to come. In an article that I wrote a little while back for another publication entitled “How Will the Dominoes Fall?“, I argued that there is still potential for some truly good things to come out of this recent rash of intense homophobia in sub-Saharan Africa:

There has been an opposite (if not equal) reaction to this anti-gay push: African LGBT activists have become bolder, more vocal and more recognized on the international stage. Ugandan activist Val Kalende has become world-renowned for her bravery in speaking out against her government’s treatment of homosexuals, while the possible clampdown in Malawi was spurred by two men putting their freedom and safety at risk to allegedly engage in an illegal same-sex marriage.

For concerned members of the international community this phenomenon is potentially good news. While many African governments respond negatively to policy recommendations from the West, human rights activists are often welcomed by determined, but often monetarily and numbers-challenged, LGBT groups in the region.

I’d love to hear whether you agree or feel I’m being being far too naive -  or something in between.

Be sure to check back here in the weeks to come for fresh, new and hopefully enlightening Global Gaze content! And, as always, if you’ve got a topic you’d like to see covered in this space, email me at jolly@thenewgay.net!

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