In an unprecedented and unexpected move in Swaziland, one
of King Mswati III’s newspapers has published a supplement that offered support
for LGBTI people.
Swaziland, which is ruled by King Mswati III as
sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, is fiercely traditional. Lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people are discriminated
against in all walks of life and their relationships and acts are outlawed.
The Sunday
Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by King Mswati, devoted much of its SCENE supplement, aimed at young adults,
to the topic last week (22 April 2018).
Nokwanda Sibandze, who edited the supplement wrote, ‘SCENE set out, as usual, to find people
who are proud and open about being gay or even being lesbians. And to our
misfortune, most of them could not speak out on the issue as they had their
reservations on why they are not comfortable enough to share their story with
the rest of the country.
‘I would honestly say this was one of the hardest and
saddest issues I had to do as people in the LGBT[I] community shared why they
were not comfortable to share their story.
‘Some said they have been bullied just because of
their sexual orientation while others simply said they are not accepted by
their family members so they would not be able to be part of the issue.’
Sibandze added, ‘Some were brave enough to share their
story and pictures as well. Melusi Simelane, who is an activist for the rights
of people in the LGBT[I] community, shared his story and views on the issue.
Melusi is also a world traveller who attends meetings and global seminars that
speak on rights of LGBT[I] people in the world. He is the communications
officer at Rock of Hope and continually strives and fights for the rights of
his peers in the country.
‘We also talked to Luyanda Mndzebele a young man who
is proudly gay. He says it is not fair that they have to be accepted when
everyone else is said to be living right.
‘We also discuss same sex parenting. As many same sex
couples wish and also look forward to having their own children in the future.’
The supplement is unusual because generally LGBTI
people are vilified in Swaziland and subjected to abuse in their daily lives
and from police and medical workers.
Pitty Dludlu, a member of the LGBTI community, told
the annual Joshua Mzizi Memorial Lecture held in Ezulwini in December 2017 they
faced a number of issues that included access to health care without the stigma
and prejudice.
The Observer on Saturday
reported at the time, ‘Dludlu further decried the service they are subjected to
in the hands of the police and health care workers as the worse abusers of the
LGBTI community. The abusive situation is worse at the bus terminal station to
the LGBTI community.
‘Other challenges are that they are denied scholarship
due to their sexual orientation. Dludlu further pointed that “qualified
transgender community are unemployed as they are told point blank that there is
no need to proceed with an interview once they see their sexual orientation and
told embarrassingly that they don’t hire such people”’.
In a review of human
rights in Swaziland for 2017, just published, the US State
Department noted, ‘While colonial-era legislation against sodomy
remains on the books, no penalties are specified, and there were no arrests.
The government asserted that same-sex relationships and acts were illegal but
did not prosecute any cases during the year.
‘Societal discrimination against LGBTI persons was prevalent, and LGBTI
persons generally concealed their sexual orientation and gender identity. LGBTI
persons who were open regarding their sexual orientation and relationships
faced censure and exclusion from the chiefdom-based patronage system, which
could result in eviction from one’s home.
‘Chiefs, pastors, and government officials criticized same-sex sexual
conduct as neither morally Swazi nor Christian. LGBTI advocacy organizations
had trouble registering with the government. One such organization, House of
Pride, was under the umbrella of another organization that dealt with HIV/AIDS.
It was difficult to determine the extent of employment discrimination based on
sexual orientation or gender identity because victims were not likely to come
forward, and most LGBTI persons were not open regarding their sexual
orientation or gender identity.
‘On July 23, a third-year University of Swaziland student committed
suicide, reportedly because he found himself isolated after his family rejected
him due to his sexual orientation.’
There is a long history of discrimination against
LGBTI people in Swaziland. In May 2016, Rock of Hope, which campaigns for LGBTI
equality in Swaziland, reported
to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review
on Swaziland that laws, social stigma and prejudice prevented LGBTI
organisations from operating freely.
The report, presented jointly with three South
African-based organisations, stated, in Swaziland sexual health rights of LGBTI
were not protected and there was inequality in the access to health care.
The report added, ‘LGBTIs are discriminated and
condemned openly by society. This is manifest in negative statements uttered by
influential people in society e.g., religious, traditional and political
leaders. Traditionalists and conservative Christians view LGBTIs as against
Swazi tradition and religion. There have been several incidents where
traditionalists and religious leaders have issued negative statements about
lesbians.
‘Human rights abuses and violations against members of
the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex population continue to go
undocumented, unreported, unprosecuted and not addressed.’
It added, ‘There is no legislation recognizing LGBTIs
or protecting the right to a non-heterosexual orientation and gender identity
and as a result LGBTI cannot be open about their orientation or gender identity
for fear of rejection and discrimination.’
HOOP (House of Our Pride), a support group for LGBTI
people,
reported to the United Nation in 2011, ‘It is a common scene
for LGBTI to be verbally insulted by by-passers in public places. [There is]
defamatory name calling and people yelling out to see a LGBTI person’s
reproductive part are some of the issues facing LGBTI in Swaziland.’
See also
LESBIAN
AND GAY MURDERS IN SWAZILAND
GAY
PREJUDICE RIFE IN SWAZILAND
COMMUNITY
POLICE BANISH GAY MEN
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2010/01/press-vilified-over-lesbians-death.html
