A BULAWAYO man has disowned his son and thrown him out of the family home in Tshabalala Extension after the 20 year-old confessed to being gay.
Irvine Mahachi told the Bulawayo-based Sunday News he was still struggling to come to terms with his son, Irvine Junior’s sexuality, which he described as “shameful and taboo”.
“I did not raise my son to be gay. I raised him to be a man. I expected him to chase after skirts like other boys but he never did that.
“I should have noticed then that there was something weird about him, maybe I could have strengthened him into a man,” Mahachi said.
Family friends told the newspaper rumours about Irvine Junior’s sexuality had been doing the rounds over the last two years until he decided to confirm them by coming out.
But the announcement stunned the family and his angry father said his wife had fainted when their son told them the shocking news.
“The manner in which he asked for an audience with me and my wife made me realise that something was wrong. He was nervous and not his usual self.
“I was so angry and shocked that I hit him with my fists, something that I have never done in my life. My wife suffers from high blood pressure and the shocking news almost killed her. Even today she is not herself,” Mahachi said.
He said Irvine was no longer welcome in the family home.
“As far as I am concerned I do not have a son anymore. The only child I have left is my lovely daughter. What Irvine has done is taboo and shameful. It’s unheard of in our African culture,” Mahachi is reported as saying.
Irvine, who told the newspaper he was getting help from local gay activist group GALZ, said he was disappointed by his family’s reaction adding it was time societal attitudes towards homosexuality changed.
“All my life I have been a victim of homophobia attacks but I never expected that from my own flesh and blood. I feel betrayed but such is life.
“I have been called names but now I am numb to it. All that matters is that I finally told my parents the truth about myself. I am happy with myself and that’s all that matters,” Irvine said.
Homosexuality is illegal in Zimbabwe and President Robert Mugabe has described gays and lesbians as “worse than pigs and dogs”.