Zimbabwe gays honoured with international award

Zimbabwe gays honoured with international award

KEITH GODDARD the leader of Zimbabwe's Gays and Lesbians Association

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By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWE'S grassroots gay and lesbian association has been awarded international recognition for its human rights accomplishments.

The Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) is to be honoured with this year's International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission's (IGLHRC) Felipa de Souza Award, it was announced in New York Friday.

The Western world appears ready to embrace gays and lesbians. Should Zimbabwe do the same? Let's hear your views. E-mail newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com. Please state where you are writing from. Your views will be carried here on Monday.

The Felipa Award recognises "the courage and impact of grassroots groups and leaders dedicated to improving the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other individuals stigmatised and abused because of their sexuality."

Now in its tenth year, the award carries with it a US$ 5,000 stipend to assist and strengthen the ability of grassroots human rights groups to do their work.

"GALZ has been a creative and fearless human rights leader not just in Zimbabwe but throughout Africa and for all of us who share the struggle for social justice and human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, said Paula Ettelbrick, the executive director of IGLHRC.

"At a time in which democracy and governmental respect for human rights are closing down even more forcefully in Zimbabwe, GALZ continues to provide life-saving services and programmes," she added.

Formed in 1990, GALZ was the first organisation in the country to provide services to and push for the human rights of the gay and lesbian community in Zimbabwe. GALZ was also one of the first organisations in Zimbabwe to provide counselling services and HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns at a time when the Zimbabwean government was in denial of the disease's existence.

Despite arrests and intimidation, GALZ made a submission to the government-led Constitutional Commission in 1999 for the inclusion of a sexual orientation clause in a new national constitution. Ultimately the words "sexual orientation" were not included, but through GALZ's efforts, the phrase "natural difference or condition" was included and widely interpreted to include sexual minorities.

"We are honoured to receive the 2005 Felipa Award," said Fadzai Muparutsa, programme manager for gender at GALZ. "Our work to improve the lives of sexual minorities in Zimbabwe is extremely challenging but critically important. This recognition from the IGLHRC will boost our resolve in the face of adversity and is a wonderful gesture of solidarity from the international community."

GALZ continues to work within a climate of impunity, according to IGLHRC. Zimbabwean President Mugabe has consistently iterated that homosexuality is "un-African" and that gays and lesbians are "worse than dogs and pigs."

Mugabe's spokesman Jonathan Moyo says the only people who accept gays are British Labour government officials who think its a way to get votes.

The Award embodies the spirit and story of Felipa de Souza, who endured persecution and brutality after proudly declaring her intimacy with a woman during a 16th century inquisition trial in Brazil.
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