Gay ethiopia
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In August 2023, state and non-state actors cracked down on LGBTIQ persons in Ethiopia, increasing physical attacks and violent targeting. Today people say: ‘It’s not our culture, homosexuality is not acceptable in Ethiopia, it’s a Western thing.'”
Gezahegn strongly condemns what they view as a clear escalation of homophobia in the country.
“It’s really the case that this social mentality and this way of thinking extends into the families,” they said.
Is it because people here feel compelled to suppress their identity, or is it because homosexuality is actually a “Western” concept, as my family and everyone in Ethiopia think they do?
For many, this issue may seem far from a national priority. But despite all these challenges, we exist, I would say, in a significant way.”
This article was originally written in German.
Source: African Human Rights Media Network member Erasing 76 Crimes.
Ethiopia cracks down on gay sex in hotels, bars and restaurants
ADDIS ABABA — Security forces in Ethiopia are cracking down on hotels, bars and restaurants in the capital Addis Ababa where gay sexual activity is alleged to take place, the city administration said on Thursday.
Several African countries that criminalize homosexuality have enforced the law more harshly in recent years, with many governments proposing stricter laws and sentences, including most recently in Ghana and Uganda.
Rights groups say the LGBTQ community in Ethiopia remains underground because LGBTQ people face high levels of discrimination and fear violence and ostracism if their identities are discovered.
The Addis Ababa Peace and Security Administration Bureau, a government body, said it was taking action “against institutions where homosexual acts are carried out” following tip-offs from the public, and had already raided a guest house in the city.
“If there is any sympathy for those who commit and execute this abominable act that is hated by man and God, (the bureau) will continue to take action,” the city administration said in a post on Facebook.
Gay sex is prohibited by law in Ethiopia, but there are no recent reports of people being convicted for engaging in consensual same-sex sexual activity.
Earlier this week an LGBTQ advocacy group, the House of Guramayle, said it condemned a recent escalation in attacks on individuals in Ethiopia based on their real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity.
These questions led me down a path of exploration and research.
LGBTIQ people face social stigmatization, violence, harassment, and discrimination at the hands of government officials and citizens. If anything, the absence of structured, culturally contextualized education leaves space for social media to become the default teacher. Ethiopia’s laws remain similar today. If found guilty, offenders can face up to 15 years in prison.
“Homosexuality in Ethiopia is not only a taboo, it is equated with crime or murder,” says Ethiopian-born DW editor Azeb Tadesse Hahn.
“In the past, people did not talk openly about homosexuality, and same-sex relations were considered devilish.
In that way, the school mirrors the country I live in.
This piece is not about challenging our culture or laws, nor about personal identity, it is about creating a space where curiosity can exist safely, where questions can be asked, and where knowledge allows young people to think critically rather than react out of fear or imitation.
Refusing to talk about sexuality leaves reactions driven by emotion rather than reason; honest, culturally appropriate guidance allows for understanding, empathy, and informed decisions.
At the end of the year, I had the opportunity to present my research to hundreds of parents, students, and teachers.
The violence was triggered by the government’s announcement that it would disband local militias and integrate them into the country’s armed forces.
This puts Ethiopia in another state of civil unrest, despite ending the two-year civil war in the Tigray region with a peace treaty last November.
‘We are monitored by our families’
According to Gezahegn, the current hunt for members of the LGBTQ+ community is nothing more than a smoke screen on the government’s part.
“We are being used as pawns!
I wanted to understand whether being gay is something we are born with or something shaped by our environment and experiences. These actions paint a clear picture of how deeply entrenched resistance to homosexuality is in our society.
The church, our families, and our schools teach us values of kindness, respect, and treating others fairly.
The room fell silent, and then one relative angrily declared, “This is what happens when people move to the West, they lose their faith and forget their values.” Others nodded in agreement, echoing the sentiment.
For me, this was a moment of confusion. In fact, some studies argue that these social and environmental factors may account for more than half of the variation in sexual orientation.
Ethiopian Case
Ethiopia’s legal and cultural stance on sexuality remains unchanged.
“In this case, the LGBTQ+ community bears the brunt of this misplaced aggression.”
Atieno also believes unchecked aggression on social media has further fueled the problem.
“Without checks and balances, these platforms become the fires of hatred and prejudice,” she said.
But from their exile in Vienna, Faris Cuchi Gezahegn remain optimistic about the future of their homeland.
“Like all nations, we have an LGBTQ+ community trying to survive and thrive, given the tense political situation,” they said.
(Ina Aydogan photo courtesy of DW)