May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia and the theme this year is “Homosexuality knows no borders.”

The proposed goal for the 2009 campaign is to make the general public and more specifically, ethno-cultural communities of all backgrounds, more aware of gay and lesbian issues, and sexual diversity.

While southern Africa is home to many lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and trans-sexuals, very few countries are accepting of same-sex relationships.

The United States, Britain and parts of Europe and Israel recognise same-sex relationships, but in Africa, there is still a long way to go. As a result, many people have, over the years, opted to keep their sexual orientation a secret.

In Zimbabwe, communities scoff at people who are in same sex relationships, while the government has a clear hard-line stance against them. This social pressure has forced many to engage in heterosexual relations to maintain a sense of “normalcy” and “acceptance” from their communities, while secretly having same-sex partners as well.

Apart from the deceit and emotional heartache that results from this, there is the added risk of HIV infection, as is always the case when three or more people are involved in a sexual relationship.

Stories abound of bi-sexual men who do not use condoms when they sleep with women, as they perceive the risks of HIV transmission to be low. After all, they tell themselves, they are not sleeping with two women, but with one woman and one man. Many are unaware of the increased dangers of anal sex.    

There are also stories of homosexuals and lesbians who have been subjected to hostile behaviours and attack, or alienated from the communities they live in. Some homosexuals have themselves adopted homophobic behaviour in the hope that it will protect them from suspicion.

The message of this international day is that homosexuality is with us and amongst us and always has been, whether we recognise it and accept it, or not.

The occasion of International Day Against Homophobia on May 17 affords the media in southern Africa an opportunity to raise awareness about the need to combat homophobia, as it is still very common in the region.

While some breakthroughs have occurred in countries like South Africa, where homosexuals and lesbians are stepping out and television shows feature lesbians and gays in scenes of everyday life,  there is still a long way to go.

The International Day Against Homophobia was first commemorated in 2003 after the Fondation Emergence decided to hold each year, a special day for the social recognition of homosexual experience.  

Key Issues that the media needs to focus on:
·        Raise awareness about the International Day Against Homophobia through talking and writing about it
·        Allow the voices of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, trans-sexuals and intersex people (LGBTI) to be heard
·        Highlight the added risk of HIV transmission that the secrecy surrounding same-sex relationships breeds
·        Highlight the fact that all people have the right to exist freely in the world despite their sexual orientation, including LGBTI
·        Lobby for legal instruments allowing same-sex relationships within different countries

Sources
·        www.homophobiaday.org
·        www.Islamonline.net
·        www.gaycivilunions.com
·        http://lesbianlife.about.com