OK, kiddo! Here are all the fantastically amazing posts tagged with Senegal
Senegalese Gays Get Government-Funded Housing
Senegal is drawing international condemnation by human rights organisations for jailing nine gay men this week. Each of the men were sentenced to eight years in prison for “indecent conduct and unnatural acts,” Senegal’s legalese for, basically, being gay.
Homosexuality is illegal in Senegal, with a maximum prison sentence of five years. However, these men were given an additional three years on top of the maximum for belonging to a “criminal organisation.” The organisation, AIDES Senegal, provides free condoms and information about HIV prevention.
Senegal recently played host to an important international AIDS conference which featured several prominent gay rights activists and AIDS workers. I guess Senegal cares about human rights—when the world is watching.
- Shock at Senegal gay jail terms [BBC News]
- 9 men jailed in Senegal for homosexual acts [Associated Press]
Gay Wedding Photos Spark Mass-Arrest
Between seven and twenty Senegalese men have been arrested after photos from a gay marriage ceremony were published in a local magazine. Police haven’t released any information about the arrests, other than that the men are charged with suspicions of homosexuality.
It’s illegal to be gay in Senegal, with the usual punishment ranging from fines to up to five years of jail time (forcibly locked up with other men, no less).
Mansour Dieng, the magazine editor, said he published the wedding photographs to dismiss accusations that homosexuality doesn’t exist in Senegal. He has since received death threats, and has been interrogated by police.
I bet he’ll think twice before confirming reality again.
