Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiye has publicly called for the stoning of gay people, intensifying the persecution of LGBT individuals in the country. During a public Q&A, he suggested that homosexuality, which he views as a Western import, should be punished by death in a stadium setting. This statement reflects a broader trend of growing anti-LGBT sentiment and legislation in the region, with countries like Uganda enacting harsh laws against same-sex relations, prompting international condemnation and sanctions.
Two men in Uganda are facing charges of "aggravated homosexuality," which carries the death penalty under the country's controversial anti-gay laws. The charges include engaging in sexual acts with individuals with disabilities or the elderly. The law, signed in May, also criminalizes same-sex acts with life imprisonment. The arrests have sparked global condemnation and legal battles, with US President Joe Biden describing the law as a violation of human rights. The World Bank has announced it will not consider fresh loan requests from Uganda, and the United Nations has closed its human rights office in the country. President Museveni has defended the law, accusing international organizations of trying to coerce Uganda into abandoning its culture and principles.
The organizer of a Malaysian music festival, Future Sound Asia, is seeking $2.7 million in losses from British band The 1975 after its lead singer's on-stage protest against Malaysia's anti-gay laws resulted in the festival being shut down. The band's performance, which included profanities and a kiss between band members, sparked backlash in the predominantly Muslim country where homosexuality is a crime. Future Sound Asia claims that the band's actions violated their contract and caused financial losses. The company has demanded compensation and threatened legal action if the band fails to respond.
Six Caribbean countries still criminalize same-sex relations, with penalties ranging from 10 years to life in prison. While some countries have struck down such laws, discrimination against LGBTQ people persists in the conservative and mostly Christian region. Activists argue that keeping these laws on the books stokes homophobia and violence against the LGBTQ community. Human Rights Watch and the London-based organization Human Dignity Trust have called for the abolition of anti-gay laws, which they say give social and legal sanction for discrimination, violence, stigma, and prejudice against LGBTQ individuals.
Two young people have fled Uganda for neighbouring Kenya due to the country's tough new anti-gay laws. Diane was outed after people raised suspicions about her girlfriend and went through her phone. Her partner was brutally beaten, including by her own father, before they came for her and beat her too. Jeff fled to Kenya after being outed as gay. He was at a conference when his boss saw him talking to another man who was later arrested for being gay. Both Diane and Jeff agree that they want a future free of discrimination and victimisation - even if it is unlikely to be in Uganda.
