Being gay in Kinshasa

 To be homosexual is subject of disadvantage in the majority of the countries and the democratic Republic of Congo does not avoid this rule. In this huge State of central Africa dominated by Bantu culture, the perception of homosexuality does not differ from other African countries. A gay is considered to be a man without manliness. This fact is often attached to poor minds. In this society, a homosexual is also a healthy person of mind but which to become rich or have power is obliged of credit of intercourse with the persons of the same sex. The association of homosexuality in mystical practices led people to interpret love affairs badly between two men and to link this form of relationship to sorcery and to occultism.

 For most Congolese, in general, homosexuality is also a phenomenon of modern society imported from Occident. According to them,  Europeans  introduced this mode of sexuality in Africa during colonization. Nobody wants to acknowledge only private relations between two men or two women could exist in the past in our traditional societies. Until now, there is no legislation against LGBT in DRC.  But, a law penalizing homosexuality is in study in the cultural commission of the Congolese Parliament. Initiated in October, 2010 by the Deputy and preacher Ejiba Yamapia, this bill made a lot of noise in so national mass media as international. During his presentation in the Parliament, his author mobilized the population to support her idea. Public opinion had openly shown its hostility towards  homosexuals. The Deputy Yamapia is a Christian who considers homosexuality as an offense to the African society. 

Religion also encourages homophobia in Africa. It classifies  homosexuals as persons had by diabolic minds. Televisions and newspapers don’t help to change things in Congolese society. The broadcasting of programs approaching homosexuality in a negative way favours a dangerous stigmatization in the long term. On the streets of Kinshasa, to be freely homosexual is very difficult. In the Congolese capital, homosexuals are victims of hostility and mistrust. Any gay or lesbian have been killed till now in this country.  But, in Uganda, a neighbor country of Congo, homophobia is very strong and a gay activist named David Kato was killed in January 2011.

 In Kinshasa, most of gay are living in the closet. Some of them prefer to go abroad instead of staying there and living in the society and family pressure.  Situations are sometimes very difficult for them because of lack of information especially about HIV and others sexual diseases.

JW