Richard Ammon. Ever since independence from England in since the Sierra Leone government and society have preferred to deny the existence of lesbians and gay men. Sierra Leone is no exception and today male same-sex sexual activity is illegal with possible life imprisonment as punishment. Social attitudes are hostile to homosexuality and cross-dressing because of religious beliefs. Most citizens subscribe to Christian or Muslim traditional gender roles and are expected to abstain from sexual activity outside of a traditional marriage.
Nevertheless, in , the first major study was conducted regarding homosexuality:. Findings from this survey revealed several problems affecting sexual minorities, especially MSM in Sierra Leone. What this mean for programmers is that there is need to be cautious in labeling in any intervention that targets MSM, for maximum impact. Not only did respondents profess multiple male partnering, the study also reveal a bisexual concurrency.
The study also found that transactional sex exists amongst MSM, with both male and female clients. Unfortunately, this has an adverse effect on sustainability of HIV response and public health in general. The implication of this ignorance is that intolerant behaviors have developed against sexual minorities and same-sex sexual practices, including those that do not infringe on the rights of others in Sierra Leone. The legal, policy and knowledge climate must be made conducive to create the requisite environment for sexual minorities to be free from discriminatory practices and human rights violations.
Read complete story. The most notorious event in the history of gay Sierra Leone was the murder of a outstanding and outspoken lesbian activist Fannyann Eddy in Sierra Leone activist Fannyann Eddy killed; African lesbian activist is raped and murdered November 01, I urge you, members of the Commission on Human Rights, to break the silence. You can help us achieve our full rights and freedoms, in every society, including my beloved Sierra Leone.
Fannyann Eddy broke the silence for us all. She courageously brought the struggle for freedom and dignity in her own country to the world stage. In early October, that voice was silenced forever. As Fannyann worked late in her office in Freetown, several men broke in, raped and brutally murdered her.
