The king of the last absolute monarchy of Africa qualifies homosexuals as "satanic"
GAYLES.TV.- It is likely that if we talk about Eswatini don't even know that it is a country, in fact it is a small African nation among Mozambique and South Africa. Sadly known for being the last absolutist stronghold where the king Mswati III He has in his hands the legislative and executive power and also the power to appoint the head of the Government, the rest of the ministers and the president of the Supreme Court. Well, this man who rules so much about a population that barely reaches 1,3 millions of inhabitants, has described homosexuals as "satanic." Fear gives.
Nothing strange in a country where your prime minister considers being gay an abnormality and a disease and whose police chief of communication, Khulani Mamba, he said in statements to Times of Swaziland which “Your country would not tolerate the LGTBI community”. And this is reflected in sentences of 14 years in prison for acts of sodomy between two men. Curiously, the law does not talk about relations between women as in its day in Spain with the Law of Social Danger that only punished the "Male lying with male". It is what he has not to recognize that women also have sexual desire.
Being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transsexual in Eswatini is facing a daily hell with the aggravating fact that, being so few, everyone knows each other. In addition, society is very conservative and religious, which pushes trans and gay to be invisible so as not to be stigmatized.
On the other hand, the Constitution does not allow the registration of LGTBI associations and any attempt to organize to fight must be clandestine. There is a core of resistance formed by some 15 people who call themselves TranSwati Pinty Dludlu, a young transgender of 28 years declares: “It is about opening spaces for education, respect and tolerance throughout the country. Here, the greatest stigma we suffer usually comes from the person himself, who does not accept himself and must learn to do so. For example, I find it very difficult to get a certificate to work as a transgender woman. And that I am lucky to be able to express myself; Many people in my situation are repudiated by their family, cannot talk to anyone or must move to large cities to live freely, although this entails many difficulties ... ”.
And is that living as an LGTBI person in a country where 60% of its population is exposed to poverty is synonymous with facing life with many, many problems. Anxiety, depression, verbal and physical aggressions, including rape, make up the daily life of the group. Suffice it to say that 40% of homosexuals in Eswatini have attempted suicide and, unfortunately, many have succeeded.
In spite of everything, it seems that in the small South African country winds of change begin to blow. Last year, the Pride march that brought together 500 people was held for the first time and this year has been repeated, although with less assistance due to fear of reprisals.
We consider it vitally important to be a speaker for those who in this and other countries live gripped by fear, contempt and invisibility. All our support for the struggle of the LGTBI collective in Eswatini.
Source: elpais.com, reuters.com
Photography: Mathias Wasik, AFP
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