A group in the African nation of
Cameroon has declared Tuesday “Gay Hate Day” in Cameroon.
The group called Rassemblement de la
Jeunesse Camerounaise association (Cameroonian Youth Rally, or RJC)
is organizing the event, which is billed as the nation's first annual
“celebration” against homosexuality.
Simon-Victor Tonye Bakot, the bishop of
the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Yaounde, called homosexuality
“shameful” and “an affront to the family, enemy of women and
creation” ahead of the planned events.
Global gay rights group AllOut.org
called on Cameroonian President Paul Biya to speak out against the
movement and decriminalize gay relationships.
“These anti-gay proponents say they
are protecting our 'traditional values.' But we want to tell them
that hate and homophobia are not African values,” Alice N'Kom, a
Cameroonian attorney, is quoted as saying in a statement released by
AllOut.org. “We are bringing together people from across the
continent to tell our country that pro-equality voices in Africa are
strong.”
“This anti-gay movement is
misinforming Cameroonians. A poster announcing the 'Gay Hate Day'
claims that hemorrhoids, incontinence and various infections are
consequences of homosexuality,” said Yves Yomb, director of gay
rights group Alternative-Cameroun. “Decriminalizing homosexuality
is a fundamental step in responding to the misinformation, hate, and
violence.”
AllOut.org also called on officials to
release Roger Jean Claude Mbede, who is serving three years in prison
for the crime of sending a text message to another man, which
violated the nation's laws against “homosexual behavior.”
“This is the right moment for us to
call on President Biya to stand up for equality, discharge Roger, and
revoke anti-gay laws in Cameroon,” said N'Kom.