Fatoumatta: The current debate on homosexuality in the Gambia is extremely vexing because it is an exhibition of deep subterfuge in our society today. And our collective dishonesty is amazing.
Blind homophobia does not help. It is time for Gambians to look at the mirror. Muslims do not eat pork out of deep conviction. Muslims will not start eating pork simply because Americans are slaughtering pigs in their droves and exporting bacon all over the world.
Fatoumatta: It appears that the Gambia is a society largely built on deception. It is this deception that facilitates corruption of morals, of persons and government. If we are unable to face up to issues, we choose to sweep things under the carpet. So, there is the relatively sane Gambia that we portray publicly, then there is the other Gambia which is under the carpet. A duplicity of morals.
On the gay and lesbian issue, in public some pundits write things like “this is disgusting and un-African and not a critical issue for discussion.” Under the carpet, we have a vibrant openly LGBT community, including male and female sex workers plying their trade on streets of Greater Banjul Area, and around the Tourist Development Area under the nose of the Police.
Fatoumatta: Under the carpet, the law has not expressly criminalized homosexuality. The law only places criminal sanction on “homosexual acts.” A publicly gay person cannot be arrested, save for when they are caught in the “act.” In fact, we are currently facing the prospect of the courts repealing sections of the Penal Code that criminalize sexual acts against the order of nature.
Fatoumatta: Evidence has shown that a number of those who are loudest with anti-gay sloganeering are the very clients of these men and women, for they would not be on the streets if they are not making money.
Fatoumatta: Members of the LGBT community are not from the moon. They are sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, friends of the same Gambians, including politicians, religious leaders, hiding under “religion” and “culture” to create a very unproductive culture of homophobia, which does not allow people to discuss genuine issues openly.
Former President Yahya Jammeh tried legislation, murder and brute force, but that did not remove the LGBT community from the country. Singapore, a nation known for strict application of the law has been unable to contain homosexuality using the law. The legal regime criminalizes it, but in practice the Singaporean government has simply turned a blind eye, although the law and occasional government action restricts the expression of LGBT rights.
Even in places with the strict sharia law, like Pakistan for example, these minorities exist. Matters of morality and acts done in private are extremely difficult to police and prosecute. And even in cases where prosecution succeeds, it simply doesn’t reduce that which is considered “immoral.” The same African politicians vehemently opposed to LGBT communities are already acknowledging that they are a critical minority and already designing and executing sexual healthcare and HIV prevention programs targeted at them.
Fatoumatta: The argument that the West is “imposing” values on Africans is mute. In fact, I consider it an insult. Muslims do not eat pork, not because someone told them not to, but because of deep religious conviction. Equally, they will not start eating pork because Americans are slaughtering pigs and exporting bacon. Who says that Africans are automatons? Why do Africans portray themselves as behavioral robots of the West?
If we cherish and believe in our so called “culture” and “religion(s),” why are we unable to resist values which we consider un-African or which go against values we claim to “hold dear”? Why do we blame third parties, for individual choices sections of our society makes? Are we then to assume that we are in the first place morally bankrupt and thus our ready tendency to hide behind “religion” and “culture” and the argument that “third parties” are “imposing” things on us when faced moral dilemma? When did Africans throw away their right to choose?
Fatoumatta: As a straight African liberal male who thinks that we not dealing with issues, but instead choosing the cover and convenience of “morality,” “religion” and “culture” to mask what is truly happening in our society. I often ask those who engage on the LGBT debate from an abstract point of view this question: What if your son came home today and told you he was gay? Would you pick a shotgun shoot him dead? If your sister returned home lesbian, would you dig a six-foot grave and bury her? There are genuine issues that a section of Gambian families confronts daily.
A conflict between traditional values and emerging contemporary values, that many times are the opposite of our social conditioning. The reality is societal norms and values are changing. Running away from that fact would be an exercise in foolishness.
The question should be, for the majority inclined at maintaining traditional family values, how do we deal with the challenges posed by the changes brought about by today’s liberal world? These are complex issues that we need to openly discuss
This brother needs to come out of the closet on this “non-issue” to us Gambians and Africans! What’s bugging you, Brav?
Alagi it matters to note that Gambians who exhibit exuberant and malignant disgust to same sex partners publicly may be GAY. Just study the case of these men.
Ted Haggard
Larry Craig
Glenn Murphy
Freud describes repression anger quite eloquently in his explanation of the internal turmoil these men struggle with. This is classic reaction formation as demonstrated by some on this forum. Let me reference a well designed study done in USA and Germany using semantic association to make these connection.
I know those loudest in their campaign against same sex relationship are themselves hiding in the closet.
The Misseducation of Dr. Sarr! All the examples you mention are Western Toubabs – dealing with Western ailments. Nothing to do with us Africans.
Dr Sarr says: “Gambians who exhibit exuberant and malignant disgust to same sex partners publicly may be GAY”.
Following the good doctor’s logic we could say that “Gambians who exhibit exuberant and malignant disgust to racism/sexism publicly may be racist/sexist”. LOL!
Dr Sarr, you got yourself into a tangle here, but serves you right for trying to transplant questionable Dead Whitemen’s psychotic pontifications onto our healthy African societies. I hope your are not a Dr. of psychiatry at Campana?
Dr Sarr, I just “LOOKED IN THE MIRROR” and guess what I saw?
A handsome old man who might still buckle a pretty lady’s knees with just a look and a smile. Are you in London?
No, but will be in a few weeks accompanied by my very handsome Gambian husband. You should join us for lunch.
Likely Jack, she probably “cured” the man from a life of sinfulness with her prettiness (pretty and brainy women are my AFROdisiac – irresistable!)
LoL, Jack you got told!
Dr, this is how we REAL MEN re-act to unrequited gay love offers:-
Celebrated Kenyan and CNN journalist Jeff Koinange on Monday had an awkward moment on his radio show after he learnt of a gay man who had a huge crush on him.
The gay man identified as Jared Ngare had posted on the famous gossip forum, Kilimani Mums, of his crush on Jeff – especially the journalist’s curly hair.
The full message, which we cannot publish due to its explicit nature, cited Jeff’s hair, voice, and face as some of the features that attracted Ngare to Jeff.
Jeff learnt of the message from his co-host Jalang’o who went ahead to pin the former CNN reporter to respond to the crush message.
While most Kenyan men would get incensed at such unsolicited affection, Jeff calmly declined the message of love and informed Ngare that he was of not “that persuasion”.
“I appreciate your outpouring but am not of that persuasion. Just keep watching and keep listening and maybe one day you will find your true love. I am sorry you won’t find it here, maybe a different station or a different person,” the journalist stated.
…………………..
For me, the gay man started a discussion in a bar with a cool “You look like Miles Davis” at which I asked him if he is gay.
He says “Yes”.
I said, “Cool, but I am not – infact I am waiting in this bar for a lady”.
“How do you know you are not?”, he said.
“Because I am 38 and have spent the last twenty years waiting for ladies in bars”, I said.
“But how do you know you are not gay if you don’t know what it is like?”
And so on for a full 45 minutes – until the lady turned up, late as usual, and rescued me.
I asked the lady: “Are we hetero-men equally blind to women saying ‘NO’ to us?”
She laughed and said the gay man has given me a good lesson in harassment for which I should be grateful.
I have often contemplated; Is the measure of a man’s sexual prowess in bed measured by the length of orgasm sustained by either or both parties ? Or is there no measurement worthy of the experience ? Having spent a night recently with a gay lady of many talents, she altered my mind on so many lifetime preconceptions/
I think Dr Sarr’s claims of total satisfaction with her husband, is worthy of considerable celebration. From a man just about to marry for the 5th time.
The notion that so many are gay, from birth does not sustain the measurement that so many try the traditional man and women syndrome, and then “turn” sometime later in life. In conclusion I would suggest that all experience concerning human sex is to be celebrated, without prejudice. Perhaps it is something to do with the fashionable rise of Zombie movies ?
Geez, I have seen a ghost! I’m out of here@
Koto Dida, stay put and address whatever ghost you’ve seen like the true Pan-Africanist you are. I mean………we can turn some sexual energy into brain fuel.
Hey Jacques! Il ne faut pas etre rambunctious!
The open minded progressive that I consider myself tells me that the conversation is enlightening and perhaps refreshing. Particularly from Mike’s perspective.
However, I can’t let our liberated, MuSwahili Luntango draw you all into Mathare or Ukambaani! Smile. The mix of Bangi, Pombeh and Mirungi doesn’t bode well for measured manners. Smile.
Oh! Lord it’s hard to be humble, when I’m perfect in every way; I look at myself in the mirror/ I get better looking each day !!!
Ode to the bearded wonder………………..{ he of many names and vocations }
From George of The Jungle. xxx