A look at what’s behind the LGBT rights crisis in Africa

Human Rights Watch director on sub-Saharan Africa

Graeme Reid, director of the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch, talks about the LGBT rights crisis in sub-Saharan Africa. “These laws are a game changer; they are so extreme,” he says of recent legislation in Uganda and Nigeria.

The situation for many gay and lesbian people in sub-Saharan Africa seems to be nothing short of horrifying. How did things get so bad and what can be done to combat the violence and homophobia?

In the above video, Graeme Reid, the director of the Human Rights Watch LGBT rights program, talks with Rob Salerno about the events leading to the present situation in Africa and what can be done to fight anti-gay laws that lawmakers recently passed in Uganda and Nigeria.

“These laws are a game-changer; they are so extreme,” Reid says. He also weighs in on the recent decision of some international organizations to divert aid and other support for some African countries.

Reid also spoke with Daily Xtra about the situation in Russia and Ukraine in the same interview, which was posted earlier in March.

Read More About:
Power, Video, News, Hate Watch, Africa

Keep Reading

Who gets to claim parental rights?

Xtra and TVO’s Unravelled partnered on this mini-doc diving into what "parental rights" policies mean for kids and parents across Canada

Second Alberta town votes to ban Pride flags, rainbow crosswalks

Barrhead residents voted this week in favour of new “neutrality” bylaw

Xtra Explains: Parental rights

What does Canadian law actually say when it comes to the rights of parents and trans kids?

Xtra Explains: Social vs. medical transition

Media and politicians like to fixate on the medical aspects of transition. But for most trans youth, social transition plays a much bigger part in their lives