Tag Archives: Zimbabwe

Efforts Against HIV are Deeply Effected by Zimbabwe’s Anti-gay Discrimination

Zimbabwe’s leading gay rights group, Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) have noted anti-gay discrimination is having a negative impact on efforts to combat new HIV infections.

“We have a number of our members who are infected with sexually transmitted infections who have visited public hospitals and ended up coming back without being treated because of questions they were asked by nurses. 

Some of our members suffering from STI are taking up to a year before seeking treatment because they are afraid to be asked these embarrassing questions”

GALZ – senior official (anonymous),

HIV were being negatively impacted by homophobic stigma and discrimination by public health care providers.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, leader of Zanu PF, is well-known for his anti-gay views and polices. The 90-year-old said in April that he “pities” the Queen, for having to deal with Britain’s “gay habits”.

Days prior Mugabe threatened to expel any diplomats who mention homosexuality in Zimbabwe. In March, Mugabe defended Uganda’s anti-gay legislation by saying it’s a “human right” for men to marry women. He has also tried to ban gay rights campaigners from operating in this country.