Why Do We Need Another Church In Nigeria?

Why Do We Need Another Church In Nigeria?

HOUSE OF RAINBOW
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH LAGOS NIGERIA

1. Why the need for another church in Lagos Nigeria?
Within religious circles there exists great tension over the issue of including homosexuals. For persons who are Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgender, there are too few or perhaps no places that wholly affirm these individuals who are Christians, self-affirming, and homosexuals. It is our calling to provide a corrective and a viable alternative. We desire to be a place of extravagant welcome for all persons — especially persons seeking a community built on honesty, openness, and equity. We believe the call that we have received comes from God and is both specific and radical. We seek to reach persons on the margins of society and make the table of the Lord accessible to all.

2. What is your denominational affiliation?
We are affiliated with the denomination of the Universal Fellowship of the Metropolitan Community Churches, founded on the 6th October 1968, in Los Angeles United States of America, founded by Rev Elder Troy D. Perry; the mission is currently under the leadership of Rev Elder Nancy L. Wilson as Moderator. We are a denomination working for unity and justice in both church and society.

3. What is Radical Inclusivity?
Radical inclusivity is the belief that all persons are welcome at the table. Inclusivity challenges major fundamental, deep-seated beliefs, doctrines and theologies at the centre of society which characterize people on the edge as enemies of God and routinely mistreats, oppresses and excludes people from the community of faith and its institutions.

4. What will the worship experience look like at House Of Rainbow, Metropolitan Community Church Lagos Nigeria?
Our worship style is celebrative and contemplative — free and open to the Spirit. We will seek to provide a rich blend of a variety of traditions - Pentecostal, Baptist, Apostolic, Methodist - just to name a few. We seek to provide an experience that values ritual, tradition, and yet one that is open to a God who is still speaking. We will also provide a space for persons to examine the deeper meaning of our traditions and faith expressions. Whether it is through our powerful praise and worship, the performing arts, or through social ministry that is grounded in love, we will seek to be a balanced people who embody the transforming and liberating love of Jesus Christ.

5. How do I become a member?
Membership is open to all. We now hold weekly bible studies, regular Membership Foundation Class and other programmes. Please contact us at houseofrainbow@hotmail.com to receive information regarding time and location.

What the Bible Says about Homosexuality to Nigerians

About three weeks ago at House Of Rainbow, the only church welcoming and affirming in Nigeria to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. We started looking more closer to the bible passages on homosexuality, we are working towards our own theology. I must say that people were intriqued at the study and explanations. The paramount question is that, Is the bible passages used as clobber verses for the justification of the abomination of homosexuality, credible reference to "Loving Same Sex relationship" or "Bad same sex relationship". Well let me tell you now, certainly the bible was speaking about BAD same sex relationship. The bigotry of the original interpreters and authors has been hijacked by modern day fundamentals and conservatives giving yet a bitter twist and adding to the confusion of LGBT people, more so building on the hatred Jesus condemned.

Well if the report was of bad homosexual behaviour or activities, how come that there is no report of the good homosexual relationships? I am not surprised that is why Jesus never said anything contrary to homosexuals rather Jesus focussed on the discrepancies and hypocrisy of the religious leaders of his time.

The bible said Slaves to obey their masters, did it say White European should be the masters or did it say Black people or non europeans should be the slaves? What happened was that slavery was initiated by supremacy of one race over the other.

21st theological interpretation ought to inform many that somethings are wrong in the way mainline Christian folks are discriminating against homosexuals. I say clearly to the growing number of homosexual Christians in our church in Lagos Nigeria that the interpretation of bad homosexuality was an intention to confuse people, gay people, their allies, friends and families.

With that understanding, it is also important to note that God is not partial in creating some heterosexual and some homosexual so that one group of people may have dominion in abusing and insulting the other group, would it have been the case that black people where created so white people can enslave us? I dont think so. Perhaps our mothers, wives and sisters where created so men can dominate them and abuse them. Well then lets look at the justification for discrimination. Some based their arguments on the fact that homosexuality is not part of the African culture and I am sure that there has been a larger cry out of Nigeria about how God hated gays and well spoken by Religious superiors who the bible would describe as suffering from religious blinded.

A story in the Bible i love so much is the story of the woman who married seven brothers and after they all died, the disciples of Jesus posed a question, that when she gets to heaven which of the seven brothers will be her husband, Jesus response was most profound when he responded and said we are not giving in marriage in heaven and that getting to heaven we are going to be like angels, The consolation at least for gays and lesbians is that our sexual orientation that the world is trying to kill us for, ostracize us, reject us, alienate us, is not relevant for a passage to heaven.

The seriousness of sexual orientation and religion begs the question of a possible third gender, "Intersex". Three children in a family, one male, one female and one intersex, are we to say that the intersex was not a gift or the creation of God? then we are asking the parent to be ungrateful. The same applies to sexual orientation and identity, homosexuality as well as heterosexuality should be embraced and welcomed in our societies.

In our Vision Statement we claim that House Of Rainbow is on a bold mission to transform hearts, lives, and history. We are a movement that faithfully proclaims God’s inclusive love for all people and proudly bears witness to the holy integration of spirituality and sexuality.

Core Values/Objectives

· InclusionLove is our greatest moral value and resisting exclusion is a primary focus of our ministry. We want to continue to be the conduits of a faith where everyone is included in the family of God, and where all parts of our being are welcomed at God’s table.
· CommunityOffering a safe and open community for people to worship, learn and grow in their faith is our deep desire. We are committed to equipping ourselves and each other to do the work that God has called us to do in the world.
· Spiritual TransformationProviding a message of liberation from the oppressive religious environment of our day or to those experiencing God for the first time, is what guides our ministry. We believe that when people are invited to experience God through the life and ministry of Christ, lives will be transformed.
· Social ActionWorking to talk less and do more, we are committed to resisting the structures that oppress people and standing with to those who suffer under the weight of oppressive systems, being guided always by our commitment to Global Human Rights.
· Motto: “No Fear In Love…” 1 John 4:18

Where Are the Nigerian Gays and Lesbians?

I asked myself this question today, after I just completed my 20th Expert letter for another Nigerian gay abroad seeking asylum in a foreign country. I found this very sad that many feel that they cannot live in Nigeria nor survive the hardship of trying to live their lives. For this 20 people, there are thousand more not seeking asylum but manage to relocate. If by statistic, there are over 15 million sexual minorities in Nigeria. So we cannot be wiped off the face of the country. Many gays and lesbians in Nigeria are simply in hiding.

After reading a wonderful book "Walking with Shadows" by Jude Dibia, sadly the story closed by sending the fascinating gay character packing his bags for a better life in the UK. I found this scenario depressing and I feel that many more gays and lesbians in Nigeria should be more organised and proactive for a better life at home. Get a life by joining a community of fgay friends and creating meaningful steps to the future and the liberation of many others.

I pray often to God to make my voice the voice of the voiceless and my face the face of the faceless and if that meant giving credence to homosexuality, then let it be so

Since being in Nigeria almost one and a half years, homophobia is duly present and I too have had a nasty taste of it.

Last year December 25, as I drove out of my estate to visit my folks. There was the traditional road blockage by the local gangs of men, well I consider them harmless to a degree. However, one shouted to the other in "yoruba" that dont block the way, we dont collect money from gays, unaware that i spoke the local language and understood well. I responded quite boldly; asking the person to repeat what he had just said, i noticed that fear must have gripped him and he began with an apology. Many other people around the popular bus terminal also joined in to apologise. I simply told these homophobes in my act of bravery that I am gay and proud to be gay, they have not lied about that, but i would not tolerate any abuse from them. I was shocked at my own reaction but i felt the need to celebrate the victory. So now they know I am gay and that I am not bothered about who knew or not.

February 2008, I was at the Africa Sexuality Conference in Abuja, with only two papers directly on the issues of LGBT. I made sure that with every opportunity after as many plenaries, I would raise questions on the lack of inclusion or the lack of information that included LGBT people, I had my hair in braid and I introduced myself as Rev Jide Macaulay, the Pastor of House Of Rainbow in Lagos, you should have seen the shocking expressions on their faces. I also took with me unfortunately 200 copies of my devotional for LGBT Christians this ran out on the first day of the conference, it was soon popular amongst the youth and a few adult, well since it was free. Questions were raised and on the third day of the conference, I was ambushed by four journalists, when one of the organisers would introduce me as an amazing person with a congregation of gay and lesbian christians. the question is who can be a Christian? I believe all of God's Children have the right to worship God without fear of discrimination. Since returning to Lagos i have received a number of email, text and calls from people who were not able to identify openly as gay or lesbian from the conference, i believe we are doing something good, acceptable and mature.

Just a few days ago (4th March 08) I sat enjoying myself at the Christening ceremony of my cousin's baby boy, when i was approached by a guy. He wanted to join our table, so we made room for him, I told him about my work as a Pastor and also that I am gay with a ministry welcoming to gays and lesbians, he appeared shocked and instantly asked for my contact details. Talking about Hijra community after an experience of meeting activists in Mumbai India early this year, he was fascinated and wanted to know more. Well, we kept the dialogue going until it was time for me to leave.

I am excited about the work we are doing in House Of Rainbow MCC Lagos Nigeria and hope we can extend the privilege of our services across Nigeria. We started a series of bible study on what the bible says about homosexuality, this has been a great source of knowledge for many of our congregation. The mission continues. More grace more power Rev Jide.

DEVOTION for LGBT People with Rev Jide Macaulay

DEVOTION with Rev Jide:

"Do not model your behaviour on the contemporary world, but let the renewing of your minds transform you, so that you may discern for yourselves what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and mature" Rom12:2 I believe that the scriptures gives us liberty to be who we are "gays and lesbians" If we are able to renew our hearts and discern what is in the will of God for us then we are on our way to victory, I often say to all that if we are unable to change the color of our eyes or skin then we cannot change our sexual orientation, rather I invite you today to celebrate the will of God that created us gays and lesbians, f

“Get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to, the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new and you must put on the new self, which is created in God’s likeness and reveal itself in the true life that is upright and holy” Ephesians 4:22-24. Many gays and lesbians hated themselves because of the lives they live, often trapped in societies that marginalize, reject and ostracised them. I implore all gays and lesbians to have a renewal of hearts and mind in the marvelous creativity of God. Put on the new self, which is the happy homosexual, which is created in God’s likeness and reveal itself in the true life that is upright and holy.

Draw Near To God “Do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, God yearns jealously for the spirit that God made to dwell in us? But God gives all the more grace, therefore it says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble”. James4:5-7 For many gays and lesbians, we need to remind ourselves that God yearn for us to celebrate the spirit God made to dwell in us, be humble about being gay or lesbian. It is by grace that we are who we are, who will say that it is not by the grace of God that we are alive and able to survive each day? I leave you with the thoughts today to “Draw Near to, and trust God as you are, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, straight and narrow.

Jesus met Gays and Lesbians; “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book (Bible), but these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that through believing you may have life in his name” John 20:30-31 I pondered over this text, I want to say that if the early bible authors failed to record all the signs, miracles and meetings of Jesus, how are we sure Jesus never met gays and lesbians, what would Jesus have said to them? If you are familiar with the story of the woman accused of adultery, you would have a sense of what Jesus would say, who is without sin cast the first stone. I want LGBT, straight and narrow people to know that Jesus met everyone at the point of their needs without exclusion, all we have to do is “come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and that through believing you may have life in his name”.

“I know that nothing good dwells in me…for though the will to do good is there, the ability to effect it is not. The good which I want to do, I fail to do; but what I do is the wrong which is against my will…” Roman 7:18-19 Gays and lesbians have always concluded that nothing good dwells within us, because we live in societies that least accept us, welcome us nor include us. The good that we seek to do is to be who we are, the original creativity of God, the wasteful love of God that made us gays and lesbians, bisexual and transgender people. But we often fall under the pressure of society to be who we are not. I want to encourage you today to give power to the will to be yourselves and see the liberating power of God in action.

“In Christ everything in heaven and on earth was created, not only things visible but also invisible…the whole universe has been created through Christ for Christ. Colossians 1:16-17 I want to encourage you today, that it also includes gays and lesbians, bisexuals and trans people, straight people, isn’t this revelation amazing?, I pray that gays and lesbians, bisexuals and trans people will receive the heart of understanding the love of Christ for our community.

PLEASE PASS ON
For more info Call/Text 0805 256 7170

"Tearing Down Walls/Building Up Hope"

"Unfinished World/Unfinished Calling"
And
"Tearing Down Walls/Building Up Hope"

By The Reverend Rowland Jide Macaulay

“It is commonly said in Africa, “It is better to have the corpse of my child, than for me to accept that my child is gay”. As far as Africans are concerned, homosexuality is an abuse of traditional values.

Homosexuality is seen as a sign of western sexual corruption and immorality. Some African families believe that homosexuality is a result of occult activity and also that it is a curable disability”

– Reverend Rowland Jide Macaulay.

I am Rev Rowland Jide Macaulay, I was ordained minister of the gospel in 1998, a Christian Theologian, a dynamic and an inspirational speaker, poet, pastor and preacher, the author of “Poetry Inspired” published 2001 the UK, Pocket Devotional for LGBT Christians, holds a degree in law and masters degree in theology. Became a qualified clergy with the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches in July 2005, Founding Pastor of House Of Rainbow, Lagos Nigeria..
Since 1994, after a gruesome separation and painful divorce from my ex-wife, my experience of coming out as a gay man has been a stage by stage journey. I want to share my journey with homosexual men and women, I want parents, friends, families of homosexual and heterosexual people to know that, to my knowledge no one turns gay in a world that is dangerously homophobic, more painfully is that many homosexual persons suffer homophobia from their own family members, who claimed unconditional love until the moment they where informed of our sexual orientation, many gays and lesbians, often suffer alone.

I come from a family who based our outlook on life on a strict Christian upbringing. My father is a leading theologian, expert of the bible and the Principal of a leading Bible University in Nigeria, we continue to find ways to reconcile the bitterness around my coming out as gay and the same goes for my siblings. My mother who is separated from my father continues to be a loving mother and a peacemaker.

I no longer apologise for being openly gay, I want my radical message of love and liberation to reach all people, including countries with a complicated culture, custom and society such as Nigeria, Jamaica, Cameroon, Guyana etc.

I have encountered people that feel that they are better than me, in religious and secular environments, they are first to judge and condemn. If they must judge me, they should judge me for whom I hate, not for whom I love, and I hate no one. I leave the judgment to God, the Great I Am, the wonderful counsellor, the prince of peace, the lily of the valley, the Alpha and Omega. I was born homosexual and I would die homosexual.

The Church – A Struggle For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual And Transgender people.

The spiritual needs of gays and lesbians is no less than that of heterosexuals, we all need our spiritual families and support, most often the churches close their doors on us, we are called sinners, abomination and an outcast, we are often marginalised in prayers and subjected to inhumane exorcism.

We need a new era of faith religious groups that would celebrate same sex unions, so that many more gays and lesbians can be proud to celebrate their sexuality in a loving union.

The punishment by the Christian faith community can be more devastating with longer term damage. There should be more gay and lesbian spiritual support groups, offering counselling, prayer and support.

In 2004, the problematic relationship of the Christian church and homosexuality was linked with derogatory comments by African statesmen and clergymen. Whilst they were making the headlines, the basic human rights of gays and lesbians continue to be violated.

Lesbians and gay men, like me, struggle to affirm our identity because we have often been expected to deny our sexuality for the sake of surviving in our spiritual communities.

There are no fringe benefits for being a Black African man on this planet, there are no privileges for black skin, when you add homosexuality to the equation, this become a recipe for derision, malice, and outright hatred. It doesn’t have to be like this and this is what I want all gay men and lesbian women to understand.

Many homosexual people never reach their full potential for fear of their sexual identity being discovered. They often use drugs, alcohol and nicotine to medicate themselves. I call on everyone to stand and deal with the ramification of being homosexual. Please don’t be your own worst enemy. Allow excellence in everything you do to be the weapon that tears down the walls erected by this homophobic society.

My destiny is a life of joy and happiness, I am proud of who I am, I never advocate for people to come out unless they are confident and happy to do so. There are huge risks in coming out as gay or lesbian, the consequences can be tragic. But for me there has been the inner joy I cherish, because when people compliment me, they compliment God, it is greater than being in the closet. I happened to have reached a turning point in my life where I could no longer be silent, starting with a response to the Nigerian religious leaders and government in 2003.

Throughout human history, different cultures have known same sex erotic sexual interaction and have varied in different cultures, ranging from absolute prohibition of same-sex relations to their approval in certain social circles. We live in an unfinished world, we have an unfinished calling, we must work together to tear down the walls of homophobia and build a wall of hope for all people.

Press Coverage of Weekend in Chicago

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=69461

Inclusion and engagement as radical ideas: aChurch4me
by Peter Holderness Nov 13, 2007
Related Links
Metropolitan Community Churches
aChurch4me
Sankofa Way home page

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. In proportion as each one has received a gift, use it in ministering to one another as fine stewards of God's undeserved kindness expressed in various ways. – Peter 4:9-10

MCC Factsheet
Founded in Los Angeles, Calif., in October 1968, one year prior to 1969's Stonewall Riots.
Includes more than 43,000 members and adherents in 22 countries from Canada to Argentina, South Africa to the Netherlands.

Churches in 48 states. The largest MCC church is Resurrection MCC (Houston, TX), with a membership exceeding 600. Belongs to the National Council of Churches and holds observer status in the World Council of Churches. Headquartered in West Hollywood, Calif.
Clergy are trained by 20 seminaries of mainline Christian denominations that accept MCC students.

Each year MCC clergy bless more than 6,000 same-sex couples with marriage and holy union ceremonies. Founder, the Rev. Troy D. Perry, has honorary doctorates from Episcopal Divinity School, Samaritan College and Sierra University, and awards from various human rights groups. He attended the first White House meeting of gay and lesbian leaders during the Carter presidency, was the first openly gay member of the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission and was appointed as a delegate to the White House Conference On Hate Crimes by President Bill Clinton. 21 different MCC congregations have been victimized by antigay hate crimes of arson or fire-bombing.

Twelve men and women gathered for communion and prayer behind closed doors in a small shotgun-style house in Huntington Park, Calif. one Autumn Sunday in 1968. A year before the Stonewall Riots in New York City inaugurated the modern gay rights movement, the Rev. Troy Perry planted the seeds for a radically inclusive Christian denomination.
Nearly 40 years later, 300 Metropolitan Community Churches serve more than 40,000 members in 22 countries.

Chicago’s aChurch4me is the latest to join the fellowship, rising from the ashes of Good Shepherd MCC, which closed in July, and joining other MCC churches in suburban Elgin and Brookfield. Just two months into its ministry, the church seems poised to unite faithful Chicagoans across lines of race, class, gender and sexuality.

“This church has more than a commitment, it has an aura of social justice to it,” explained Eugene Thomas, a retired Loyola University professor who has been involved in aChurch4me since its inception. “For us, church is not just about worship but also about service and ministry to those in need,” he said. During Sunday’s service, church members shared personal struggles and concerns with the congregation and their pastor.

Pastor Kevin Downer earned his master of divinity degree at Austin Presbyterian Seminary and returned to Chicago to found a new inclusive church. “The mission of aChurch4me is to reach out to people who usually don’t find churches welcoming,” he said.

Between 2005 and 2007 Downer undertook a feasibility study to understand how an MCC congregation could reach an underserved community in Chicago, attending scores of community gatherings to meet people and hear local concerns. In July 2007 Downer started offering interfaith service at The Center on Halsted, in the heart of Chicago’s Boystown. On Sept. 9, 2007, aChurch4me held its first service.

“I’ve been in intolerant churches and in the army … and from the first service I knew this church would be my new home,” Eugene Thomas said. “I’ll be 74 in January, and now I’m not afraid to meet anybody or do anything.”

Downer says that his MCC church is dedicated not only to nourishing the spirituality of the congregation, but also to engaging social justice struggles in its midst.

“We share a passion to engage our city and ourselves,” the church’s mission statement declares. “We dare to imagine becoming a people … who thrive in the exuberant celebration of God’s abundant love and grace found in the diversity of our relationships, our loves, and the whole of our lives.”

Perry remembers telling his first 12 congregants “We are not a gay church – We are a Christian church,” a refrain common at aChurch4me. Nevertheless, aChurch4me actively serves Chicago’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning and intersex populations.
On Saturday, the church partnered with Sankofa Way Spiritual Services, Inc. to present Black Sexuality in the 21st Century, a conference.

Sankofa’s executive director, the Rev. Deborah Lake, excoriated Christian leaders who she said have “broken from the religion of Christ” to teach exclusion of homosexuals. “Jesus loves us and wants us to feel safe,” she said, challenging Christians to stop sitting quietly in pews across the city allowing other pastors to “misinterpret the Bible and teach us to hate.”

But if intolerance and violence is a real danger for Chicago’s LGBT community, members of aChurch4me were especially impressed by the words of the Rev. Rowland Jide Macauley, the openly-gay pastor of House of Rainbow MCC church in Lagos, Nigeria.

Macauley said his church regularly convenes 60 to 90 people for worship, and that more than 1,500 have attended services so far. In a country where homosexuality and same-sex unions are still actively persecuted by the government, Macauley said his best defense is that he is a Christian, serving all the people of Christ. “We’re open to everybody, and I really mean that,” he told the audience.

Macauley’s sermon the following day had many in the congregation on the edges of their seats. “Coming out is a revolution,” Macauley said. “God wants us to be whole to be holy.”
Riffing on his favorite passage from Psalms, Macauley told the 50 conference participants that “The Lord is my shepherd, and he knows I’m a happy, holy homosexual.”

The Challenges That African LGBTI People Face

The Challenges That African LGBTI People Face And How They Differ From The Challenges In America.

By Rev Rowland Jide Macaulay, November 2007

Conference:
Black Sexuality In The 21st Century: Change.

Venue:
Hoover-Leppen Theatre
Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted,
Chicago Illinois USA

Date & Time:
November 10, 2007, 12:30 to 3:30pm.

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights...Sexual orientation and gender identity are integral to every person’s dignity and humanity and must not be the basis for discrimination or abuse.

There is a pervasive view that homosexuality is a sign of western sexual corruption and immorality. Some African families even believe that homosexuality is a result of occult activities. Leading Africans and politicians have claimed that homosexuality is un-African and that the Western world is spreading a concept of immorality amongst her citizens.

“If it were possible to determine the homosexuality of a child before birth many African parents would repudiate their homosexual child before they have the chance to live”.

Same sex relationships are totally frowned upon and are not accepted within the general African cultures. This attitude is reinforced by the use of legislation. The majority of African countries still legislate against homosexual activities and those found guilty can expect a long prison sentence, with the exception of South Africa.

Over the years LGBTI people in Nigeria, Somalia, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Uganda, Namibia, Cameroon and elsewhere in Africa have come under attack because of their sexual orientation and sexual identity.

In Nigeria, Sharia law is applicable in any Islamic ruling states, if a person is convicted of sodomy and any sexual practice they can be sentenced to death.

In January 2006, the government of Nigeria announced the proposal of a new law to ban homosexual relations and same sex marriage. The bill would make engaging in homosexual relations and entering into same sex marriage offences punishable by five years imprisonment. Priests or other cleric or anyone helping to arrange such a union would also be subjected to a five-year jail sentence. The law would also ban movements, associations or organisations that campaign for lesbians and gays rights.

The legislation goes further to make it a criminal offence to impart information of HIV/AIDS to gays and other sexual minority group.

The Anglican Bishops in Africa held a meeting in 2005, determined that they would break away from the parent Church of England unless the denunciation of the ordination of gay bishops such as in the case of Bishop Gene Robinson here in the USA and marriage for gays and lesbians are rejected.

The Ugandan government’s latest call for arrests based on sexual orientation is a grave threat to basic freedom, this call is supported by the president.

Church leaders of the Uganda House of Bishops called on the government not to register any gay and lesbian group. A church statement accused the gay organization of serving as a front for U.S. gays and lesbians to set up a base in Uganda.

Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe claimed homosexuals were "worse than pigs and dogs." He has compared homosexuality to bestiality, police persistently raided the offices of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ).

Members of Parliament in Rwanda want a law against homosexuality enacted.

In Nigeria 18 men are waiting to stand trial for offences of sodomy, attempted gay wedding, impersonating women and cross dressing.

Two women in Somalia were sentenced to death for "unnatural behavior."

In Egypt, three men accused of setting up a gay web site were charged with violating the Egyptian legal code.

President Sam Nujoma announced "the Republic of Namibia does not allow homosexuality or lesbianism”. Police were ordered to arrest and imprison" Nujoma described homosexuality as "against God's will" and called it "the devil at work."

In Tunisia homosexuality is presented as a myths, an undesirable behavior described as “perverted, abnormal and tragic”.

In Cameroon, fifteen gay men, and two lesbians were in jail for over one month, after being arrested in a bar known to be frequented by homosexuals. Cameroon's Roman Catholic Bishop Victor Tonye Bakot also criticised European countries for legitimizing homosexuality.

Two South African lesbians were killed in Soweto, some were raped for what is termed a corrective measure.

African homophobia are not much different from the homophobia in the United States, but what makes them noticeable is the assertion that homosexuality belongs solely to other cultures, it is said to be western sexual corruption infiltrated on the innocence of Africans by foreigners and also through the internet.

There have been limited voices and/or faces that represented the crisis of LGBTI people; those who dare to do so are either scared off or dispelled from the society. It is time that we all ask our governments to show more concerns and inclusion of LGBTI people.

The African Charter on Human and People Rights stipulates and makes provision for addressing many issues affected by LGBTI people in Africa, however African LGBTI are too afraid to bring any charges, allegations or complaint against their government or local authorities.

May 2007 more than 60 lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex activists from 15 African countries gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa to discuss ways they could consolidate their movement and further progress in self organizing on a regional level. This group is called the Pan Africa ILGA.

A new tool was developed November 2006, called the Yogyakarta Principle. http://www.yogyakartaprinciples.org/

The Yogyakarta Principles are a set of principles on the application of international human rights law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity. These Principles promise a different future where all people born free and equal in dignity and rights can fulfill that precious birthright. Without the protection and fulfillment of these principles, it will be impossible for many people like myself to live a happy and healthy life in Nigeria.
The prevalent crime against LGBTI people and their family is blackmail. They are subjected to unnecessary exorcism by religious communities, ostracised from the society and family.
Aggravated rape and/or sexual abuses, crimes motivated by homophobia.
A major case of loneliness, rejection, isolation may often result or culminate into mental disorder or suicides. Death, Homophobic violence, Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, unfortunately, this is the sad case for homosexuals in Africa.

Why Should Americans Bother?
European-American Evangelistic Crusades said the appointment of Bishop Gene Robinson was encouraged by motivating power behind perversion, namely homosexuality. This has had a ripple effect on the nature and brand of Christianity in Africa and in the hands of Peter Akinola.

Barack Obama may choose to align with those who malign sexual minorities, this relationship seek to marginalise the already marginalised in the society, it would have been better if he speak with a new voice and represent a new dawn of inclusion and progress.

Decision to promote abstinence until marriage favored by George W. Bush, President of the United States, in 2003, when the US Congress authorized President George W. Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria to 15 countries, created a catastrophe. Abstinence programs convey a message that there is no safe way to have sex, it undermines same sex relationship and deny them information that could save their lives. Funds devoted to abstinence-only education are funds taken away from prevention programs that could address the health and sexualities of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. .

Events and decisions made here in America and in Europe have in many cases affected outcomes in Africa, mostly positive. They differ because America has a solid back bone to support human rights and constitutional courts that addresses issues at a judiciary process.

Americans can work side by side with African activists, Americans can help Africans by supporting the implementation of the Yogyakarta Principles. Intensified campaigns against the breach of human rights and rule of law in Africa.

Sources;
http://revrowlandjidemacaulay.blogspot.com/
www.bbc.co.uk/
www.hrw.org/
www.ilga.org/
http://www.iglhrc.org/
http://www.yogyakartaprinciples.org/