LGBT in Rwanda: Untold story of marginalized people

Rwandan society sticks to its norms and values from the bush people to civilized ones. In an ideal world, without discrimination, people would not need to be defined based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. But while we still live in conditions of inequality and discrimination that puts LGBTI people in unfavorable conditions the use of the term LGBTI has become a force element for many people.

Recently, in Kigali, Amahoro Human Respect (A.H.R) had a friendly football match with some journalists. It was a good environment as people compete to win. The next day there was some training to elaborate on LGBT in Rwanda. The majority of journalists did not know what is LGBT but it was an occasion to get the insights. There were some discussions and after all, they were convinced to report objectively and base on science and the rule of law. This issue of LGBT is not new in Rwanda but some people decide not to talk about it publicly or with his/her peers.

LGBT: LGBT or GLBT is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the term is an adaptation of the initialism LGB, which began to replace the term gay about the broader LGBT community beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s. In this era where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people all over the world continue to experience violations of their human rights and exclusion. What LGBTI people want, and are entitled to, is dignity to live their lives free of stigma, violence, and without discrimination and to be able to reach their full potential and contribute to their families, communities, and countries. As often there is debate about how the LGBTI community should call itself. While there are many terms in everyday and traditional jargon, accepted or not, the movement over the years has also evolved in the sense of self-appointment.

Initially, only the term "gay" was used which, unfortunately, left out many groups and people in the community who do not self-identify as people who are attracted to people of the same sex. Meanwhile, the term "gay" is used only for males, which leaves out women and persons who do not identify with any gender. Opponents of the LGBT community often use the jargon of homosexuals who are gender-neutral but exclude many people in the community, such as bisexuals.

The term sexual minorities are also used, which is more academic but which emphasizes the sexual aspect and excludes the cultural and political aspect, which is one of the reasons why the term gay was used. People from the LGBTI community do not want to be defined simply in terms of behavior but as human beings, complete and complex.

Sexual orientation describes a stable pattern or structure of attraction - emotional, romantic, and sexual or a combination of them - against the opposite sex, the same sex, both sexes, or either sex. These attractions generally fall under the terms heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, and asexuality. According to the American Psychological Association, sexual orientation also refers to a person's sense of "personal and social identity" based on one of these attractions, the behaviors that express them, and membership in communities with people who share them.

LGBT persons need to be respected

The concept of sexual orientation has more to do with just sexual behavior. It includes both feelings and identity. Some individuals may identify themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual even without engaging in any sexual activity. Sexual orientation is a term often used to describe a person's romantic, emotional, or sexual attraction to another person. Someone who is attracted to people of the same sex has a homo[1]sexual orientation and can be called gay or lesbian. Individuals who are attracted to people of the opposite sex have a heterosexual orientation. Sexual orientation is a process that is constantly deepening over time and individuals who are attracted to both men and women are called bisexual.

Their voices need to be heard

Mushimiyimana Eric, a coach was fired for no LGBT practices

LGBT Rwandans say they are often fired, evicted, labeled as satanic, or ostracized by family and friends if they come out, with violent threats forcing some to flee the country. When gay men start making love outside of safe areas, they are labeled as "unreal men", ie they are identified as women, the weaker sex that should be dominated and that for centuries has been the object of hatred and abuse by men. In September 2021, Mushimiyimana Eric who was a coach of United Stars Fc-Ruhango was fired due to what his boss called LGBT practices. We are born equal and LGBT persons need to live their life at full potential. There is no need to undermine them since they are our brothers and sisters.