Help defend and protect LGBTQ+ rights in Tanzania

We would like to update you on how the situation on LGBT rights in the country is. Since the recent crackdown on LGBT started in  October 2018, LGBT Voice have been working hard to ensure the safety of LGBT individuals and also to make sure the organization remains open to serve the unserved LGBT community. I would like to inform you that we have had several advocacy meetings with government officials and officials from high commissions in the country, who respect human rights and do not discriminate indivduals by their se orientation or gender idetity. Most of the government officials do have a wrong perspective and atitude towards homosexuality and do believe that Tanzania excluding LGBT Tanzanians from the life of the country and protection of the law.

But foriegn high commissions believe that what the government is doing is against the current Constitution and the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

We the LGBT Tanzanians have reuested that our government review the penal code and other laws and remove all sections which criminalize homosexuality because such criminalization of a class of citizens is unconstitutional. Section 3, Chapter 12 of the Constitution states that all persons have the right to enjoy equality, humanity, identity and respect. Section 3, Chapter 13 states that all persons are entitled to equal protection under the law and prohibits any law which will discriminate because of his or her status. Section 3, Chapter 29 states that every person in Tanzania has a right to enjoy the fundamental Human Rights and the results of those Rights.

We as LGBT Tanzanians claim protection under the constitution.

• We believe that fundamental Human Rights include the right to freedom of expression and the right to be heard.
• The right to equality under the law.
• The right to walk down the street without being subjected to violence
• The right to be recognized and accepted for who we are
• The right of equal access to education, employment and health care.

Laws which discriminate against a certain class of citizens, and a culture of stigmatization, create an underclass of such citizens. At its heart, colonialism was nothing more than a legal underpinning for the creation of and exploitation of an underclass. A just society must protect the rights of all its citizens. 

At the moment are are done with the preparations for the litigation against the government and any time the case will be filed in high court.

We therefore request you to continue supporting us in this way because we have learned that judiciary is the only way that will help speed the fight for LGBT community in Tanzania.

Amessage from one LGBT who need help:

My name is lacky and am 21 years gay, living in sinza with my so called sister.i was chased out of home with my parents and none of my close relative ever wants me near them saying that am cursed and am a bad luck.i started to live in the street because of my hardship i often go out with men so i can find a place to sleep and then when its morning again am starting to think where to go....i got raped,abused in physical and emotional mistreated in public facilities like hospital.not too long ago i got abused again when i was out of the club heading home,a bunch of guys come on me and beat the hell out of me luckily i got help from a pass by woman who help me and take me to a private hospital after that i told her my situation and i started living with her,some people are threatening her and there was a time where a government employee threatened to chased her out of the community because she is living with me,that sister also help me have a job at her saloon but in the end the landlord kick her out because of me,the society am living in is a mess they mistreat her and me when we walk....the neighborhood and i even thought of suicide but nagma who is my friend gives me hope and told there is a place i could tell all of these and helped me.

There are many LGBT individuals who need support ,some need legal support, some need accommodation and some need safety but our services are very much limited due to limited resourses we have. Please continue helping in any way you can.