Homosexuality 'isn't a disease'

2008-11-23 12:23

Bujumbura - Burundi's main gay and lesbian rights groups expressed outrage on Saturday following the adoption by parliament of a new set of laws criminalising homosexuality.

The Association for the Respect of Homosexuals' Rights (ARDHO) protested against the new penal law adopted overnight, which abolishes the death penalty but makes homosexuality a criminal offence.

"We at ARDHO are outraged by this decision to criminalise homosexuality. We don't understand how educated people can adopt such a law because homosexuality is neither a disease nor a deviance," an ARDHO official told AFP.

He was speaking on condition he not be named, citing "security reasons", ahead of a crisis meeting with the association's 35 members in Bujumbura.

"How are we going to be able to continue the struggle against Aids in our community if every homosexual has to go underground," the ARDHO official said.

"Being a homosexual was never easy in Burundi because you had to hide, but at least we were tolerated. From now on, it's going to be a nightmare," said another Burundian homosexual, also refusing to give his name.

The new set of laws was overwhelmingly approved early on Saturday but one of the few lawmakers who abstained in the vote said the new provision on homosexuality was a regrettable setback.

"Unfortunately, this penal law is also a regression because it now makes homosexuality a criminal offence, whereas it had been tolerated until now," said MP Catherine Mabobori, who abstained during the vote.

In the law, which still has to be approved by the Senate and promulgated by the president, homosexuality is punishable by up to two years in prison.

- AFP