Current Issues

The jailing in Senegal of nine gay men for eight years over "indecent conduct and unnatural acts" has been condemned by an international gay rights group.

On the 18th of December, 2008, a Statement on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity with the backing of 66 states including six African countries, was read at the General Assembly. The statement reaffirmed "the principle of the universality of human rights amongst other things. But a counter-statement arguing against the statement supported by 60 states including a multitude of African countries.

On the 18th of December, 2008, a Statement on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity with the backing of 66 states including six African countries, was read at the General Assembly. The statement reaffirmed "the principle of the universality of human rights amongst other things. But a counter-statement arguing against the statement supported by 60 states including a multitude of African countries.

In this essay that shows the discrepancy between universal human rights and their selective application, Lawrence M. Mute asks: Why did the whole of Anglophone Africa decline to support the Statement? Why did such little empathy flow from many discriminated groups to LGBTI communities? Why would many a group discriminated on grounds of race, disability or gender still find it rational to perpetuate discrimination on homosexuals or lesbians?

When Mary Muli and her husband failed to conceive a child, they followed the long-held tradition among the Kemba in Kenya's Eastern Province and brought another woman into their home to bear children for them.

The latest UNAIDS Report estimated that 33 million people around the globe are living with HIV; 22 million in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. Around 2.7 million new HIV infections occurred worldwide in 2007. However, encouraging new data suggests there have been significant gains in preventing new infections in several African countries with high prevalence rates.

New York (MMD Newswire) January 12, 2008 -- Combining science with the latest in technology, Natural Research & Development, Inc., led by Canadian businessman, Joseph Gagliano, has created one of the most revolutionary natural breast enhancement methods to come along in decades. As with any new and original product or idea, the company spent years researching which natural methods produced the greatest results on the growth of women's breasts while eliminating those that did absolutely nothing.

Israel scrapped arrangements Monday to allow the first foreign reporters into the Gaza Strip since the military launched its offensive against Palestinian militants, adding to mounting media frustration at being locked out of the war zone.

MARTIN Luther described it as "the richest ornament of women"; Rapunzel shook hers loose in an attempt to get suitors to climb up it into her bedchamber; Venus used hers to protect her modesty. And Britney Spears shaved hers off, in an apparent attempt to purge herself of her all-American sweetheart image.

For most people, sexuality is a pretty basic thing. You're attracted to men, you're attracted to women or you're attracted to men and women. However, gender doesn't matter to me. I'm all right with blurring or even completely ignoring gender lines, as long as I find the person attractive.

Harmful attitudes towards women are reinforced by certain religious beliefs. Some religious and other community leaders exhort women to stand by their husbands under all circumstances, whereas at the same time they fail to take a clear stand against domestic violent acts such as wife battery and marital rape.