Date: Fri, 26 Jul 1996 13:10:06 +0200
From: ilga <ilga@glo.be>
Subject: NEW Statement from GALZ 26 JULY

Dear ILGA Press contacts and friends,

this is the latest statement from GALZ. Let's keep up the support! They're
doing incredible courageous work standing up to the government and the
threats of violence, and they'll need all of us to help them through this!

REQUEST FOR HELP:

GALZ has requested that a World Wide Web page, and support for it, so that
all of this information can be put directly in one place and accessed
easily. Please, who can help out on this? Please send messages directly to
GALZ (KUNZWANA@mango.zw) with copies to ILGA (ilga@ilga.org)

The statement:

>
>galz.=20
>private bag A6131
=C5 harare=20
=C5 zimbabwe
>
>
>25 July 1996
>
>Statement from the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe
>
>Following the threats issued by the government of Zimbabwe against the Gays=
 and
>Lesbians of Zimbabwe, GALZ reaffirms its position not to be bullied into
>submiiting to authoritirian pressure. Government has overstepped its=
 mandate.
>
>The Ministry of Information is acting illegally. The banning of GALZ at the
>Zimbabwe International Book Fair has no foundation in law. There is no=
 legal
>basis for its attempt to ban GALZ from participating at ZIBF 96. The rights=
 of
>gays and lesbians in this country are upheld in the constitution of
Zimbabwe and
>not through the edicts of a government department, in particular one which
has a
>shocking history of supressing freedom of expression.
>
>In addition, we are horrified and appalled by Professor Kahari's=
 inflamatory
>comments in the state-controlled Herald. It is the duty of Professor Kahari=
 to
>uphold the law in this country and the ZIBF has a contract with GALZ which=
 it
>must honour. It is the duty of the Book Fair to afford the same rights of
>protection to GALZ as to any other exhibitor at the fair. We are not asking=
 for
>special rights, we are claiming equal rights.
>
>The Zimbabwean police exist to protect all Zimbabweans and must not allow
>themselves to be used as weapons against government critics. The police=
 have
>seen the literature that is to be displayed at the GALZ stand. Our=
 literature
>has also been distributed to the Christian churches in this country. Some
of the
>literature we are displaying has even been produced by churches, including=
 the
>Catholic church.=20
>
>Government and the Christian church must stop their futile cultural debate.=
 All
>cultures are dynamic and the cultures within each nation are the sum total=
 of
>the belief systems and behaviour patterns of individuals, they are not=
 moral
>prescriptions issued by dictatorial bodies. Under no circumstances does=
 this
>mean that homosexuals are advocating violence or the infringement of an
>indivual's right to safety and protection of property.=20
>
>Homosexuals exist within all strata of Zimbabwean society. It is inhuman to
>persist with this persecution of us.  The plight of homosexual people in=
 this
>country is harrowing and government must take full responsibility for
increasing
>the torment. When homosexuals cry out or attempt to reach out to people in=
 need
>with counselling services, government responds only by bring into play
>heavy-handed censorship and total supression.=20
>
>Under no circumstances will GALZ tolerate threats issued by government
>departments. To bow to such pressure will simply encourage government to
>continue with its invasive behaviour. The gay community is standing up not=
 just
>for gay rights but for the holistic principle of freedom of speech which
applies
>to all individuals and communities in this country. Homosexuals have the=
 right
>to speak out and we will be heard.We are proud to be Zimbabwean and we are
proud
>to be gay.=20
>
>Keith Goddard
>(Interim Administrator/GALZ)
>
>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ILGA - International Lesbian and Gay Association=09
81 Kolenmarkt, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium=09
Phone/Fax +32-2-502-2471, E-mail: ilga@ilga.org	=09

A federation of over 300 groups from 75
countries fighting for the rights of lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender people.

We also have over 100 supportive associate
and individual members. Will you join us?
Contact us for more info!