Date: Fri, 28 Jul 95 06:11 PDT Subject: GAYS&LESBIANS OF ZIMBABWE NOT ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN BOOKFAIR From: STEPHEN VAN BREDA 28th JULY 1995. ************************************************************ ***** PLEASE READ, RESPOND AND PASS THIS MESSAGE ON ****** ***** WE NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT ****** ************************************************************ GALZ = GAYS AND LESBIANS OF ZIMBABWE ZIBF = ZIMBABWE INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR "STATEMENT FROM ZIMBABWE INTERNATIONAL BOOKFAIR TRUST On July 24th 1995 the ZIBF Trust received communication from the highest level of the Government of Zimbabwe indicating that a stand to be occupied at ZIBF95 by the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) would be totally unacceptable to the government and people of Zimbabwe. The Government position is that homosexuality per se is abhorrent and that the values of GALZ are totally incompatible with the societal and cultural values of the majority of Zimbabweans. The ZIBF Trust communicated this position to GALZ and suggested that under the circumstances they consider withdrawing from ZIBF95. GAlZ, however, adamantly refused to consider this course of action. At this stage it was clear that the matter should be resolved directly between the Government and GALZ, as it affected far more than simply a Book Fair. However, the Government will not accord legitimacy to GALZ by speaking to them formally and therefore the ZIBF found itself being used as a channel of communication between two diametrically opposed sides. As a public, high-profile forum the ZIBF is being used by both Government and GALZ to achieve their purposes which are far broader that the issue of participation at the Fair. The ZIBF finds itself in an impossible situation. The consequences for the Book Fair are disastrous whichever course of action it decides upon. On the one hand the ZIBF stands to lose the Government support which makes its very existence possible. On the other hand it stands to lose its international credibility and support. This situation has put the medium-term future of the ZIBF in jeopardy. The basic fact of the matter is that the Government believes the people of Zimbabwe are not yet ready to accept homosexuality and as the Book Fair has its home in Zimbabwe and is therefore compelled to respect this sentiments. This decision was not taken lightly. The ZIBF Board of Trustees undertook wide-ranging consultations at every possible level to resolve the situation to the satisfaction of all concerned. These efforts proved fruitless. It is therefore with the greatest regret that the ZIBF Trust has found itself with no option but to withdraw its acceptance of GALZ's application to participate at ZIBF95. The ZIBF Trust would like to emphasise that it, in this instance, was faced with an exceptional situation and its decision in no way compromises its commitment to freedom of expression, the development of an informed, educated, reading public and the widest possible dissemination of reading materials ". -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-mail address for ZIBF = zibf@mango.apc.org Requests for copies of correspondence can be made to :- Fax : Harare, Zimbabwe (263)(4)729303 -------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail address expires on 31st July 1995.