Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 23:39:50 +0200 From: Bjoern Skolander PRESS RELEASE FROM THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR GAY AND LESBIAN EQUALITY ATTACK ON LESBIAN AND GAY ZIMBAWEANS The Zimbabwean Goverment has banned Zimbabwe's only lesbian and gay organisation (GALZ) from any further participation in Zimbabwe's annual International Book Fair. Mugabe has previously stated that 'gays and lesbians deserve no human rights at all.' Mugabe has also stated that homosexuality is 'unAfrican'. African culture must be defined by all Africans and not by Robert Mugabe alone. It is an irrefutable fact that there is a largge lesbian and gay community in southern Africa. The National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality (of which GALZ is a member), condemns this flagrant violation of human rights. The South African experience is sufficient warning of the consequences of ideological extremism. We call on the world Council of Churches (WCC) to refuse to hold its 1998 World Conference in a country where ordinary persons are attacked for being woman, Ndebele, gay or lesbian or just simply having different political beliefs. Would the WCC have held a World Conference in South Africa under the apartheid regime? It is unacceptable that the president of a democracy in southern Africa behaves in such an extraordinary manner. It is even more unacceptable that Robert Mugabe who holds the chair of the SADC security sub-committee conducts himself in such a manner. Regional security must be based on a culture of human rights. All South Africans know that lesbian and gay rights are no different from any other human rights; they are the rights of equality. The silencing of any minority group can only contribute to the weakening of Africa. We dare not return to our tormented past. Mugabe must not be allowed to besmirch the image of African leaders. /...ends ______________________________________________________________________________ NATIONAL COALITION FOR GAY AND LESBIAN EQUALITY Clayton Edmund Wakeford Lobbying and Advocacy Project Co-ordinator Clayton Wakeford Office phone: +27 (0)21 448 0505 P.O. Box 51 347 Waterfront Office fax: +27 (0)21 448 8809 8002 SOUTH AFRICA Home phone: +27 (0)21 434 8082 __________________________________________________________________________