adminNokukhanya Moyo, Features Reporter
THE strangest emotional display that Zimbabweans are dealing with in cosmopolitan settings is of embracing and evading cultural shock. In Bulawayo’s nightclubs, it has become normal to see “queers” making out despite the rehearsed religiosity and cultural conservativeness we posses as a community.
Although this is happening in nightspots and some settings, we still cannot suck in the sponge of acceptance. Society does not condone “ill” behaviour just because it’s momentous, we are organic creatures, we all have that laggardness in us.
The topic of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals, queers and anti-sexuals (LGBTQIA) is very sensitive to the status quo both on social and political spectrums. This is largely because we are predominantly Judeo-religious, so issues of sexual progressiveness and liberalism collide with the already confusing religious subscriptions we affiliate to.
Continuous reference to the fable of Sodom and Gomorrah which were heaven-fire burnt because of same sex copulation are deterrent tools clergy bosses and deacons use to refrain any practice or embracing of sexual liberalism.
The socialisation of the majority of Zimbabweans is hinged on Christian values that transcribe heterosexuality as the only God designed and permitted relationship that guarantees definite entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. One can however, not outrule the role of religion, particularly Christianity in creating a peaceful, respecting and harmonious society, but the visible rigidity of such religion in comprehending and accommodating shifting progenies of sexual ontologies has contributed to the othering of dissenting sexualities in the society. Altogether, LGBTQI members no longer feel obliged to subscribe to the good traits and requisites of Christianity all because they feel excluded by the religion.
Mr Pathisa Nyathi said, “It was something that was looked down upon because in African culture sex is for two people from the opposite sex and the fact that gays and lesbians cannot produce children it became problematic and a taboo to the society.”
He said that homosexuality was happening in prisons in the 1960s and they are high chances that it was happening outside the prisons too although it was swept under the carpets because of societal perspectives.
When religion plays a key role in excluding different individuals, it would have pivotally contradicted itself “ . . . do not judge others . . . ” so one verse says.
Dr Reverend Bayethe Damasane said, “In an African religion gays and lesbians do exist and it does not support LGBTQI because in African religion it is clearly about the circle of life and lesbians and gays do not support the cycle of life.
He said that in Christianity gays and lesbians are not supported because it is not seen as normal behaviour because God did not create lesbians and gays.
“But we cannot cast them out of the church because God loves them and they have been created in the image of God also,” he said.
Rev Damasane said in Christianity it is not a biological contrast but it is a social contrast, people decide to be gay and lesbians.
The Zimbabwean Government has made it a criminal offence for two people of the same sex to hold hands, hug, or kiss. The “sexual deviancy” law is one of 15 additions to Zimbabwe’s Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act passed in Parliament.
This is in addition to the clause that bars “sodomy” (sexual intercourse of man and man: there is silence on women and women). It is prudent for the Government to be paternalistic in devising laws that protect the society from cultural clash, shock and backlash, however from time and again, truth should be rethought, that is what Chin Taharma tells us in her deontological explanations. Truth is relative, it’s based on beliefs which are mainly experiential and leave room for contestation.
Our laws on sexuality in Zimbabwe are crafted with a backdrop of culture. It is a taboo and not acceptable for a man to be in love with another man and also a woman to be in love in another woman. Whenever either happens, bewitchment is quoted as the reason of such a choice. Remember, laws are majoritarian but meant to protect the minority, well the contrary is true of our setup. This then creates a precedent of super cultures, where other cultures are elevated at the expense of others. When we have higher and lower cultures, we push even the good things in the lower cultures into extinction. I strongly affirm that laws should be secular oriented to embrace cultural fluidity and dynamism. That lessens cultural rigidity and clashes.
John (not real name) a gay aged (23) from Great Zimbabwe University said he started falling in love with boys when he was in pre-school and his parents do not know about this till now. He has managed to conceal his emotions since kindergarten and in the process he hasn’t had that favourable opportunity of discussing emotional choices with kith and kin like his siblings. All this has yielded a lot of regrettable choices in his life on sexual and emotional encounters. Because GZU is very much guided by local laws, never has he come across a lecture on sexuality, even in cultural studies and this has further confused him. He says he belongs to a secret society as if he is Illuminati or freemason. He envies his counterparts who can flaunt their partners on social media, at college and in the neighbourhood but he is scared that if he does so that will be the end of his parents paying school fees for him. His dreams may be shuttered.
“My parents are so religious to the extent that if they are to hear about my homosexuality they would even chase me away from home. My father is a pastor at a Pentecostal church and he is always talking against LGBTs, not knowing that his son is gay,” he said.
The itching reality is that homosexuals are not extraterrestrial; they come from within the society. They come from respectable families who are also struggling to even think that one of their own is gay. The fear their families would bear is of stigmatisation because it is neither their choice nor their preference. The situation is really sad and complicated.
Disturbingly, some people don’t even know the signs that can show them that their children are gay. It is unfortunate that in reality, people are actually bipolar because they are gay. We cannot successfully fight residues of coloniality when we cannot openly talk about sexual dynamics in our societies. The success of our economy and politics is hinged on embracing dissent lest we partially succeed and fail to discover the reason of social stagnation.
The sexuality debate is ongoing world over.
If Taiwo Olufemi meant that The mordenisation of Africa is of selective amnesia, then scourges like these hammer us hard when we are in a losing fight against HIV?Aids because LGBTQIAs are segregated and feel unsafe to go for treatment yet some are married in heterosexual arrangements.
Our fight against gender-based violence will be categorical and selective because when gay men violently abuse each other both physically and emotionally they will only be legally treated as just a fight and a $10 fine is demanded.
Head of Aids and TB unit in the Ministry of Health and Childcare Dr Owen Mugurungi said the country needs to be honest to itself about these groups if it was to succeed in the fight against HIV/Aids.
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Bongani Ndlovu