Timeline of LGBTQ history in Rwanda
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Prior to the European colonization of Rwanda and the arrival of Christian missionaries, homosexuality was socially accepted and practiced among the Tutsi population as a form of "spiritual empowerment".[1][2]
21st century
2000s
2003
- A new Rwandan Constitution is adopted. It introduces a ban on same-sex marriage in Article 26, stating: "Only monogamous civil marriage between a man and a woman is recognized."[3]
2004
- The Horizon Community Association (HOCA) group is created,[4] Rwanda's first LGBTQ+ activism organization.[5]
2009
- In December, the Rwandan government halts an attempt to criminalize homosexuality in the country. The legal change was originally planned to be approved in Article 217 of the draft penal code and would include a five to ten-year sentence for persons found guilty of homosexual acts. However, the article was ultimately excluded from the bill after generating local and international backlash.[6][7][8]
2010s
2011
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- March 22: Rwanda becomes one of six African countries to vote in favor of the United Nations Declaration on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, condemning human rights violations against LGBT populations.[9][10]
2013
- The coalition of LGBT organizations Isange Rwanda is created. At the time of its creation, it brought together three groups, and would reach 18 by 2021.[11]
2017
- September 29: At a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Rwanda votes in favor of a resolution condemning the use of the death penalty as a punishment for people who have had homosexual relations.[12][1]
2018
- In May, Rwandan President Paul Kagame meets in Kigali with American lesbian television personality Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, philanthropist Portia de Rossi.[13]
2019
- July 12: Rwanda becomes one of the few African countries on the United Nations Human Rights Council to vote in favor of renewing the mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.[14][15]
- August 26: Gospel singer Albert Nabonibo publicly announces his homosexuality, becoming the first artist of his kind to come out in the country.[16][14][17]
2020s
2020
- The Church of God in Africa in Rwanda opens in Kigali, a religious temple open to the LGBTQ community.[18]
2021
- In July, a LGBT Pride celebration takes place in Rwanda for the first time. The festival took place in Kigali and included a football match.[11][19][20]
2023
- The non-profit organization Plan International Rwanda published the sexuality education book for adolescents Amahitamo Yanjye, which included information on sexual orientation, gender identity, and same-sex relationships presented in a non-judgmental manner.[21]
See also
References
- 1 2 Dockray, Heather (2017-11-18). "LGBTI activists are reclaiming Rwanda, one neighborhood at a time". Mashable. Archived from the original on 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ↑ "OPINION: Homosexuality is not un-African". Archived from the original on 2025-02-22. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ↑ "Gay Rwanda: Horizon Community Association of Rwanda (HOCA) reports". GlobalGayz. 2009-01-01. Archived from the original on 2022-05-26. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ↑ "LGBT health and rights in East Africa: A snapshot of successes and challenges for the advocacy community" (PDF). Open Society Foundations. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-07-09. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ↑ "Gender and Social Inclusion Assesment" (PDF). USAID. p. 52. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ↑ Geen, Jessica (2009-12-16). "Rwanda to vote on criminalising homosexuality". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 2024-04-09. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ↑ Musoni, Edwin (2009-12-19). "Gov't cannot criminalise homosexuality- Minister". The New Times. Archived from the original on 2022-04-04. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ↑ Paszat, Emma (2024-03-03). "Organizing under pressure: authoritarianism, respectability politics, and lgbt advocacy in Rwanda". Social Movement Studies. 23 (2): 226–241. doi:10.1080/14742837.2022.2072287. ISSN 1474-2837. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ↑ Geneva, U. S. Mission (2011-03-22). "Over 80 Nations Support Statement at Human Rights Council on LGBT Rights". U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Geneva. Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
- ↑ Andresen, Maggie (2020-11-20). "Rwanda's Transgender Community Face Violent Detentions For Being Trans". VICE. Archived from the original on 2022-04-20. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- 1 2 Koigi, Bob. "Rwanda set for a historic first pride event". FairPlanet. Archived from the original on 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ↑ Lavers, Michael K. (2017-10-03). "U.S. opposes UN resolution against death penalty for same-sex relations". www.washingtonblade.com. Archived from the original on 2017-10-07. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ↑ Chutel, Lynsey (2018-06-06). "An African strongman meeting with the world's most famous lesbian TV host isn't just a photo-op". Archived from the original on 2022-06-29. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- 1 2 Igual, Roberto (2019-08-29). "Rwanda gospel singer comes out as gay". MambaOnline - LGBTQ South Africa online. Archived from the original on 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ↑ Igual, Roberto (2019-07-13). "Victory as UN renews LGBTIQ watchdog role". MambaOnline. Archived from the original on 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
- ↑ "Un chanteur de gospel rwandais révèle qu'il est gay". BBC (in French). 2019-08-28. Archived from the original on 2024-04-10. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
- ↑ "Rwandan gospel singer comes out as gay, to country's shock". Los Angeles Times. 2019-09-16. Archived from the original on 2023-01-07. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ↑ Muvunyi, Fred (2020-07-21). "Rwandan church embraces LGBT+ community". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 2024-01-11. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ↑ "LGBT activists prepare Rwanda's first pride". queer.ge. Archived from the original on 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ↑ "The First Pride Rwanda". All Out. Archived from the original on 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ↑ Olckers, Tanya (2023-07-20). "Rwanda takes step towards LGBTQI+ inclusivity with youth toolkit". MambaOnline. Archived from the original on 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
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