From: ltt75326@acuvax.acu.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: Re: GAY AFRICANS
Date: 11 Nov 92 16:30:56 -0600
Organization: Abilene Christian University

In article <BxKIBw.DGA@acsu.buffalo.edu>, osele@acsu.buffalo.edu (itiakorit j osele) writes:
> In article <1992Nov10.122624.1851@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu> blda@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu writes:
>>Dear Paul,
>>
>>I find it interesting that you believe you can
>>country in Africa.  I find it more absurd that you, as a 
>>straight person, know whether or not the gay culture exists in 
>>Africa.  Get a clue, gays make up 10% of the population everywhere.
>>There are plenty of gay bars in Kinshasa, gays all around you if
>>you just open your eyes and educate yourself.
>>act as a spokesperson for all Africans of any 
> 
>  So what if there are gay bars in Kinshasa ? It doesn't prove your
>  assertion of 10%. We want anyone, repeat anyone to go to an African
>  village, not a "Frenchized" bar in Kinshansa and get us any evidence of
>  homesexuality acts among indigenous Africans, then you can talk. This
>  business of quoting "works" done in others parts of World and then try
>  to extrapolate to Africa is absurd. It is also academic/intellectual
>  fraud. Where did you get this idea that gays make up 10% of the
>  population EVERYWHERE ! This is bonk. Africans are tired of this brush
>  painting to advance agendas from this corner of the world. This is one
>  of the instances. Go to Africa and do research there and don't act as a
>  mouth piece to other people. This is an issue which is best settled by
>  consulting indigenous Africans living/or who lived in Africa. As I know
>  this issue is still unresolved in the West where there is wealth
>  documented evidence tha they have been practising homosexuality from
>  the beginning of history ! My two cents.
> 
> 
>  Itiakorit

We have rather sunk into a tennis match of allegations and finger pointing,
almost as if we were trying to fiqure out who started homosexuality, who
has the market cornered now, and who has the most unsubstaniated arguement.
I have tried to glean the valuable ideas off the top of the mess and here 
they are as I've seen them unfold:
   1. Homosexuality is being practised in Africa, today.
   2. Inevitably it is seen around, and sometimes eminating from the 
areas most populated and/or influenced by an alien culture.
   
Any other significant contributions? I personally agree that homosexuality
among men or women is probably non-existent, but for an occassional 
culturally-errant individual, within the intact, traditional societies.
But, I must also say that African societies are very good at keeping things
they don't want known a secret. *THAT STATEMENT WAS NOT AN ACCUSATION OF
HIDDEN HOMOSEXUALITY* The statement just meant that I've seen that trait 
of altering reality a bit when expressing practices and culture to others.
We (nasty Westerners) do a bit of it ourselves.

Well, here's a question : AIDS is killing millions in East Africa... in 
Uganda they call it "Slims" from the way a person wastes away. The disease 
is spreading like wildfire because of sexual promiscuity, mostly 
heterosexual... what needs to be done? I know a little population control
might be helpful, but is AIDS the answer? I think not. How can we help
these people?

Mulume wa Mulungu,

L.T.