Rural Out counters SPYL homophobia Rural Out (Rural Dialogue Namibia) is an LGBTI organisation that will create a space for LGBTI, traditional and religious leaders in rural communities to better understand the issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and other issues so that the LGBTI community and others may live together in a peaceful and safe environment.Rural Dialogue Namibia, a soon to be launched NGO from Khorixas, Kunene region takes offense to comments made by Sam Hamuolo on behalf of the SPYL whereby they condemn efforts to promote the rights of homosexuals in Namibia by saying that the bible forbids sexual relations between men. While we are aware that the bible forbids sexual relations between men, the SPYL must take cognisance of the fact that Namibia is a secular state according to the constitution.
Therefore, since Christianity is not an official religion of the country and because we are not all necessarily Christian, the SPYL should refrain from imposing its Christian views on the nation. The same bible that the SPYL uses to attack minorities, also forbids sexual relations between a man and a woman before marriage and the SPYL members and/or leadership should not throw stones at people while others are “living in sin” by engaging in sexual relations before marriage. The same bible promotes complete abstinence from sex before marriage.
SPYL should not selectively apply what suits them from the bible, but follow and obey all the scriptures. We recommend that the SPYL leadership reads the following verses: 1 Corinthians 7:2, (Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:13, 18; 10:8; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Jude 7) to educate themselves on what the bible says about sex before marriage, etc.
The bible says take the log out of your eye before taking the splinter out of the eye of another. There is no one that promotes the agenda of homosexuality in Namibia, as homosexuality is nothing new that needs promotion, as Namibians are aware of it since it also exists in different tribal groups.
SPYL should clarify what they mean by “They must do whatever they do in their private spaces, we don''t want to see those practices”. What is the SPYL talking about?
The Namibian government must also scrap the sodomy laws as it''s no longer necessary.
Sodomy laws make it hard for some people to report crimes to the police when belongings are stolen. If a person steals your things not all of us feel free to seek police assistance since it''s hard to report while you know you were involved in an act which is “illegal” according to the law – still after 26 years. One is fearful to open a case or seek assistance from the police. Why? Because of the sodomy law that still exists! The Sodomy law violates our rights and stops us from seeking police assistance.
Rural Dialogue Namibian wonders why a sexual act between two consenting adult men or women must still be illegal. No one forces another man to engage in a sexual activity with him forcefully, no one holds a knife or a gun or threatens another. Consenting adults engage in the act, so why is it still illegal?
Rural Dialogue Namibia calls upon government to rethink the sodomy law that the Apartheid regime imposed upon us. Even South Africa scrapped the law after realising that it violates the human rights of others.
Rural Dialogue Namibia and other human rights organisations will not be silenced when it comes to sexual minority rights as these minorities are citizens of Namibia that need equal treatment like any other Namibian.
We also want to be part of the Namibian house; we do not want to be left out. As gay, transgender and lesbian we also want to adopt children, shop with our husbands/wives and add them to our lives on health insurance/life insurance – we need rights like all other Namibians, regardless of sexual orientation.
Rural Dialogue Namibia would like to invite the SPYL leadership to a workshop so that we and our future leaders understand each other. We could thereby attempt to educate the SPYL leadership and membership on LGBT issues, since we will be visiting rural areas in our outreach programme – to have discussions with rural communities about LGBTI issues that may affect them. Rural Out will also encourage LGBTI people to further their studies and assist them with opportunities to further their education and attend literacy classes, encouraging education and work empowerment. In addition Rural Dialogue will conduct psychosocial and health counselling. Rural Out Namibia – Rural Dialogue Namibia aims to be a leading platform for dialogue in rural areas and in sensitising communities on issues once seen as taboo.
Mr Gay Namibia 2011 and Director of Namibia Lesbian and Gay Movement said that his organisation is shocked and disappointed by the statement made by the SPYL and says the same people who make these comments, live and eat with gay people, but attack them instead of defending them.
“We are longer going to be silenced. We will hit back and shall never tolerate such statements made by the SPYL, as activists we must unite,” Hamutenya said, adding that the SPYL has an aparthied mentality.
*Clemans Miyanicwe is the Acting Director: Rural Dialogue Namibia (Rural Out).