Gay rights debate muted at Washington meeting

WASHINGTON DC

The Obama administration’s strong support for gay rights in Africa is receiving only passing attention at the US-Africa summit in Washington.

The subject is not included on the programme for Wednesday’s interchanges between President Barak Obama and many of the visiting 50 African leaders.

DIFFICULT CONVERSATION

A State Department official said in a press briefing on Monday that because of cultural sensibilities, “it can be a difficult and delicate conversation.”

“We are sensitive to that and at the same time espousing our viewpoints,” said Mr Steven Feldstein, who is deputy assistant Secretary of State for democracy, human rights and labour.

Secretary of State John Kerry did mention US support for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in an address to a summit-related civil society forum on Monday.

“We will continue to stand up and speak out for LGBT activists who are working for the day when tolerance and understanding conquer hate,” Mr Kerry said.

But a subsequent question on the topic to a panel at the forum drew no direct response.

A questioner from Botswana said “a colleague and friend was dismissed from work because of their gender identity. What are African governments doing to protect LGBT rights?”

Uncomfortable laughter ensued when the moderator directed the question to President John Mahama of Ghana.

He replied that his own government has the “responsibility to protect the rights of all our citizens, no matter where they come from, their religious orientation, their gender, their ethnic origin. “In Ghana, I really don’t see that kind of oppression.”