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Ethiopia’s laws remain similar today. All I knew was that the anger in their voices came from a place of fear; a fear of what they didn’t understand or choose not to understand.

How often do we hear people say, “Look at the West! The room fell silent, and then one relative angrily declared, “This is what happens when people move to the West, they lose their faith and forget their values.” Others nodded in agreement, echoing the sentiment.

For me, this was a moment of confusion.

“We are monitored by our families.”

Data released last year by Equaldex, an online publication resource on LGBTQ+ rights, also reveals the prevalence of homophobic attitudes in large parts of Ethiopian society. Photo courtesy DW/Sally Hayden/ZUMA/imago images.

Authorities in Ethiopia have initiated a crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community.

They share the same DNA and upbringing, yet Angus is heterosexual while Eric is gay.

gay ethiopia

These are principles that are central to our culture and way of life. They started talking about it, and now everyone’s gay!” There’s this unspoken belief that discussing homosexuality could lead to it spreading, as if it’s a trend that people might suddenly adopt. Young people encounter international debates daily, often without any local guidance on how to interpret them.

In the formal education system, discussions about sexuality, including sexual orientation and gender identity, are extremely limited.

Most curricula focus on biological reproduction, HIV/AIDS, and general health education, leaving students with little reliable information or context.

Even in international schools, the conversation can be fraught. Is it because people here feel compelled to suppress their identity, or is it because homosexuality is actually a “Western” concept, as my family and everyone in Ethiopia think they do?

For many, this issue may seem far from a national priority.

Discussion does not mean endorsement; it means facing reality with awareness and knowledge.

Whether shaped more by genetics or environment, experts agree: Sexual orientation is complex. You may not use the material for commercial purposes.

Ethiopia

Article 629 of the Penal Code of Ethiopia outlaws same-sex sexual activity between men and between women.

“It is challenging. Today people say: ‘It’s not our culture, homosexuality is not acceptable in Ethiopia, it’s a Western thing.'”

Gezahegn strongly condemns what they view as a clear escalation of homophobia in the country.

“It’s really the case that this social mentality and this way of thinking extends into the families,” they said.

In August 2023, state and non-state actors cracked down on LGBTIQ persons in Ethiopia, increasing physical attacks and violent targeting. At Sanford, the British International School in Addis Ababa, a middle school teacher once included a textbook featuring same-sex parents, which sparked a major uproar from parents. They now live in Vienna, Austria, working with others who have found refuge in London and Washington to raise awareness for the plight of the LGBTQ+ community back home.

Above all, Gezahegn and their colleagues are fighting for recognition and against hatred in Ethiopia, where a new wave of homophobia threatens the safety of many.

Authorities launch crackdown on same-sex activities

[In mid-August], authorities in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa announced a crackdown on same-sex activities in hotels and bars.

Christian and Muslim groups hold significant political and social influence, and many actively campaign against the recognition of the human rights of LGBTIQ people, thereby reinforcing public perceptions that LGBTIQ identities are a sinful choice.