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LIBERIA - (2008, ): If you thought you had it tough growing up, try being young and gay or lesbian in Liberia, says Jess Langley. Samuel has tears in his eyes as I drop him at home for the last time. He gives me a string of plastic beads, still warm from his chest, and says, “Until I met you I never thought I could be happy to be gay.” - (2009): The Liberia project is one of eight that will be supported by amfAR’s MSM Initiative in a new round of community awards for sub-Saharan Africa that was announced today. The remaining awards go to grassroots groups in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya (three awards), and Nigeria. - (2011): For many gay men in Africa, life is a constant struggle. Some men choose to hide their sexuality and are condemned to a life of secrecy. As a result, a significant number of African gay men are also married and in some cases have children. Men who choose to live an open life or who are exposed as being gay are often subject to unrelenting stigma and discrimination to such an extent that they can be denied a normal life. This can have profound effects on their life and general health. Attacks, random arrests, murder, and even the desecration of gay men after they have died have been reported across the African continent. Such an environment reinforces feelings of fear and insecurity among the gay community, which can prevent men who have sex with men from accessing HIV prevention, treatment and care services...

(2006): Isn't it amazing how many homosexuals are now in the Liberian community? I mean a few years back you could count on your hand the number of homosexuals,.......now if you throw a rock you're bound to hit one. And now there's this "down low" thing? Please do not use this forum for "bashing", I just want your insight on why the increase. And what factors attributed to it. And please no profanity! - .

(2004): Today is National Day in Liberia. The war torn West African country is engaged in a process of reconstruction and resettlement but same-sex issues are not yet on the agenda and perhaps need to be. There is conflicting information available on the Internet when it comes to homosexuality in Liberia. Some sources claim that homosexuality is legal - others that it is not. Our best information suggests that homosexuality is illegal and that Liberian society, as with many societies in Africa sees homosexuality as a social taboo.  - (2005): Two of the employees informed this paper that they have previously worked with this homosexual bank executive at a certain popular banking institution in Monrovia, where he is believed to have lured some young men with his homosexual activities. They disclosed that the bank executive is usually in the habit of hiring unqualified young men or giving promotion to those whom he has sodomized.

(2003). Just walk a mile in the shoes of a gay Liberian. It's bad enough that Liberians must hide their political orientations for fear of torture and beatings. It's worse still that some Liberians must also hide their sexual orientations for fear of ostracism, ridicule and possibly imprisonment. Yet even with the looming threat of punishment there is an underground gay society in the country's cities. Bravely, the hidden denizens of this underground community satisfy the sexual desires that could land them in jail... - . - A guide to Liberian cultural and social norms (2004, ): Homosexuality is both illegal and considered ‘non-existent’ in Liberia. A person involved in a homosexual relationship may be shunned for bringing shame to their family and community.

(2007): They were of one mind in their desire to dialogue and facilitate such dialogue and listening among all their members. The bishops were particularly determined to ensure that members of both homosexual and heterosexual orientation (and practice) were included in such dialogue. They were of one mind in their belief that this is how Jesus would want them to handle this divisive, emotive, and as yet unresolved issue. - (2000): Numerous challenges have bombarded the church over the years, but the issue of homosexuality is one of the “threatening challenges” facing the denomination today, said Liberian Bishop Arthur Kulah (left), preaching to the 2000 General Conference on May 3. Threatening challenges surface when the authority given to the church by Christ is abused, he said...  If the United Methodist Church is to be global church, it must continue its stance, he said. Both the Old and New Testaments condemn the practice of homosexuality, he said. "In fact, it was one of the consequences for the destruction of Sodom. May we not suffer the wrath of God because of the quest to satisfy unpleasant desires that contrive the loving purpose of God for his church." "It is against the background of such biblical imperatives that we, the global United Methodist Church, do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider it incompatible with Christian teaching." He asked the denomination to adhere to its rule that self-avowed practicing homosexuals not be accepted as candidates for ministry nor appointed to serve in the United Methodist Church. "For to do so is to contravene the very faith we proclaim. For we cannot afford to ruin the hearts and lives of the church and hence the world by engaging in practices not even easily mentioned among believers,” he said... - N/A.

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SIERRA LEONE -  (2005, ): Hudosn Tucker is in Geneva doing a course in human rights law and advocacy with, International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) in Geneva. He is the successor to Fanny Ann Eddy who was the coordinator of Sierra Leone Lesbian and Gay Association (SLLAGA). Hudson took over Fanny Ann’s position after she was brutally murdered in the SLLAGA offices in Freetown, on 29 September 2004. Fanny Ann made a submission to the United Nation (UN) in March 2004 about the issues facing the LGBTI people in Sierra Leone. Hudson is now pushing the same mission that was left by Miss Eddy. Despite the efforts by some states to dismiss LGBTI issues in Sierra Leone the struggle continues. This is what Hudson had to say to the delegates in Geneva... 

(2004): It is with great pain that we share with you the news of the brutal murder of Fanny Ann Eddy. Fanny Ann was attacked in the offices of SLLAGA, the Sierra Leone Lesbian and Gay Association, which she founded and directed, on the night of Wednesday September 29th. Assailants forced their way into the offices were Fanny Ann was working alone that night. According to early reports she was raped and had her neck broken.. - (2004). - (2005). - . - " (2005): According to the conclusions of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Sierra Leone Police Force, FannyAnn Eddy was not the victim of a hate crime against sexual minorities, as originally feared. The police also deny earlier reports of alleged sexual violence committed against the gay rights activist. - (2005).

(2004): The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in a press release issued last Thursday stated that in a bid to attract competent and qualified staff, they operate a transparent recruitment policy, which even forbids discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

(2007, ): Sierra Leone is emerging from a civil war which tore the country apart. Violent crime remains high, and the police force and judicial system barely function in most of the country. In this conflict-ridden environment, Sierra Leone’s lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are very much at risk, facing violence, harassment, and discrimination, with police often refusing to investigate crimes against LGBT people. Founded in 2002, Dignity Association works to end discrimination by the government, police, medical system and schools. The group also provides psychological and medical support to a fearful and underground LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community.Working in Sierra Leone’s deeply conservative and traditional society, Dignity faces constant set-backs and barriers.

(2010): “In Sierra Leone, the government and society prefer to deny the existence of lesbians and gay men. One consequence of this denial is that LGBT people don’t have access to life saving information on and health care for HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).”

(2009): A gay man from the African nation of Sierra Leone is contesting a preliminary U.S. immigration decision to deny his request for political asylum. Federal officials say the man... failed to provide sufficient evidence that he would be subjected to arrest, torture and possibly death if forced to return to his home country. But [he] says he was outed as gay last year in Sierra Leone, prompting members of his family to threaten to have him killed should he return to the capital city of Freetown, where he was born and raised...

(2011, ): Dignity Association in collaboration with the National AIDs secretariat are looking for a consultant from west Africa to conduct a study on the MSM situation with regards to HIV/AIDs in Sierra Leone.

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