Deputy Minister’s ‘hate speech’ slammed

THE Rainbow Project (TRP) and Sister Namibia have issued statements criticising a recent speech by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, Theopolina Mushelenga.

Mushelenga claimed that gays and lesbians had betrayed the freedom struggle, caused the HIV-AIDS pandemic and were “a slap in the face of African culture”. This happened at belated Heroes’ Day celebrations held at Omaalala in the Ongwediva constituency, according to a report by the Namibian Press Agency (Nampa).Echoing the words of former president Sam Nujoma, Mushelenga said gays and lesbians should be shunned by Namibian society.”Sexual intercourse between people of the same sex is disgraceful according to our African culture,” she claimed.The Rainbow Project has called for Mushelenga’s resignation, describing her statements as a “direct attack against the civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of Namibia”.”The Rainbow Project firmly opposes such statements and regards them as not only blatantly incorrect but deeply irresponsible.”Her statements can only intensify the social stigma and prejudice that [these] people already experience.”Sister Namibia said it strongly condemned the “hate speech” against sexual minorities made by the Deputy Minister.”To make matters worse, HIV-positive people are being included in this discrimination,” the organisation said.This happened at belated Heroes’ Day celebrations held at Omaalala in the Ongwediva constituency, according to a report by the Namibian Press Agency (Nampa).Echoing the words of former president Sam Nujoma, Mushelenga said gays and lesbians should be shunned by Namibian society.”Sexual intercourse between people of the same sex is disgraceful according to our African culture,” she claimed.The Rainbow Project has called for Mushelenga’s resignation, describing her statements as a “direct attack against the civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of Namibia”.”The Rainbow Project firmly opposes such statements and regards them as not only blatantly incorrect but deeply irresponsible.”Her statements can only intensify the social stigma and prejudice that [these] people already experience.”Sister Namibia said it strongly condemned the “hate speech” against sexual minorities made by the Deputy Minister.”To make matters worse, HIV-positive people are being included in this discrimination,” the organisation said.