Is the LGBTI Community Accepted in Namibia?

Although it’s 2016, people are still trying to understand the dynamics of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, etc (LGBTI). community. With many major celebrities ‘coming out of the closet’, people are also starting to reveal their orientations to their families.

In the past, however, many would frown upon this, but with the world becoming ‘woke’ or enlightened now, it’s time to accept everyone and understand who they are.

However, with Namibia being relatively conservative, are the LGBTI community accepted or not? The Weekender asked several readers what their opinions were. Please note that some of these opinions may be controversial.

“They are not accepted. They only need to be ‘eliminated’ because it is not a good example. We need to look at the traditional way of living,” Henok Petrus commented.

But Marlene Zinha was quick to disagree.

“Yes, they are accepted because we don’t have cases of them being attacked in public or being excluded from everyday activities. They are just taken as normal people.”

However, she explained that the more traditional communities didn’t have the same mindset.

“In some places like the North, people still throw indirect shade towards them and turn their heads while looking at them with disbelief, funny and worrisome faces.”

Facebook user Lako Polo believed that only specific people are accepted in the LGBTI community, and others not.

“Lesbians are accepted.”

We hear this occasionally in international music as well. A good example would be Pittsburgh Slim’s track ‘Girls Kiss Girls’. The lyrics are as follows: “So we all smiles, and she all pouts, I scout for talent no doubt, make ladies kiss, twist and shout.” Many times, society would not have a problem with this, but it seems that the tables have turned for others who are coming out and revealing their identities.

Aster Lungameni-Amuhe claimed that it depended on where you went. “They are accepted, although at some places, it is not accepted by the community.”

Omsai Yatate believed that it was their right to be welcomed with open arms, despite the circumstances. “They should be accepted because it is their way of living, although is morally wrong.”

For Anne Hambuda, the LGBTI community is still suffering in Namibia.

“No, they are not accepted in this society because we still spread hatred through our intolerance and our silence on issues affecting LGBTI rights. They are denied basic human rights, like the right to dignity, and they are prohibited from getting married or adopting children.”

The rights that the LGBTI community has are still limited in Namibia, and it’s even worse in other African countries. Just for being lesbian, for example, people could be sentenced to death.

“It’s been a challenge accepting LGBTI people, something many of us could never have imagined before,” Cecilia King expressed. “But that doesn’t automatically make all LGBTI people accept their own identities. The LGBTI youth’s low self-esteem epidemic continues apace, and homophobia plays a major role. So let’s live with it as hating won’t change it.”

Although Namibia still has a long way to go in terms of laws and acceptance, it may be safe to say that we are slowly but surely progressing and accepting everyone.

After all, we do share one common thing and that is our humanity.

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