BY PRINCESS ILONZE
Despite the
worldwide clamour for equal rights and freedom of sexual expression, there are
numerous reports of members of the LGBTQ+ community and especially members of
the trans community being mistreated and rough-handled in airports all over the
world.
The truth remains
that despite the covering that international laws provide, there are still
about 80 countries - a large portion of which are in Africa- where merely being
suspected of being gay or trans is a criminal offence.The penalties range from
2 years imprisonment to whipping and even death. Needless say, as a trans man
or woman, you would have to take the utmost care when it comes to domestic or
international travel within the African continent.
Also, considering
that being openly gay, crossdressing, transgender or transexual is illegal in
most parts of Africa, there are no provisions made to cater for the sensitive
attention that a trans person might need at the airport. If you are trans and
intend to take a trip to certain parts of Africa, you will need to take some
precautions to avoid unnecessary complications at the airport or during your
trip.
Planning your Trip
Before booking your
flight or making concrete plans, it’s of the highest importance that you
ascertain the safety of your proposed destination. Research can’t possibly be
overemphasized when it comes to travelling in Africa while trans. It’s
important to learn about the laws of the land, find out about local
organisations and groups that are trans friendly. At the end of this post, you
will find a list of African countries and their stance on LGBTQ+ rights as this
is often a mirror of the domestic stance on trans people.
Apart from what is
written in the laws, there are also unwritten norms which govern how you will
be received in the place you will be visiting. This is equally, if not as
important as what is written in the constitution because it determines the
reception you will get once you arrive at your destination.
In case it might be
a turn off, you should be aware that most, if not all African countries, have
yet to consciously provide gender neutral bathrooms. Also, possession of sex
toys is mostly frowned upon in African airports and might attract undue
attention. It might also be regarded as evidence of sex work, which may result
in detainment.
Before you book
your ticket, you will definitely look into where to stay. Regardless of what
country you choose to visit, it is most advisable to visit bigger cities for
several reasons. Compared to rural dwellers, those in the urban areas are more
likely to be accepting of people’s differences. Also, your country’s embassy is
likely to be located in the capital city of the country you choose to visit. If
you choose to visit Nigeria for instance, then you might want to consider a budget hotel in Victoria Island or the cheap
hotels in ikeja both suburbs are located in the country’s commercial
capital. At hotels.ng, you can get pretty good deals on hotels. I’ve heard Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island is
particularly good.
Travel Documents
Acquiring a VISA
from an African country will be the first hurdle where travel documents are
concerned. In countries with liberal law where LGBT rights are recognised, it
should be easier for you to attain a visa. South Africa visas as well as Rwanda visas
should not prove to be too much of a hassle. Otherwise, it would be advisable
to speak with a staff of your embassy in the country you intend to visit. There
you can get direct information about how best to proceed.
In most countries,
the law requires that the gender marker and name on your boarding pass must
match the one on the government-issued photo ID and that all passengers over
the age of 18 must provide proof of identity both at check-in and at security.
In this case Africa is no different and this makes being a trans traveller
rather tricky.
As of today, no
African country recognises non-binary or third gender classifications. This
means it would be best to use the information -name and gender specifically-
that appears on your passport or your photo ID when booking your ticket. That
is, granted you haven’t updated your travel documents and ID. If your
appearance no longer matches your ID, make sure you take a note from a
verifiable medical practice explaining the change in your appearance.
Packing and Security Checks
If you wish to
travel with needles, syringes, or hormones, you need to take proof that they
are prescribed. Keep all your medical supplies in one bag so they can be easily
screened. If your hormones need to be refrigerated, ask flight crew to store
them for you. In case that isn’t possible, carry a thermos with you. You may
also want to consider checking these
with your luggage unless you’ll need them in the air.
Most airport
security checks do not require that you take of any non-metal clothing items
you are wearing. This also applies to prosthetics. However, due to the African
norms, to avoid undue attention it may be best to keep your prosthetics in your
carry-on bag and request for private screening.
If you are a
transman who packs, ensure your packing piece doesn’t have any metal parts.
Also, be aware that a heavily bounded chest may cause unwarranted attention
because it may appear that the passenger is hiding something underneath the
wrap. When it comes to a body search, the best route is to ask to be screened
privately.
African
Countries and Their LGBT Laws
|
Country
|
LGBT Rights
|
|
Algeria
|
Illegal since 1966
Penalty: Fine and up to 2 years imprisonment.
|
|
Canary Islands
|
Legal
|
|
Ceuta
|
Legal
|
|
Egypt
|
Male de facto illegal since
2000, Female uncertain
Penalty: Up to 17 years imprisonment with or without hard labour and
with or without fines under broadly-written morality laws
|
|
Libya
|
Illegal since 1953
|
|
Madeira
|
Legal
|
|
Melilla
|
Legal
|
|
Morocco
|
Illegal since 1962
Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment
|
|
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
|
Illegal since 1944
Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment
|
|
South Sudan
|
Illegal since 1899
Penalty: Up to 10 years imprisonment
|
|
Sudan
|
Illegal since 1899
Penalty: Death penalty on third offense for men and on fourth offense
for women
|
|
Tunisia
|
Illegal since 1913
Penalty: 3 years imprisonment.
|
|
Benin
|
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in
the country)
|
|
Burkina Faso
|
Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in
the country)
|
|
Cape Verde
|
Legal
|
|
Côte d'Ivoire
|
Legal
|
|
Gambia
|
Illegal since 1888
Penalty: Life imprisonment
|
|
Ghana
|
Male illegal since 1860s
Penalty: 10 years imprisonment or more
Female always legal.
|
|
Guinea
|
Illegal since 1988
Penalty: 6 months to 3 years imprisonment.
|
|
Guinea-Bissau
|
Legal
|
|
Liberia
|
Illegal since 1976
Penalty: 1 year imprisonment
|
|
Mali
|
Legal
|
|
Mauritania
|
Illegal since 1983
Penalty: Death penalty
|
|
Niger
|
Legal
|
|
Nigeria
|
Illegal under federal law since 1901
Penalty: Up to 14 years imprisonment
Illegal in the states of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano,
Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara
Penalty: Death penalty for men. Whipping and/or imprisonment for women.
|
|
Senegal
|
Illegal since 1966
Penalty: 1 to 5 years imprisonment
|
|
Sierra Leone
|
Male illegal since 1861
Penalty: Up to life imprisonment (Not enforced)
Female always legal
|
|
Togo
|
Illegal since 1884
Penalty: Fine and 3 years imprisonment
|
|
Cameroon
|
Illegal since 1972
Penalty: Fines to 5 years imprisonment.
|
|
Central African Republic
|
Legal
|
|
Chad
|
Illegal since 2016.
|
|
Democratic Republic of the Congo
|
Legal
|
|
Equatorial Guinea
|
Legal
|
|
Gabon
|
Legal
|
|
Republic of the Congo
|
Legal
|
|
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
|
Legal
|
|
São Tomé and Príncipe
|
Legal
|
|
Burundi
|
Illegal since 2009
Penalty: 3 months to 2 years imprisonment.
|
|
Kenya
|
Illegal since 1897
Penalty: up to 14 years imprisonment
|
|
Rwanda
|
Legal since 1980
|
|
Uganda
|
Male illegal since 1894
Penalty: Up to life in prison or vigilante execution
|
|
Tanzania
|
Illegal
Penalty: Up to life imprisonment.
|
|
Djibouti
|
Legal
|
|
Eritrea
|
Illegal
Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment
|
|
Ethiopia
|
Illegal
Penalty: 10 years imprisonment or more
|
|
Somalia
|
Illegal
Penalty: Up to death
|
|
Somaliland
|
Illegal
Penalty: Up to death
|
|
British Indian Ocean Territory
|
Legal
|
|
Comoros
|
Illegal since 1982
Penalty: 5 years imprisonment & fines
|
|
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
|
Legal
(No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed)
|
|
Madagascar
|
Legal
(No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the
country).
|
|
Mauritius
|
Male: Illegal
Penalty: Up to 5 years imprisonment
Female: Legal
|
|
Mayotte
|
Legal
|
|
Réunion
|
Legal
|
|
Seychelles
|
Legal since 2016
|
|
Angola
|
De facto illegal
Penalty: Fines, restrictions or penal labor (Not enforced)
|
|
Botswana
|
Illegal
Penalty: Fine to up to 7 years imprisonment (Not enforced)
|
|
Lesotho
|
Legal
|
|
Malawi
|
Illegal
Penalty: Up to 14 years imprisonment & whippings (Law suspended
from usage since 2012)
|
|
Mozambique
|
Legal since 2015
|
|
Namibia
|
Male: illegal (not enforced)
Female: always legal
|
|
South Africa
|
Legal
|
|
Swaziland
|
Male: illegal
Female always legal
|
|
Zambia
|
Illegal
Penalty: up to 14 years imprisonment
|
|
Zimbabwe
|
Male: illegal
Female legal
|
