Examination of LGBT people’s lived experiences and public perceptions of sexual and gender minorities in Rwanda

Despite the existence of laws and policies that protect human rights, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) experience social exclusion that constrains their well-being and full participation in society. Rwanda is one of the few sub-Saharan African countries that has assented to international conventions and continental frameworks that protect the human rights of LGBT people. In 2010, the country was the only East African nation that supported the resolution by the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council to grant consultative status to the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. In 2012, Rwanda was one of the 57 signatory states of the UN Declaration on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, and one of the six African countries to sign the UN Report on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Regionally, Rwanda is among 10 countries in SSA that have never enacted any legislation criminalizing homosexuality. Domestically, the country’s constitution and human rights provisions guarantee and protect the freedoms and privacy of all of its citizens, including LGBT individuals.

Although Rwanda has made laudable progress in forming a policy environment that affirms the rights of LGBT people to live openly, freely, and safely, LGBT individuals continue to face stigma, discrimination, and various other human rights violations. For example, rigid religious conceptualizations of culture influence public opinion and have consequently led to the perpetuation of human rights abuses against Rwandans who are LGBT and sex workers. The media has also voiced strong rhetoric against the LGBT lifestyle and individuals, likening them to people devoid of moral virtue. The effect of this is the incitement of violence and discriminatory rhetoric against LGBT individuals. Individuals who identify as being LGBT face arbitrary detentions and have their rights denied due to their sexual orientation.