Cameroon lesbian goes into hiding after threats from her lover’s family
Threats underscore violence faced by Cameroon’s LGBT community
Knowledgeable members of Cameroon‘s LGBTI community recently told reporter Steeves Winner this account of a homophobic family that forced a lesbian couple to break up and has now led one woman to go into hiding for her own protection. This story fits a pattern of violence that the LGBT community in Cameroon faces both from the authorities and society at large. For the women’s safety, they are identified here with pseudonyms.
By Steeves Winner
Adele, age 37, is currently in hiding, following threats from her partner’s family, who refused to accept their relationship or her sexual orientation.
She had lived in the town of Nsimalen, where she was a trader by profession. She was in a relationship with Diane, age 32, who was living with her family in the Odza section of Yaoundé and pursuing an academic education. The couple had been in love for several months without any obstacles.
Despite regularly appearing in public, the two women did not attract any suspicion due to their modest behaviour and very feminine clothing.
The problems began when the two women decided to move in together in the same apartment, unable to bear the distance between them. Each time Diane’s family visited their apartment, questions flew: Why do you share the same room? Does your girlfriend have a boyfriend? When will you introduce us to your boyfriend?
Diane’s family would have preferred to see her marry and live with a man who would have had children with her. Frequent conversations on that topic fueled the family’s suspicions that the two women were lesbians.
On Feb. 14, during the celebration of Valentine’s Day, Diane’s younger brother, passing by the family’s home, discovered a love card intended for Diane and placed on the table. He saw that it was signed by Adele and deduced that they were a couple.
Without delay, the whole family was informed and threats began to be made to Adele, accusing her of seducing their daughter.
Diane was ordered to return to the family home by the interventions of her older brothers who raided their home in search of Adele, who was absent at the time.
Adele then fled in order to preserve her life and, currently, she is said to be untraceable.
Steeves Winner, the author of this article, is a Cameroonian journalist who writes under a pseudonym. Contact him at steeves.w@yahoo.com.
