From suffering LGBT Tanzanians, a ‘cry for help, demand for recognition, call to action’
May 17 was the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT)
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT) is celebrated each year on May 17 in more than 100 nations. The date was chosen to commemorate the decision by the World Health Organization (WHO) to remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases on that day in 1990.
LGBT Voice Tanzania marked this year’s IDAHOBIT by issuing the following statement appealing for an end to discrimination against LGBT Tanzanians.
“For LGBTQ+ people in Tanzania, this is not just a day of reflection. It is also a cry for help, a demand for recognition, and a call to action,” LGBT Voice Tanzania stated.
A Call for Justice and Protection of LGBTQ+ People in Tanzania
On this International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT), LGBT Voice Tanzania joins the global community to reflect on the struggles, resilience, and power of LGBTQ+ communities. This year’s theme, “The Power of Communities,” reminds us that our greatest strength lies in our unity—in the chosen families, support networks, and collective voices that uplift and protect one another in the face of injustice.
But for LGBTQ+ people in Tanzania, this is not just a day of reflection. It is also a cry for help, a demand for recognition, and a call to action.
In the spirit of advocacy and hope, we have written to [Tanzani’s] Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance to bring urgent attention to the widespread violations of LGBTQ+ rights in our country. We are calling for bold, immediate action from our national institutions to protect the lives and dignity of all citizens—no matter their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.
🛑 LGBTQ+ Tanzanians Are Being Left Behind
Despite the progress made in global human rights, LGBTQ+ individuals in Tanzania continue to suffer in silence and fear. Discrimination, violence, and marginalization are not isolated events—they are systemic realities woven into the very structures meant to protect and serve us.
📚 In Education:
LGBTQ+ youth are bullied, harassed, and expelled from schools. Without safe learning environments or inclusive policies, many are forced to abandon their education entirely—stripping them of the opportunity to build a better future.
🏥 In Health Care:
Discrimination by health workers discourages many from seeking medical help. LGBTQ+ people are denied services, outed without consent, or shamed during treatment. The ban on water-based lubricants—critical to HIV prevention—further endangers lives and silences open sexual health dialogue.
⚖️ In the Legal System:
Tanzania still enforces colonial-era laws criminalizing same-sex relationships, which violate constitutional protections and international human rights commitments. These laws fuel blackmail, arrests, and violence—pushing LGBTQ+ individuals into deeper vulnerability.
💼 In Employment:
Workplace discrimination is rampant. LGBTQ+ persons are denied jobs, promotions, or even fired solely because of who they are. This injustice not only violates basic rights—it also traps individuals in cycles of poverty.
🏠 In Society:
LGBTQ+ Tanzanians are routinely rejected by their families, attacked in their communities, and left without shelter, safety, or support. The state-led crackdowns, threats of deportation, and closure of supportive NGOs have only made matters worse.
✊🏾 Our Call to the Government
We respectfully urge the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance to:
- Publicly acknowledge the human rights violations LGBTQ+ people face.
- Advocate for the constitutional protection of LGBTQ+ Tanzanians.
- Engage with community organizations like LGBT Voice Tanzania to hear real stories and craft real solutions.
- Support the repeal of outdated laws that criminalize love and identity.
- Promote inclusive policies in schools, hospitals, workplaces, and law enforcement.
- Provide human rights training to police, educators, health providers, and public servants to prevent discrimination and abuse.
💜 The Power of Community Starts with Us All
At LGBT Voice Tanzania, we believe in the transformative power of community. Even in the darkest moments, we find strength in one another. This IDAHOT, we call on all Tanzanians—leaders, allies, civil society, and citizens—to stand with us.
No one deserves to live in fear for being themselves. No Tanzanian should be excluded from justice, safety, and opportunity.
Let us use this moment to build a more inclusive, compassionate, and dignified future—where all people are truly free.
Together, we rise.
LGBT Voice Tanzania
