Oh, Ethiopia and Ethiopians a country full of mixed up priorities. A magazine that shows the rich how to go half naked, while the poor sleep in the gutters.http://noyau.com/~rwalsh/wordpress/

And can we free the gays while we are at it while the people cannot even speak their mind freely. And least we forget the pampered dogs of the Nuevo Rich, may God forbid.
http://www.meskelsquare.com/archives/2006/02/ethiopia_goes_t.html

O Andrew,
Now you've gone over the limits, according to the conservative Ethiopians.

I'm quite liberal, but the thought still revokes a no no feeling.

Tazabeo Ethiopian

Andrew thank you for occasionally bringing up the issue of homosexuality in Ethiopia for discussion. I am a gay Ethiopian who was born and raised in Ethiopia. I was aware of my sexuality earily in my childhood. I now reside in America and have come to accept my sexuality. I am part of the Ethiopian diaspora, which means I have close relation to other Ethiopians in America. My Family and close friends know about my sexuality. For the most part they all have been supportive. It took a tremendous amount of soul searching to come out of the closet but I am delighted that I finally told the truth. Interestingly the past five years we have witnessed a flourishing of a gay Ethiopian community in America. I live in a large west coast city and there are at least 50 gay Ethiopians. Most other big American cities have similar numbers of gay Ethiopians. Creating a community has been pivotal in breaking the wall of silence around homosexuality in Ethiopia. We often gather weekly to support each other. To have other Gay Ethiopians in a community is relief to most of us who had believed that we were alone in our sexuality. It has also been interesting to notice a number of gay Ethiopians who had lived lives totally separate from other Ethiopians come back to the familiar setting of a gay Ethiopian community, the first Ethiopian gay bar has been open for business in Washington DC for over a year now and it is doing brisk business. There are also plans for a large event for gay Ethiopians at the annual Ethiopian sports festival in Los Angeles.

The situation in Ethiopia is considerably more difficult. Addis has an ever-growing gay population. However gays face daily abuse from an extremely hostile society. Despite the abuse people have learned to create community. Ethiopians have to face the fact that gay people are amongst you.

Selam,

It is really good to see such a topic coming up in ethiopian magazines. I think it gives a chance for people to talk about our life..... I am gay ethiopian who live in America myself.

This topic is really out of context and I find it sad that western liberal agenda is being promoted by certain individuals in Ethiopia. While it is obvious that majority of Ethiopians ( properly 99.9%) are against the practice of homosexuality, the west wants to enforce it believe on our society. Addis Ababa is absorbing the influences of western philosophy, especially the richer classes who are becoming western in all aspect of their life style. Let’s however not forget the great majority of Ethiopians live in the rural areas, the silent majority are not western in any sense and will not accept western teaching as the bible. I am a dedicated orthodox Christian who honestly would rather see Sharia Law implemented in the country than seeing the worst aspects of western society with its hedonistic and morally corrupt value diffusing into our society.

This issue is something which should be stamped out of our society without delay. It is something which is revolting to Ethiopian Christians and Muslims. I have no doubt that this gay thing is being supported financially by Western based gay and lesbian groups. The whole gay issue is detrimental to our society at large because it is something totally against what our socety is really about. Some of these people who write on these so called ethio gay websites are people from well off families who grew up influenced by watching western film and music on video and quite recently the internet. Most of the male prostitutes come from poor families and are targeted especially in Addis Abeba by rich foreign sex tourists who are after young boys as young as 10. Promoting homosexulaity in Ethiopia means promoting the degradation of society and the abuse of our young people. Our young people need education and better economic future to lift them out of poverty but not homosexuality which is
a moral degradation for any human being. Western society may have adopted it but we must not copy everything they do which is going to be harming our society. We all know what happened to those kids in Awassa a few years back who were being abused by a British so called chariy worker. And us Ethiopians should be able to learn from the west all the positive things from their society and leave the negative ones like homosexuality, drug taking etc...

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We should be clear of these kinds of perversion. There are not Gay people by nature. They are made when some members of society are ingaged in perversion. Journalists, writers and others who have access to people shouldn't promote homesexuality. It is not natural human behavior, it is a perversion.

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Well, I really don't know what to say for those of u against ethiopian gays. I am gay,ethiopian who lives in addis and I have a partner....yes a gay partner and few of us know eachother and have a good life by supporting eachother. I don't know how u think it is a western infuluence cause I am sure if that is the case no ethiopian want to be gay given the cultural and religious influence but how come some one says the western can influence ur desire or feeling in any way. cause this is very personal and if u think the westerns can influence ur internal feelings, then u better check urselfs cause u r influenced by wesetern ideology that they can control even ur feelings.
For those of u who support us, thank u very much and for those of u like me, well hold on tight.
cheers

I am gay but I canot get any one what shall I do?

It is amazing that people believe that gay is a choice. One must remember that one can choose not to engage in the act of it but it doesnt take away the attraction. Living as a heterosexual doesnt make you that. Its like a black person who looks white who lives as a white person. He is still not white. Its not that the Ethiopian gay population in on the rise!!!!!That is a joke. Its always been there. People are just coming out of the closet. Wake up people. Aids is spreading because of fear. So go ahead, pretend that its just a western agenda to promote homosexuality. We will continue to see men in the closet expressing his love of another man behind closed doors and continuing with society"s acceptable image by day. Not that aids is a gay disease but men who are in denial or living in fear do not use protection for the reason that to use it is to admit to the act of being gay or bisexual. We all pay when a group is oppressed. You may have your own religious beliefs but can anyone state a reason why gay is wrong without using a religious text that we would like to think is "Gods word". Perhaps its man word that keeps oppression going from one thing to another. Race, economic class, sexual orientation, ethnic group, and so on. God must truly think humans are full of idiots. "Man pays only attention to those things that justifys what he needs to believe, particullarly when there is an invested interest in such beliefs"

i think this is goin wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too far
i mean wat the hell do gay ppl see in each other anywayz??? even the thought of it makes u wanna throw up. being supportive to these acts makes evry1 sinful. i wouldn't blame da gay ppl since they have sinned in da first place anywayz, but the ppl who support the idea are da once who would be makin new mistakes. so let's all work together in makin homosexuality disappear from our family, society, environment, our continent, but most importantly, our world.

i am gay i can not get any one what shall i do.

I am Gay..
It is difficult to say some thing for peoples who think like we are from western.But I can say that if it is seen why God created us like thise
& for our sin god will punish as but we dont have to be forced cause ur(for those who hate) not God.In Ethiopia there are peoples who rape girls under 5 age U will never obssessd much than talking about gays who do it with their willing....
hung...

Wow, I find this blog to be quite depressing. Unfortunately, it is so sad to see people bringing western influence as a motivation for homosexuality, and using God's teaching's to excoriate gay people. First of all, homosexuality has historical documentation in almost every society (including non-western ones like China, Japan, Ancient Iran, Afghanistan, etc),and this behavior is practiced all over the world. One cannot become homosexual from watching western movies any more than someone could become a women from reading fashion magazines. Homosexuality has almost certainly been linked to genetics, and it is even found amongst animals. Even if you don't believe this logic, then look at God's teachings. Where does it teach you to hate other who are not like you? To persecute those whose beliefs are not your own? Rather, I think God would prefer us to love our neighbors regardless of what we think of the their sexual orientation. One final addition. It is not gays and homosexuals who abuse children, but rather pedophiles (who are, by the way, typically straight men who profess attraction to women). As a gay man who is half Ethiopian, I am ashamed to read such biased and ignorant comments coming from my people. Living in a conservative society is no excuse, especially for those of you who have been educated. I can only hope that the future holds more hope for change.

I am Gay

I know who is it difficult to say this word in Ethiopia ............. but i think i am proud of it to be gay and an Ethiopian as well .......i am gay since i was 14 i was high school i was heaving a partner....yes a gay partner and few of us know each other we meet and have a good Time ....... now i am free since i came to middle east but i always think about my partener how live in Ethiopia ......... and i hope Good time will came for us one day we will have "" Ethio gay comunity"

I know my self, i am gay, i was forced by families and married. Know days i am not happy, even when i meet with those ethiopian gus they are not happy due to my marrage, so what can i do?? who can help me and being my friend ?? i am very sad.
Thankyou

I grew up in America, I was born in sudan and came here when I was 2. Im 18 and I'm not gay but I dont see a problem with it. No-one is hurting us. I also think that most of the gay people have went through some psychological trauma in their life and its affecting their love life, its not their fault. I think the reason ethiopia is so behind is because we cannot accept new things. We are ignorant and we think our ancestors ideas are the ONLY ways. For example, hip hop dancing and raping, a lot of people tell the teenagers who rap and dance like that, that they are copying someone elses tradition and that they should stop and do iskista. I have no problem with iskista, its cultural but its not the ONLY dance in the world. And everyone learns from someone else, ethiopia would be a lot more ahead if we werent so caught up in our own ways and actually listened to what other people are saying or do what other countries are doing. Its not "copying" when we use the word chao, right? does any body know where this word originated from? Yeah, we need to educate ourselves.

Many Ethiopians in the West, believe try too hard to conform to Western ideals. They are naive because they do not realize that GAYS have an AGENDA. That is, they want to change society, much like communists seek to do away with decent establishments, such as the church. Gays want to look like victims, but here in the US they are restricting freedom of religion and trying to silence Christians by prosecuting them for voicing opinions against gays. GOD BLESS ETHIOPIA for preserving its morals! Many gays are molested as young children, and an alarmingly higher number are alcoholic and addicted to drugs than hetersexuals. Some might have a propensity to seek relations with the same sex, but in the same manner, many have a propensity for violence, but that does not justify the act. Additionally, gays seek to convert heterosexuals to being gay and they are all extremely perverted, having sex with so many people, because they are of the same sex so there are less barriers.

Unfortunately, because of gay propaganda and aggressive political action to normalize their behaviour, and "demonize" decent people who have the courage to voice their opinions against them, they are destroying American and European society. Additionally, they promote fanatics on the right to receive credibility by denouncing them.

We all have a sinful nature, but we must resist the temptation to act on sinful impulses, such as homosexual relations. Gays have an agenda, they want to demonize those that oppose them and look like martyrs. For the person who commented on loving your neighbor, part of love is honesty. Homosexuality is hateful because it comes from the enemy, and honestly, if I am intimidated into accepting homosexuality by Western societal standards, I am hating my neighbor by ignoring his sinful act. Jesus loves all sinners: murderers, homosexuals, fornicaters, but he does not love your sins, and we will all pay dearly for our sins if we try to justify them. May God have mercy on us and give us strength to avoid sin and love our neighbor with Divine Love, not contemporary filth confused for "love."

Take all Gays out of our holy land Ethiopia.

i am gay and i am an Ethiopian ....i am so proud of it

i am gay and i am an Ethiopian ....i am so proud of it

I have just applied for a job in Ethiopia and I am queer, that is definitely not straight and I am only out of the closet by inches.
In case I should get accepted for a position in Nazreth, do you think it is possible to contact other people like me?

No, No, No!!! homosexuality is wrong, it is against our culture and it is against nature and we ethiopians will never accept it. all homosexuals will burn in hell if you die as homosexuals, But chances are, since God has given you up to that, then you are probably destined for hell, otherwise you would not be happy about the way you are. This is white people's fault, its them!!

1. With more than one research with the gay community in Ethiopia – majority of respondents of the interview revealed the fact - that they were forced to this life style being RAPED. The simple fact that the respondents of the study said that once they were introduced to the life style involuntarily and against their will they found it difficult to be heterosexual again, do we all clearly seethe unwilling inoculation of innocent souls to this life style?? and its life time unwanted and unsolicited effect. In fact, the Rape Support Line at Ghandi Hospital is showing an increased number of (I am not certain but around 22%) reported rapes were by boys who were raped by other men. Does this data indicate something? It is very heartbreaking, tragic, alarming and distressing for all mothers and most importantly to the boys. We also have to remember the human rights issue here. We have to fight any type, homosexual or heterosexual rape. For those who claim to be born that way or from the beginning attracted to the same sex, they must look for similar interest or abstain from any such act. It is not fair at all!!!

2. why do we all think that God created a man and a woman at the first place? From what I hear now there was no need. It could have been man and man or w and w.

True Story
I don't want to be gay, but I like guys.
I knew I was not like other guys when I was a kid. I could never explain my feelings. I have always loved boys and my first crush was with a guy friend. I did not choose to like a boy it just happened.
I am not lucky to live the norm, I don't find women sexually attractive, the stuff other guys admire are meaningless. I know this is hard for many to understand, but this is my reality. This is what I feel.
As many Ethiopians, I still go to church and I know what people in church feel about love between same sexes. Unlike most gays, I believe in God. I honestly wish God takes away my feelings for men. It would be easy to be with a girl... "Normal" after all it’s the norm. What bothered me the most was the fact that I was committing a “sin”. Going out of Gods will… and all that scary stuff… God knows am human, and that my feelings are true. If I have sinned I will ask for forgiveness. If not, for blessing
All this remains as an issue between me and God, so Christian want to be Ethiopians should not be bothered by me.
Although I can’t deny the clear physical evidence proving heterosexuality, I can’t deny my ergs towards men either. Opposite sex may turn you on, same sex turns me on. I wish I was like you just to make my life easy, but it does not work.
Many have tried to convince me it’s wrong. It just does not feel that way for me. It may be wrong for you, so we just found one more issue to disagree with. Now, can we agree to disagree and live our lives? I tried it with girls. I had to close my eyes and imagine a naked guy the whole time once. That was by far the worst sex I have ever had. I have had sex with girls, but I like it with guys better.
Do you choose your feelings towards anything? I know I don’t unless I have some good reason. I have not found any good reason not to be with men.
For those who are worried about ruining the Ethiopian culture and tradition. I think people deserve more respect than traditions. Plus my ideal Ethiopia is a nation of freedom… does anyone has anything against freedom?
Many have said it’s a western thing, if being honest and open about feelings is called western then it is.
I could be your brother, a friend and even the guy who dates you. You do not know who is gay and who is listening. My own mom said something that killed my soul about gay girls making out in TV. Well she will never know about me, and why I can’t get married. One day I will tell the rest of my family.
Try to understand it’s not about you, it is not about how it makes you feel either, and it’s about people who you may know and their true feelings.
Please don’t dictate others feelings as long as they keep to them selves

Dear writer
I always found your stories to be thought inspiring and positive for Ethiopia. This however is promotion of death to our values. Homos are the lowest creatures on the face of the earth. All the gays who call themselves Ethiopian, hate their country as they wish to do their abomination which will create another aids epidemic. I am not from the past generation- I am 18 but I know wherever Ethiopia goes, Orthodox Christianity must be part of the game plan.
This goes totally against it

Absolutely unacceptable. You are right Girma....it causes culture to be killed and people as well from AIDS. Honestly parliament is doing the right thing...they are about to pass a bill that can sentence gays to life in prison. Its the white man who brings this Wisha Sira into Ethiopia. We must throw it back out.

Ew 4man! I danno what to say 2 man togother in bed ? The thought It give me Diarea. Inezi Bushtioch aselfen be tiyit megdel bicha new yalen mircha. Igziabher Yikdachu!

Vive L'Éthiopie pour toujours !

I am Habesha and Rastafarian InI pray to Jah to take all them back to the Vatican and all these gays can do whatever they want there together with the rest of their bloody family, better go on from HolyLand by the way one day we will put you all together in a pile and FIRE big Meskal to clean up Zion from these nasty confused things. they go againts the nature da creation da life,,,,,,they just confused, into a thing kind of fashion created by the sociaty by the westerns...... Jah Bless

This is the wrongest thing in the world. We must never let this disease enter our nation. We must rally hard and unite hands in protest so that Meles can give these disgusting dogs what they need, THE DEATH PENALTY. Just because a handful of western nations tolerate this retarded pandemic disease bringing practice, doesnt mean our beautiful and pure ETHIOPIA must.

My two cents.

you fuckn ethiopia people when you came open you old stupid mind is 2009 waw bad futhr

Iam etiopan gay Iproud by this AndIam looking for gay ethiopians adresse

hello Dear Ethiopian fellows. peace to u all! my simple advice for the "Gay" people, actually no peolpe is known by this name, is that please do not forget that God of Israel(Ethiopia)still loves u all. The only thing u have to do is come close ...no one is ever perfect in this ever cursed world. in one way or another u became gay, and it is ok, but still ask Why? Is God happy with what we r? u will defintly fine many anwers once u approach Him. and most Importantly do not forget God still love u all nomatter how far u r from Him and His house....... children of Zion Repent! Repent! Repent!....... God The Almighty...calls u all and the door of Ur Mother Zion is open eversince the creature of the world!