The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community (LGBT) of Rwanda has applauded rights organizations for the efforts to support and promote human rights.

With over 100 members, LGBT community in Musanze district, Northern Province is supported with means to start small businesses and sensitized about seeking public services.

“LGBT people in Rwanda have been sensitized about seeking public service and enjoying human rights like any other citizens. We decided to reach them and talk to them about their rights to good health,” said Joseph Nziringirimana, Project Manager at National Association for Supporting People Living with HIV/AIDS.

“Initially, they were discriminated against by everyone including health workers and local officials. We have sensitized the community against this behavior.”

Nziringirimana said that to promote LGBT’s wellbeing, they helped them to open shops in Musanze district.

They also encouraged them to be confident to ask for medical services from public hospitals and health centers.

According to Nziringirimana, the LGBTI community has over 100 members in Musanze district only and about 20,000 across the country. But majority has been hiding or failing to declare themselves as gays or lesbians.

“Training communities about human rights respect is an important aspect in the country. It facilitates a culture of respect and peace for everyone. The key population has been facing violence, harassment and discrimination but it is reducing with time,” Nziringirimana said.

ANSP+ provides condoms to the LGBTI community and provides them with lotions and lubes in prevention of HIV/AIDS and antiretroviral therapy (ART) for the infected members.

Since 2019, ANSP+ in partnership with The Global Fund/CCM, have been working closely to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The key population has been at the centre stage of this support.

“The bad attitude and discrimination against gays are still there, but reducing. The pressure and abuses from communities have also reduced because we came out to declare ourselves as gays after we were sensitized about human rights,” Steven Nyandwi, a gay and representative of the LGBT community in Musanze district said.

“Doctors should give us services without minding about our status whatsoever,” Nyandwi added.

“We should be called by our names, just like other people. One should not see us and say; see that “mutinganyi”. We should be called by our names of Jackson, Pierre, Callixte and name it.”

This representative of the community said that some LGBT members were fired from jobs, labeled as Satanists, or ostracized by family and friends.