The LGTBIQ community seeks its space in the Ivory Coast, one of the 22 countries in Africa where homosexuality is legal

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Ivory Coast is considered the paradise of West Africa and Francophone Africa for the LGTBIQ community.

It is one of the African countries where homosexuality is not prohibited (of 55 African territories, only 22 are recognized as legality) and whose Penal Code, which punished homosexual public acts, was modified by social pressure.

In the country there are several associations for the group and spaces, events and bars for them proliferate.

More information

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In the 1960s and 1970s, the economic growth experienced by the Ivory Coast created a more open context that allowed the community to flourish.

There was no police repression or public stigmatization.

But it was not until the beginning of the 21st century that a political movement that defended sexual minorities began to emerge, always closely linked to the group of HIV patients.

In 2003 the first organization called Arc-En-Ciel Plus was born and in 2010 Alternative Côte d'Ivoire.

Although women are the essential structure of the associative fabric, they continue to fight in an invisible way.

They have had to find their own spaces, activities and places of political struggle to mark their presence, still under a context in which they live happier if they are discreet.

An association for them

Monique Kouman is 38 years old and is the president of Woman African Freedom (WAF), the only association for women from the lesbian, bisexual and

queer community

currently active in Côte d'Ivoire.

In her professional life she is a midwife, but she spends her free time creating workshops and activities for the group.

“In Côte d'Ivoire there are several associations that fight for LGTBIQ rights, but the programs of these associations did not take into account the reality of women.

For this reason, in May 2019 I decided to create the WAF together with other colleagues, to talk about our problems and, above all, to provide concrete solutions to situations that we live as women ”, she comments.

“Today there is no law that criminalizes homosexuality, but neither one that protects it.

Therefore, homophobia is something we live with every day ”.

Kouman has been with his partner for five years, with whom he lives, although only his closest friends know it.

The family possibly senses it, but they prefer not to talk about it.

The importance of the traditional African family remains an essential component of the social structure and, therefore, a woman whose partner is not a man does not quite fit in.

This activist has children, like most of the Ivorian LGTBIQ women, who accept their mother's guidance without question.

"Most lesbians hide their sexuality, so having children with men is a bit of a cover for them."

It also works as an alternative to an expensive, and often unaffordable, artificial insemination.

The sport to create bonds

Nicou Flore has turned 32 and lives in Yopougon, a humble neighborhood in Abidjan.

Every Sunday she meets with a group of LGTBIQ girls to play soccer, and although they don't do it badly, it seems that sport is just an excuse to see each other, chat and have fun.

“I created the team because it allowed us to meet and share that sisterhood that exists in our community.

As there are not many spaces for us, we have to create them ”, she explains.

In Abidjan there are three bars for LGTBIQ people, but the majority of those who attend are men.

And although through the associations workshops or activities are created that allow some kind of space to discuss and promote social change, they are still not very active.

Flore defines himself as "he", or as they would say in the Ivory Coast, he is a

yossi

.

The terms

yossi

and

toussou

 designate each of the traditional genres.

Yossi

is the lesbian who follows the classic masculine patterns: short hair, boy's clothes ... And the person who must financially support her partner.

The

toussou,

for its part, is governed by the traditional characteristics of the feminine: long hair, heels and the person in charge of housework.

"These roles of the heteropatriarchal model are at all levels: at work, at home, and even in sexual relations, since some

Yossi

do not undress or allow themselves to be touched during sex," says Monique Kouman.

Flore has a partner, although recently, and does not live with her.

The lack of legal recognition of women's unions makes stability difficult.

Social pressure, and especially family pressure, complicate long-term ties, which is why many LGTBIQ women maintain constant sporadic relationships.

A digital medium to have references

Lynn Attemene is 28 years old and her voice can be heard through the podcasts broadcast by EmmaLInfos, the only information outlet for lesbian, bisexual and

queer women

in West Africa, created by Emma Onekekou.

From their platform they publish articles, videos and radio programs on sexual education, LGTBIQ activism or feminism, always focused on the interests and problems of African society.

“When I was growing up I had a lot of questions about sexuality, so I had to go to associations to find out or search in private Facebook groups.

Today we want this medium to serve to openly share experiences and knowledge for the African LGTBIQ community ”affirms Attemene.

Without many public references, Ivorian women find their spaces discreetly.

The announcer is one of the few women completely out of the closet in the family, at work and with friends.

"Since I accepted myself as a lesbian, I am not ashamed to say so," she says.

The only difficulty she encountered was showing her family that even if she did not want to have a man as a partner, she could be a happy woman and live freely.

"I did my best to be independent and show my people that being gay didn't mean being cursed or a failure."

Ivory Coast, still far from being a paradise for LGTBIQ women, is a small oasis within the continent.

“The atmosphere is calm.

Although we still have to be cautious, it shows that we have more confidence in ourselves and we are willing to change things ”, concludes Attemene.

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