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Picture courtesy (Basillioh Rukanga,BBC News) Cameroon President’s daughter, Brenda Biya aspires to inspire others with her coming out as a lesbian.
(The Post News)- Brenda Biya, the daughter of Cameroon’s long-standing president Paul Biya, has made headlines with her recent revelation of her sexual orientation.
In an Instagram post on June 30, the 27-year-old publicly came out as a lesbian, accompanied by a photo of her kissing her girlfriend.
Her decision to disclose this aspect of her identity comes amidst Cameroon’s stringent laws that criminalise same-sex relations, punishable by up to five years in prison under the penal code.
Living between the United States and Switzerland, Brenda Biya spoke candidly about her motivations in an interview with the French newspaper Le Parisien, published recently.
She admitted that she had not previously discussed her sexuality with her family before making her public announcement.
Her primary objective, she explained, is to offer hope and solidarity to others facing similar struggles, “There are plenty of people in the same situation as me who suffer because of who they are. If I can give them hope, help them feel less alone, if I can send love, I’m happy.”
The legal landscape in Cameroon remains deeply conservative regarding LGBT rights.
Biya acknowledged that the law criminalising homosexual acts has existed since before her father assumed power in 1982.
Despite her father’s silence on the matter thus far, Biya expressed optimism that her coming out could pave the way for legislative change, “It may be too soon for it to vanish, but it could be less severe.First, we could do away with the jail term.”
Brenda’s public revelation has sparked reactions both within Cameroon and abroad.
Bandy Kiki, a prominent Cameroonian LGBT rights activist based in Britain, praised Brenda for her courage, noting that her visibility helps affirm the existence of LGBT individuals in Cameroon.
However, Kiki also highlighted the stark disparity in how these laws are enforced, “Anti-LGBT laws in Cameroon disproportionately target the poor.
Biya’s decision to come out as lesbian has brought attention not only to her journey but also to the broader issue of LGBT rights in Cameroon.
As discussions continue both domestically and internationally, her hope for legislative reform signifies the ongoing struggle for equality and justice in the country.
Whether her public stance will influence policy remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly marks a significant moment in the fight for LGBT rights in Cameroon.
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