Stigma against MSM continues to rise in Africa

African Men for Sexual Health and Rights (AMSHeR) launched a preliminary report that documents the typology of stigma and discrimination faced by (Gay Men, Men who have sex with men (MSM), Transgender who are HIV – positive (GMT+) at the recently ended 18^th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) 2015.

The report also speaks on the best practices in addressing stigma and discrimination against GMT+ .

According to Kennedy Otieno who is the overall GMT+ coordinator, the preliminary report was based on a literature review and key informant interviews carried out between September 28th and October 26th, 2015. An online survey is also planned as an immediate follow up to key informant interviews.

Picture taken from the body.com

“The protocol was inspired by key topics from the Stigma Index of People living with HIV. Experiences of GMT+ explored stigma and discrimination community, social and service settings. Additional questions exploring the structural determinants of stigma and discrimination – such as access to redress/remedy - were included in the protocol.

“16 GMT+ individuals were selected as key informants for in-depth interviews. The individuals were selected through nomination and recommendation by the GMT+ group and AMSHeR member organisations. Interviews were conducted along the themes and topics agreed in the protocol,” He added.

None of the reviews described direct experiences of stigma and discrimination People living with HIV (PLWHIV) or within LGBT groups. However, the UNAIDS review of stigma index reports in East Africa revealed specific themes, which could be linked to discrimination:

•             LGBT Organisations (including those working on HIV issues) feel excluded from the stigma index process as a whole.

•             In the review, LGBT groups felt that the sampling methodology did not reach their membership and that the Index also did not include questions that reflected their issues or concerns. And more specifically, the question of stigmatisation on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity within PLWHIV communities is never asked.

In Liberia, it was revealed that they were not being included in the study from the start, but after much lobbying and advocacy some GMT + individuals were selected to participate. Despite this effort; subsequent issues arising from GMT+ participation were never analysed or published in the final report.

GMT+ populations are especially vulnerable due to specific stigma and discrimination related to the socio-cultural environments, their identities and sexual practices.
The review of stigma index reports reveals that rights abuse, inability to access care and experiences of stigma and discrimination were more frequently reported by GMT+ respondents than the general HIV group.

The report notes the higher vulnerability of GMT+ due to their sexual orientation/practices.  The report also notes the difficulty of reacting to cases of discrimination or right abuses:  “These cases are more complex: the non-acceptation of those practices does not facilitate a favourable action to defend them”. Furthermore, the Gambia report noted that “key populations” (in general) “are hidden and silent even among PLHIV network and support groups”.