They tell us we are a “Western invention.” They tell us that being LGBTQ+ is “un-African” and that the harsh laws we face are a shield protecting Tanzanian culture.
At LGBT Voice Tanzania, we know the truth. We see it in the courtrooms, we hear it in the stories of our community members, and we find it in the history books. The truth is that the greatest “foreign imposition” in our country isn’t our existence—it is the very laws used to persecute us.
Today, we want to peel back the curtain on the colonial lie and share why our work is more vital now than ever.
The Investigation: Who Actually Wrote These Laws?
If you look at the Tanzanian Penal Code, specifically Section 154, you will find language about “carnal knowledge against the order of nature.” This isn’t Swahili tradition. This is the British Griffith Code.
In the 1930s, British colonial administrators imposed their own Victorian-era moral panic onto our ancestors. Before these ships arrived, many of our cultures—from the coastal Swahili to the inland tribes—had a place for diverse gender roles and identities. We had names for ourselves. We had a place in our communities.
The colonizers didn’t just take our land; they took our social fluidity and replaced it with a rigid, punitive legal system. While the United Kingdom repealed these archaic laws decades ago, we are still living under the shadow of their 19th-century prejudice.
The harm is clear: By branding us as “un-African,” the state uses colonial-era weapons to justify modern-day violence.
Front-Line Resilience: What We Do at LGBT Voice
At LGBT Voice Tanzania, we don’t just study history; we fight for the people living through its consequences. Every day, our team witnesses the human cost of these “inherited” prejudices.
In the last year alone, we have seen a terrifying increase in state-sanctioned hostility. But where there is pressure, there is also power.
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Emergency Sanctuary: When the police raid a gathering or a landlord evicts a brother or sister because of who they are, we are the first call. We provide emergency housing and food to ensure no one has to face the streets alone.
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Legal Defense: We work tirelessly to provide legal literacy. We believe that an informed community is a protected community. We help our members understand their rights so they can stand tall even in the face of intimidation.
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Health and Dignity: Because the government has restricted health services for “key populations,” we step into the gap, providing access to HIV/AIDS prevention and mental health support that is free from judgment.
One of our proudest moments recently involved a young trans woman who was heartbeat away from a prison cell after a targeted “shaming” campaign in her village. Through our legal intervention and community mediation, we were able to relocate her to a safe house and secure her safety. This is what your support makes possible.
Stand With Us: How You Can Act
We are not just a “marginalized group.” We are Tanzanians. We are your neighbors, your siblings, and your friends. We are reclaiming a history that was stolen from us.
But we cannot do this in isolation. To keep our doors open and our safe houses running, we need our global and local allies to move beyond “awareness” and into action.
1. Follow Our Journey
Our voice is our greatest weapon. Follow us on social media to hear directly from the front lines, learn about our advocacy, and help us counter the narrative that we don’t belong.
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Twitter/X @lgbtvoicetz
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Facebook: @lgbtvoiceintz
- Linkedln: www.linkedin.com/company/lgbtiqa-voice-tanzaniaÂ
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Website: lgbtvoicetz.org
2. Fuel the Resistance (Donate to Emergency Support)
In a climate where international funding is being squeezed, individual donations are our lifeline. Your contribution goes directly to legal fees, emergency shelter, and medical care for those in immediate danger.
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Global Solidarity: Donate
Together, we can decolonize our laws and ensure that every Tanzanian—regardless of who they love—can live with dignity. Will you stand with LGBT Voice today?
