For every LGBT person in Africa, it has proven to be a very hard task to live in a relationship with a partner of the same gender. Homophobia spreads and is fuelled every day, pushing people back into the closet. Men and women are forced to get into marriages and pretend everything is okay; men become priests and declare celibacy or choose to live dual lives.

Africa has the highest number of countries that criminalize homosexuality. Thirty-eight have harsh penalties, including imprisonment of homosexuals for up to 14 years or, in other cases, for life. Sudan, Nigeria and Somalia impose the death penalty, and now Uganda, too, has a bill pending that would lead to the same.

The Malawian gay couple, Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza, who recently braved their engagement ceremony which was witnessed by many, could face up to 14 years in prison if found guilty of unnatural practices between males. Medical examinations will be used to prove sexual relationship by showing evidence of penetration; if they were in Uganda, they would have to undergo compulsory HIV testing.

Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2009 legislates against the "promoting, aiding and abetting" of homosexuality and is supported firmly by politicians or people with political ambition who urge the general populace to support it as well.

False information has been circulated to the effect that sexual orientation can be changed and treated easily by providing counseling to manage the "unnatural" acts. If the Anti-Homosexuality bill gets revoked, the creators will consider pushing for such "ex-gay therapy," which has proven ineffective and dangerous.

Monetary support for the anti-gay push has come from the evangelical movement in the United States. Their so-called missionaries promote the sales of their books and bring "evidence" that homosexuality is curable. Such missionaries, having strong ties to African politicians, reach the people by claiming their main aim is to protect family values and save the African culture. They give huge amounts of money and the recipients, bishops and church boards, spend the money as they wish. Some of the funds are used for schools, scholarships, and loans and some of the funds also support the preaching of hate against homosexuals.

There is stiff competition between the U.S. mainline churches that support the LGBTs and the American conservatives who bring development by eliminating poverty, illiteracy and HIV/AIDS. Giving more money than the mainline churches, the conservatives face no opposition in their promotion of homophobia because of the influence their money carries.

Seminars have been held in many African countries by the anti-gay movement, telling people that homosexuals want to recruit in Africa and then take over the world. Parents, students, and politicians flock to the conferences, most of which have been held in Eastern Africa - Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, for example. Such efforts are increasing, bringing homophobia to an astonishing level. Growing numbers of people seem to agree that tough legislation should be drafted to bar homosexuals from recruiting and to enforce stiffer penalties against the practice of homosexuality.

Strong involvement from the general public, churches and some politicians has led to success in promoting homophobic politics, informing the masses that homosexuality is a western phenomenon - a threat to children and society that will wreck civilization and the African culture, proving a Kenyan inside joke to be true: "If you want to get rich really fast, open up a bar or a church or become a member of Parliament."

By Haute Haiku

Haute is a 22 year old business student in Nairobi, Kenya. He writes about local LGBT issues for Global Voices and 10,000 Couples.