ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Two groups in Ethiopia said Thursday they will hold an antigay demonstration this month, a move that puts Ethiopia in line to become the next African country to increase the public demonization of gay people.
Although gay sex is already outlawed in Ethiopia, the rally set for April 26 comes as the Parliament considers making homosexual acts ineligible for presidential pardons. New legislation in Uganda and Nigeria this year has increased penalties for homosexual acts in those two countries, sending many gay people underground or out of the country.
The government-affiliated Addis Ababa Youth Forum and a religious group associated with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church told a news conference that the number of homosexual acts in the country has reached an alarming rate.
‘‘Children are being raped by gay people in this country. Just yesterday we have met a woman whose boy was raped by two other men. All in all, gay acts are against health, the law, religion, and our culture, so we should break the silence and create awareness about it,’’ said Dereje Negash, chairman of the church group, the Weyiniye Abune Tekelehaimanot Association.
The bill was sponsored by the Ministry of Justice and could be put to a vote this month. In Ethiopia, same-sex acts are punishable by up to 15 years in prison. A 25-year jail term is given for infecting another person with HIV during same-sex acts.
Ezana Solomon, a prominent blogger and gay activist, said gay-bashing rhetoric is likely to increase in the run-up to elections for Parliament next year.