1. Gays and Lesbian Association of Zimbabwe (GALZ)
Experiences of sensitizing health care providers on health needs of LGBTI people in Zimbabwe
Caroline Maposhere
Zimbabwe
Gays and Lesbian Association of Zimbabwe (GALZ)

2. Presentation Outline Background Sensitisation sessions
Countries that criminalise same sex relations
Impact of criminalisation
Effects of reinforced negative messaging
Barriers to health care
Sensitisation sessions
Stereotyping
Introspective sessions on Journey of life
binaries and boxes
Reactions to training sessions
Lessons learnt
Conclusions

3. Background – Countries that criminalise same sex relations

4. Background Impact of criminalization
Same sex
relations secrecy and silence black mailing, extortion
society stigma and discrimination
State criminalization

5. Background Effects of reinforced negative messaging on LGBTI people
Self stigma, feelings of guilt, shame and feelings of low self worth among LGBTI people prevent them from seeking care
Fear of being reported to the police
Fear of ridicule in community
Withdrawal, isolation, depression, suicidal

6. Background Barriers to health care
homophobic statements from media, national leadership and religious leaders lead to
health care providers have negative and discriminating attitudes towards LGBTI groups
Misdiagnosis because of poor history taking where embarrassing and intrusive questions are asked
When did you decide to be gay?
Do your parents know that this is what you are doing?
Don’t you want to have children?
So how do you do your sex?

7. Sensitization sessions – Stereotyping
Discuss how different groups are stereotyped
Left handed people
Twins
Albinos
Discuss terms, negative labels and all the degrading names used on LGBTI people
Paper squashing exercise

8. Introspective and Reflective sessions: Journey of life
Define sexuality – (Use WHO definition)
Think back on personal life events from birth – circumstances around birth and why they got their names etc
Diagrammatically present sexual life story - time line
Share story

9. Making the journey of life – time line

10. Sensitization sessions – Binaries and boxes
Sex
Gender
Sexual orientation
Sexual practices

11. Reactions to the sessions and new information
Have you given these sessions to our leaders?
Why are we not taught these things in training?
This is truly an eye opener
I repent
I will change my attitude towards these people
It will take time but I will try to change
I did not know that these people are genuinely born that way

12. Lessons Learned
With appropriate skills and approaches,
It is possible to conduct sensitization sessions and discuss sensitive topics with different audiences
It is possible to train service providers in human sexuality even in hostile environments

13. Lessons Learned
Advocacy for sexual rights of sexual minority groups like LGBTI communities cannot be a stand-alone agenda - success can be achieved if strategies are in acceptable entry points
HIV programming
Gender Based Violence discussion
There may be need to identify and nurture champions to cascade trainings
Create safety nets for protection of champions

14. Conclusion
LGBTI people exist in Zimbabwe as they do in every culture and society although their existence has been overlooked and denied by authorities.
There are a lot of misconceptions that homosexuality is a behaviour introduced to Africa by foreigners
It is difficult for LGBTI to seek for health care
fear of prosecution, persecution
most cultures do not seem to sanction same sex relationships nor accept anyone different - not fit into the binaries and boxes
Changing the attitudes of service providers is possible

15. Acknowledgements
GALZ Aids Fonds Global Fund

16. Thank you!