The daughter of Cameroon's president has said she hopes that her coming out as a lesbian can help change the law banning same-sex relations in her country.

Brenda Biya told the Le Parisien newspaper that there were many people in her situation and she hoped to inspire them.

The 27-year-old shared an image of her kissing another woman last week, sparking mixed reactions in Cameroon.

"I’m crazy about you & I want the world to know,” she said in the Instagram post with a picture of her embracing Brazilian model Layyons Valença.

In the interview with France's Le Parisien, external, she said she had not informed anyone in her family before publishing the post.

“Coming out is an opportunity to send a strong message,” she said.

She added that she found the anti-gay law, which existed before her father came to power, “unfair and I hope that my story will change it".

Paul Biya, 91, has been Cameroon's president since 1982 and is one of Africa's longest-serving leaders.

Ms Biya said she had been with the Brazilian model for eight months and had already taken her to Cameroon three times without telling her family they were in a relationship.

The musician, who lives abroad, said she had received many messages of support as well as negative reactions since posting about her relationship.

She was happy to reveal her status, adding she wanted to give hope and "send love" to those suffering "because of who they are [and] help them feel less alone".

It was her brother who called her first after the post, angry that she had published it without warning the family, she told Le Parisien.

Her parents, the president and First Lady Chantal Biya, later called wanting her to delete the post. “Since then, it’s been silence,” she said.

She said she had her first crush on a girl when she was 16, but said that it was difficult to express her love because of the situation in her country.

Same-sex relations are against the law in Cameroon and are punishable by up to five years in prison.

There has been no public comment by the president or the first lady.

A government official told the BBC the authorities had decided not to comment, as it was a family issue.

Rights groups that have been criticising Cameroon’s laws against same-sex relations have been praising Ms Biya’s revelation as a courageous move.

But questions have been raised about whether coming out is a privilege that can only be enjoyed by a select few in the country.

"Anti-LGBT laws in Cameroon disproportionately target the poor. Wealth and connections create a shield for some, while others face severe consequences,” LGBT activist Bandy Kiki earlier said in a post on Facebook, external.

On Tuesday a group which backs the current laws filed a complaint against Ms Biya to the public prosecutor.

Philippe Nsoue from the DDHP Movement said they were seeking justice, saying that although Ms Biya was the president's daughter, "no-one is above the law".

“Whenever a Cameroonian citizen or foreigner commits acts that go against the [LGBT] situation in our country, we must seek judicial recourse,” he said.

NwaNimo1:
The daughter of Cameroon's president has said she hopes that her coming out as a lesbian can help change the law banning same-sex relations in her country.

Brenda Biya told the Le Parisien newspaper that there were many people in her situation and she hoped to inspire them.

The 27-year-old shared an image of her kissing another woman last week, sparking mixed reactions in Cameroon.

"I’m crazy about you & I want the world to know,” she said in the Instagram post with a picture of her embracing Brazilian model Layyons Valença.

In the interview with France's Le Parisien, external, she said she had not informed anyone in her family before publishing the post.

“Coming out is an opportunity to send a strong message,” she said.

She added that she found the anti-gay law, which existed before her father came to power, “unfair and I hope that my story will change it".

Paul Biya, 91, has been Cameroon's president since 1982 and is one of Africa's longest-serving leaders.

Ms Biya said she had been with the Brazilian model for eight months and had already taken her to Cameroon three times without telling her family they were in a relationship.

The musician, who lives abroad, said she had received many messages of support as well as negative reactions since posting about her relationship.

She was happy to reveal her status, adding she wanted to give hope and "send love" to those suffering "because of who they are [and] help them feel less alone".

It was her brother who called her first after the post, angry that she had published it without warning the family, she told Le Parisien.

Her parents, the president and First Lady Chantal Biya, later called wanting her to delete the post. “Since then, it’s been silence,” she said.

She said she had her first crush on a girl when she was 16, but said that it was difficult to express her love because of the situation in her country.

Same-sex relations are against the law in Cameroon and are punishable by up to five years in prison.

There has been no public comment by the president or the first lady.

A government official told the BBC the authorities had decided not to comment, as it was a family issue.

Rights groups that have been criticising Cameroon’s laws against same-sex relations have been praising Ms Biya’s revelation as a courageous move.

But questions have been raised about whether coming out is a privilege that can only be enjoyed by a select few in the country.

"Anti-LGBT laws in Cameroon disproportionately target the poor. Wealth and connections create a shield for some, while others face severe consequences,” LGBT activist Bandy Kiki earlier said in a post on Facebook, external.

On Tuesday a group which backs the current laws filed a complaint against Ms Biya to the public prosecutor.

Philippe Nsoue from the DDHP Movement said they were seeking justice, saying that although Ms Biya was the president's daughter, "no-one is above the law".

“Whenever a Cameroonian citizen or foreigner commits acts that go against the [LGBT] situation in our country, we must seek judicial recourse,” he said.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1we656754eo

Gerhards:


Can those people who fall in this category of gay nonsense relocate to Europe or U.S permanently, it's never going to work in Africa

WizardOfNG:



Below is what you are otherwise you would not talk like someone who has never set foot in Africa or perhaps does not mingle with anyone whwn there.

Something that is already rampant everywhere in Africa, courtesy of social media and freely available porn, is "never going to work in Africa"?

Same Africa where many women and men are today casually lesbian, bisexual and gay?

Talk your homophobic machismo ish online all you want but let me tell you that no one cares about all that lesbian, gay,bi thing on the ground in Nigeria where it is now as common as indomie.

MrBrownJay1:
wont change a thing in Cameroon... that child been living the good life in Europe for decades, what does her European lesbianism got to do with Cameroon? is that not her own father who told her to delete that yeye post?

WizardOfNG:
May not change anything with public political and religious leaders who like to bury their head in the sand, to be talking at odds with reality, but Cameroonian women, especially those under 40, will be backing her passionately.
All savvy and exposed African know Cameroonians are Kings and Queen of porn in Africa with virtually all their female stars casually bisexual.
It's the same with Nigeria and you'd have to be 70 and virtually never socialises not to know all this.
Nothing sadder than a human being living in denial of reality instead of accepting and then dealing with such.

christistruth01:
They should make sure it doesn’t Cross the Border

Mc Oluomo and Igboho’s boys are on Standby to Chase it back

Gerhards:








Does it matter where i live? I visit home always.I've never saw what you are saying, yes people do this stuff in private especially in school which i have no problem with but they need to stop rubbing it in our face, i don't give a shit whatever anyone does in secret

MrBrownJay1:


listen, as much as your above speech sounds WANDAFUL, the reality is that, as much as there are millions of lesbians in Nigeria, the vast majority rather hide to live their lesbian lives (and even get married to a Man) than openly state their lesbian orientation. thus why this LGBT agenda will never be accepted in Nigeria or Cameroon.

NOTHING SADDER THAN A LESBIAN LIVING IN A COUNTY WHERE AN UNMARRIED WOMAN IS VIEWED AS WORTHLESS!

Goodvibes007:



Oseloka Peter Obi.

WizardOfNG:


Lol. Are you kidding me Sir? Do you socialise at all when in Nigeria? Even if you don't, do you not look around you at all when there?

There are even lesbians walking around openly these days holding hands happily usually with one dressed like a man and 'sagging' her trousers.

Go to a club when next in Nigeria and ask like five ladies you want a thre.esome hookup with two bisexuals.

See if like three out of the five won't agree and name their price.

Bottom line is that this is not about anyone rubbing anything in your face. It is what adult Nigerians want to do and are doing so deal with it.

WizardOfNG:
You don't get my point. I am a realist and a pragmatist. That is why I get the maximum out of life.I don't concern myself with what is not my business or interest and I don't really give a sh1t about this whole LGBTQ furore. If a gay dude hits on me, I will tell him politely "not interested". That's it.
I won't join anyone to march and carry banners hypocritically saying "gays must die" and similar.

My point therefore is that the public indignation against LGBTQ is pompous, misguided and deceptive in a continent where it is now rampart, increasing like wildfire and here to stay.

This is why the serenity prayer, more or less about live and let live, is one of my favourite with prayers I live by.

MrBrownJay1:


clap for yourself and come collect medal too... now when you are finishing with writing yeye irrelevant nonsense online, address the issue at hand or stop quoting me writing arrant rubbish.



what you mean to say is that "you are against THE HOMOSEXUAL LAWs in these countries".... and you are entitled to your opinion, but until these laws are changed, homosexuality will remain a crime in many of these countries and anyone living there should ABIDE BY THE LAW!
who the fukc do you think you are to question these countries laws?! do you go to the US and question their polygamy laws? abeg, if anyone has any `problem with a country's laws, you can either A) get the hell out of that country or B) abide by this country's laws or face the proper prosecution.



here is a better prayer: FOLLOW THE DAMN LAW!
any gay or lesbian has the right to live the life they desire for themselves, unless it goes against THE LAW!

WizardOfNG:
You're just writing rubbish as an angry homophobe heavily into self-delusion. You're talking nonsense about "folllow the damn law" in angry uppercase red font, as if that makes your tirade more potent, when no one does and no one gets punished for not following any law because the reality is that society does not really care about laws they know is archaic, ignorant of reality and totally impotent.

If sure for you and self-deluded hypocrites like you, why don't you compel Nigerian authority to follow the law and let us see what prison will accept the millions of adults thay will be arrested in one day alone.

Whatever floats your boat mate. Those who know the reality of most African nation today will know your talk and arogant indignation, especially the bolded, shows you're the typical African who does not accept or deal with reality and therefore cannot be progressive and proactive.

Your a clown bro. Go to any bar or club anywhere in Lagos, where most folks now just live and let live, and shout all the ignorant crap you're chatting here about the "crime" of homosexuality or lesbianism. See if you won't be thrown out

Gerhards:



Can those people who fall in this category of gay nonsense relocate to Europe or U.S permanently, it's never going to work in Africa

MrBrownJay1:


all you ignoramus writing rubbish online should give it a rest....
- many indulge in criminal activities all around Nigeria, should we now allow crimes because some do it (even though its AGAINST THE LAW)?
- many men rape women left right and center in Nigeria, should we now allow rape in Nigeria because some do it (even though its AGAINST THE LAW)?

all you gays and lesbians should...

WizardOfNG:
You're probably an old and archaic relic of a clown, totally out of touch with reality anyway, so you can continues living in your fools Paradise.

Na so una be till reality deals with your ignorant 'Ostrich' idiocy. Has Okupe who previously attributed his son's gay sexuality to "spiritual challenge" not accepted reality and moved on today?

Will he kill his own son or accept his stoning to death or learn to become more tolerant and accept the young man for what he is that he cannot forcefully beat out of him or get a pastor to exorcise?

Why is Obi, usually talkative over every topic, not at the forefront of jailing gays for life for their "crime"? Joker.

MrBrownJay1:


again, in Nigeria (or anywhere else on earth), FOLLOW THE LAW!

WizardOfNG:
I have thrown you a challenge. Go to any bar or club in Lagos and go and enforce the law against those you claim are breaking the law. Better still start with Doyin Okupe's and Peter Obi's son's when they are in Nigeria.

It was once legal to keep and sell black people as slaves same as Blacks folks voting used to be proscribed in the USA.

The postive changes that have happened since then shows that it is those who accept reality and are liberal who deliver progress for society. Not intolerant relics and waste of space individuals like you.