A Moment of Hope: Brenda Biya’s Coming Out Sparks Debate on LGBTQ+ Rights in Cameroon

The recent public display of affection between Brenda Biya, daughter of Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, and her girlfriend has ignited a wave of debate and hope for LGBTQ+ rights in the nation. The images circulated online during June – internationally recognized as Pride Month – have sparked a crucial conversation about the stark reality of LGBTQ+ existence in a country where same-sex relationships are criminalized.

While many have expressed joy and celebrated Brenda Biya’s courage in coming out, the significance of this event goes far beyond individual expressions of love. The act resonates with a nation grappling with a legal framework that continues to criminalize same-sex relationships under Article 347/1 of the Cameroonian Penal Code, leading to imprisonment and societal discrimination.

Brenda Biya’s public display of affection, coming from a family with significant political power, has prompted questions about the hypocrisy of a system that condemns same-sex relationships while seemingly allowing for such acts within privileged circles.

Prominent Cameroonian Barrister Alice Nkom,

a tireless advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, expressed her joy at the display, yet many, including Nkwain Hamlet, Executive Director of Working for our Wellbeing, questioned the government’s stance. Hamlet poignantly asked, “Will the same liberty and freedom Brenda Biya is enjoying be extended to all LGBTQ+ citizens as he urgently called on the government to start a possible reflection on the process of decriminalization to allow all citizens to be able to enjoy their sexuality within any fear and that the enjoyment of one’s sexuality should not be an issue of privilege.”

This moment has brought to the forefront a deeply rooted issue of inequality and hypocrisy within Cameroon. For years, homosexuality has been used as a tool by political leaders to gather support, often demonizing and criminalizing sexual and gender minority individuals while enjoying the freedoms they deny to others. This blatant disparity has fueled a cycle of fear, marginalization, and discrimination, disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable members of society.

The public response to Brenda Biya’s coming out offers a glimmer of hope. It has forced a necessary conversation, highlighting the urgent need for decriminalization and the protection of all citizens, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Working for Our Wellbeing and Women In Front, who are dedicated to advocating for the rights of all without discrimination has joined the chorus calling for the government to ensure Brenda Biya’s safety and to open a dialogue around this issue, leading to the eventual decriminalization of same-sex relationships through a joint press release.

The time has come for Cameroon to move beyond the archaic laws that criminalize love and embrace a future where all citizens are treated with dignity, respect, and equality. These moment, while potentially fleeting, serves as a potent reminder that change is possible and that the pursuit of a just and inclusive society must be relentless. We stand in solidarity with all Cameroonians, born free and equal in dignity and rights, and we urge the government and all allies to join us in advocating for a Cameroon that welcomes diversity and embraces the fundamental human right to love and be loved without fear or discrimination.