Attitude suggests travel to Ebola free countries with gay death penalty
Attitude magazine has published a feature which suggests that readers travel to Ebola free areas and countries in Africa, but fails to point out that some of the recommended destinations punish gay people with harsh penalties.
The feature, ‘Attitude’s Travel Insider: 5 facts to know about Ebola before booking your holiday’, reads: “It’s time we wised up to where it safe and where it isn’t. If you are having second thoughts about an African adventure, check out our guidelines below before ditching the idea altogether…”
Going on, the feature, despite also in poor taste referring to “thousands of miles of Ebola free areas” travellers could frequent in countries such as Sierra Leone, fails to mention that those caught having gay sex there can be punished with life imprisonment.
The article also refers to Tanzania as a possible destination, naming the number of miles between areas with known cases of Ebola, but does not note that men found having sex with other men can be punished by the state with 30 years in prison or more, and lesbians can be heavily fined, or imprisoned.
The writer goes on to say: “Basically what I’m trying to say here is there are so many countries in Africa that are safe, ruddy awesome and open for business. So don’t let the current misconceptions of an entire continent affect your decision to go on an incredible trip.”
It is unclear why Attitude would advise its readers to travel to dozens of countries where homosexuality is illegal without at least a disclaimer to mention that while staying safe from Ebola, they should also consider whether same-sex activity is also illegal there.
The countries the writer refers to as “safe” and “ruddy awesome”, could also include Mauritania, Sudan, and northern Nigeria, where punishment for homosexuality includes the death penalty.
In some African countries anti-gay laws also include straight people who provide goods or services to gay people, including accommodation.
PinkNews has reached out to the Attitude Managing Director for comment.
