- FannyAnn Eddy
Fannyann Viola Eddy (1974–2004) was an activist for
lesbian andgay rights in her nativeSierra Leone and throughout Africa. In 2002, she founded theSierra Leone Lesbian and Gay Association , the first of its kind in Sierra Leone. [cite news
title = Sierra Leone gay activist killed
publisher =BBC
date = 2004-10-05
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3716768.stm
accessdate =2008-06-26 ] She traveled widely, addressing theUnited Nations and other international groups. In April 2004, she advocated the passing of theBrazil Resolution at the UN inGeneva . [cite book
last = Morgan
first = Ruth
authorlink =
coauthors = Saskia Wieringa
title = Tommy Boys, Lesbian Men, and Ancestral Wives: Female Same-sex Practices in Africa
publisher = Jacana Media
year = 2005
location =
pages = 20
url = http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=YGvp0LnYN7cC
isbn =1770090932 ]"We live in fear within our communities," Eddy testified before the U.N., "where we face constant harassment and violence from neighbors and others. Their homophobic attacks go unpunished by authorities, further encouraging their discriminatory and violent treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people."
Eddy was
murdered onSeptember 28 ,2004 , shortly after giving a speech about the threats of violence faced by lesbians and gays in Sierra Leone. A group of at least three men broke into her office in centralFreetown , gang-raped her, stabbed her, and eventually broke her neck. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Sierra Leone: Lesbian Rights Activist Brutally Murdered
work =
publisher =Human Rights Watch
date = 2004-10-05
url = http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/10/04/sierra9440_txt.htm
accessdate =2008-06-26 ]Eddy left behind a son and her partner Esther Chikalipa. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Activist Murdered
work =
publisher = Behind the Mask
date = 2004-10-04
url = http://www.mask.org.za/article.php?cat=latestnews&id=482&pagenumber=1
accessdate =2008-06-26 ]ee also
*
Hirschfeld Eddy Foundation , a Human Rights Foundation for Lesbians and Gays
*Violence against LGBT people References
External links
* [http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/10/04/sierra9439.htm Testimony by FannyAnn Eddy at the U.N. Commission on Human Rights]
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