October 4, 2004: Prominent lesbian activist, Fannyann Eddy, was murdered while working late in the offices of SLLAGA (Sierra Leone Lesbian and Gay Association) at the end of last week in what many fear was a homophobic hate crime judging by the brutal nature of the attack.
Tributes from fellow activists, international human rights organisations and funding bodies have been flooding in following the harrowing news of Fannyann's death.
Fannyann had spent time in southern Africa as a refugee from hostilities in Sierra Leone and visited the offices of GALZ in Zimbabwe to learn from them how to mobilise in a hostile environment. "Fannyann was an activist in the real sense of the word." Said Keith Goddard, the director of GALZ in a tribute to Fannyann. "She dedicated herself to the cause of normalizing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in society through direct action and she was an example to those of us who play the victim and claim that nothing is possible in the hostile climates in which we exist. In 2002 she came to the GALZ Offices in Harare, Zimbabwe looking for assistance in the setting up of an LGBT group in her home country, Sierra Leone. It was obvious she had all the determination and willpower to do so. Even in Zimbabwe, where she was a refugee, she brushed with members of our police force and others who tried to threaten her because she was lesbian. Naturally, she refused to be intimidated."
Even though Fannyann had the opportunity to remain in southern Africa she chose to return to Sierra Leone, a country which she loved deeply. In an interview published on Behind the Mask shortly after her visit to Johannesburg for the All Africa Symposium in February this year she named Sierra Leone as her favourite place in the world. In the same interview when asked about the inspiration for her career she answered. "My dreams! I hope to see more women being liberated or stand for what they believe in and hope to see a universe free of discrimination, torture and violence."
Link to Behind the Mask |
