YAOUNDE, Cameroon – Brenda Biya, the 27-year-old daughter of Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, has ignited a conversation about LGBTQ+ rights in the central African nation. Biya, who resides between the United States and Switzerland, publicly revealed her sexual orientation as a lesbian on June 30th through an Instagram post.
In a recent interview with Le Parisien, a French newspaper, Biya expressed her hope that her story would contribute to legal reform regarding homosexuality in Cameroon. Same-sex relations are currently criminalized under the country’s penal code, carrying a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.
“Many people share my situation and suffer due to their identity,” Biya stated. “If I can offer them hope, a sense of belonging, and send a message of love, then I’m content.”
President Biya, who has held office for over 40 years, has remained silent on his daughter’s announcement. However, Brenda Biya emphasized that the anti-homosexuality law predates her father’s presidency. She aspires for her story to be a catalyst for legislative change.
“Complete abolition might be a distant dream,” Biya acknowledged, “but a less stringent law is achievable. Perhaps the prison sentence could be the first to go.”
Bandy Kiki, a Cameroonian LGBTQ+ rights activist based in the UK, celebrated Biya’s decision to come out. Kiki believes this act validates the existence of LGBTQ+ individuals within Cameroon. However, she cautioned against overlooking the existing disparity in the law’s enforcement.
“While wealth and connections offer protection to some,” Kiki remarked, “others face harsh consequences.”
