Date: Fri, 04 Aug 1995 07:34:08 From: STEPHEN VAN BREDA HARARE, ZIMBABWE - 2nd August 1995. STATEMENT FROM THE GAYS AND LESBIANS OF ZIMBABWE (GALZ) BOOK FAIR COMMITTEE ------------------------------------------------------- The GALZ Book Fair Committee is deeply concerned by President Mugabe's statement on homosexuals at the official opening of the ZIBF'95. This year's Book Fair was intended to promote dialogue about human right issues so it is unfortunate that the top government officials restricted open and free discussion needed to reduce prejudice. Although homosexuality may be considered a taboo by many Zimbabweans, there are many other Zimbabweans who are willing to accord tolerance and acceptance to gays. GALZ sought to participate in the Book Fair to provide information about human rights and the law as they affect homosexuals in Zimbabwe and to describe our counselling services. We, along with other participants at the Book Fair, support fundamental human rights and the expansion of publishing in Africa. We appreciate that in a developing country such as ours many people need food, shelter and improved standards of living. These goals are not hindered by the rights of all our people to freedom of speech, expression and association. GALZ rejects the insinuations that our members are bent upon bestiality, drug addiction and sex in public places. GALZ supports the right to personal privacy and responsible sex between consenting adults. We are in favour of protection of children from any form of sexual abuse. Our Book Fair material was purely informational and offered no purient interest. Although our aim was to distribute the material to adults, any schoolchildren reading our pamphlets would only have learned something about the law, our rights under the constitution and the need for tolerance in our society. ENDS. . .