CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: LAWS AND SOCIAL VIEWS ON SEXUAL

UNCLAS BANGUI 000276 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF FRONT OFFICE AF/C FOR AF/RSA - LOUIS MAZEL, LAURA GRIESMER, AND LEARNED DEES PARIS FOR RKANEDA LONDON FOR PLORD AFRICOM FOR JKUGEL INR FOR JPEKKINEN DRL FOR SCRAMPTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV CT SUBJECT: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: LAWS AND SOCIAL VIEWS ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION REF: A - 09 STATE 130765 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Central African Republic (CAR) law criminalizes homosexual behavior. The law, reflective of widely held social stigma against homosexuality, considers any act of homosexuality as an ``offense against public decency.'' Post is, however, unaware of any arrests or fines and very few cases of extrajudicial violence targeting homosexuals. There is a semi-open gay culture in the capital, Bangui, but very little toleration for it in the rest of the country. Sexual topics in general are not widely discussed in public, adding to the lack of open discussion vis a vis homosexuality. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) Article 85 of the 2009 CAR Penal Code states that any ``unnatural act'' committed with an individual of the same sex is considered an offense against public decency and subject to a jail sentence of six months to two years in addition to a fine ranging from CFA 150,000 to CFA 600,000 - USD 333 to 1,333 at USD 1=CFA 450 (NOTE: The 2009 Penal Code's statutes on this subject are a holdover from the previous Code. END NOTE). While the penal code criminalizes homosexual behavior, Post is unaware of instances where police arrested or detained persons they believed to be homosexual. The country is not engaged in any current debate on the subject or considering any changes in their legislation. The government does not address the subject. AIDS/HIV prevention efforts, both by the local authorities and international organizations, rarely deal with homosexual issues related to the disease. ¶3. (SBU) Societal discrimination against homosexuals is widespread and many Central Africans attribute the existence of homosexuality to undue western influence. Homosexuality is not discussed in public and homosexuals very rarely make their orientation known to others. A quiet subculture does exist in Bangui, but there are no specific places for congregating and those within the community make great efforts to conceal their orientation. Transvestite and gay sex workers are very rare. Rural life and traditional beliefs in much of the rest of the country make conditions difficult for any acceptance of homosexuality. COOK