Out in Africa: LGBT Organizing in Namibia and South Africa (Volume 38)

by Ashley Currier

Visibility matters to activists—to their social and political relevance, their credibility, their influence. But invisibility matters, too, in times of political hostility or internal crisis. Out in Africa is the first to present an intimate look at how Namibian and South African lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) organizations have cultivated visibility and invisibility as strategies over time. As such, it reveals the complexities of the LGBT movements in both countries as these organizations make use of Western terminology and notions of identity to gain funding even as they work to counter the perception that they are “un-African.” Different sociopolitical conditions in Namibia and South Africa affected how activists in each country campaigned for LGBT rights between 1995 and 2006. Focusing on this period, Ashley Currier shows how, in Namibia, LGBT activists struggled against ruling party leaders’ homophobic rhetoric and how, at the same time, black LGBT citizens of South Africa, though enjoying constitutional protections, greater visibility, and heightened activism, nonetheless confronted homophobic violence because of their gender and sexual nonconformity. As it tells the story of the evolving political landscape in postapartheid Namibia and South Africa, Out in Africa situates these countries’ movements in relation to developments in pan-African LGBT organizing and offers broader insights into visibility as a social movement strategy rather than simply as a static accomplishment or outcome of political organizing.

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Samira Farahani · Rating 2 out of 5]

The overall idea of the book is very enlightening. By overall idea I mean, the idea of formation of social movements because I believe these practices enclose precious lessons for people, no matter if they are activist or ordinary citizens. Every little changes in the world is made by those who struggle to gain their rights, LGBT rights, women rights, human rights, etc. we need more of these examples to learn from, to be inspired.

Formatting and readability of the book could be so much better. Topics overlap in four chapters that partially confuse the reader. Also parts of the book is overwhelmed with unnecessary details such as organizational administration processes.

[willowdog]

A look at four distinct LGBT organizations in Namibia and South Africa as they developed stragtegies of visibility or invisibility on various issues due to differing support or opposition within the group to the goals of the organization, the government or leaders hostility to LGBT individuals, and the perception of LGBT individuals as un-African or neocolonial. The work brings to light the many issues relevant to the movement for true LGBT rights in these two countries and the role LGBT organizations can play in this pursuit.

[Allisonjam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for my global diversity class. One of those rare non-fiction informative books, where I read the whole thing and enjoyed all of it. It is very accesible, even if (like me) you know nothing about lgbt organizing in africa. A lot of the in-fighting within groups is very similar to what goes here ( especially in third wave feminism), so it was good to have that reference point. Reading about the violence towards the LGBT community was especially troublesome.

[Dakota · Rating 4 out of 5]

I co-reviewed this book with a colleague, you can find the review in the academic journal "Mobilizations." It is a pretty good read for anyone interested in social movements, particularly LGBTQ social movements, though I think Currier could have better contextualized the organizations studied within the broader social movement environment in South Africa, particularly women's rights movements.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most delightful and insightful monograph I do hope the author continues her research in to southern African GLBTQI activism, hopefully expanding to the nations of former Rhodesia