“Maybe in Switzerland or USA not in Cameroon”: Netizens react as daughter of Cameroon’s president comes out as lesbian
Netizens, most Africans, have reacted to the decision of the daughter of Cameroon’s president, Brenda Biya, who recently came out as a lesbian despite the law banning same-sex relations in her country.
To declare her decision, the 27-year-old shared an image of her kissing another woman last week, generating mixed reactions in Cameroon.
“I’m crazy about you & I want the world to know,” she declared in the Instagram post with a picture of her embracing Brazilian model Layyons Valença.
“Coming out is an opportunity to send a strong message,” Brenda Biya told the Le Parisien newspaper.
She described the existing anti-gay law, which predates her father’s presidency, as “unjust” and expressed hope that her personal story would contribute to its repeal.
Her father, Paul Biya, 91, has been at the helm of Cameroon’s government since 1982, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in Africa.
Ms. Biya revealed that she has been in a relationship with a Brazilian model for eight months, having visited Cameroon together three times without publicly disclosing their relationship to her family.
Commenting on the development, Maximus Pepe said “As Cameroonians we don’t know who this girl is oh we don’t accept dual nationality in our country so she has seized being a Cameroonian she’s free to choose between USA and Switzerland.”
Deplomat Escalus Kennedy noted “So she can’t come out and decry the killing of civilians in Anglophone Cameroon. What a shame. Down with her nonsense.”
Nfor Wisdom called for a revisit of the law against same sex marriage in the country, saying “I said it yesterday, now and tomorrow, the law in Cameroon is paper work. Majorities of same sex practices are still out of prison. Nothing is doing them not to talk of Brenda Biya . Our government need to make sure that our law work accordingly.”
On his part, Sammy Black said “I am just watching to see what sanctions will be given to her. Is it that some people have special laws than others……if not then justice for ALL those whom have been prosecuted and locked up bcos of this same nasty and shameful act that is NOT part of our African culture and tradition.”
