The daughter of Cameroon’s president says she hopes popping out as a lesbian may help change the nation’s legal guidelines banning same-sex relationships.
Brenda Bea instructed Le Parisien that there are various folks in the identical state of affairs as her and she or he hopes to encourage them.
The 27-year-old shared a photo of herself A kiss with one other lady final week sparked blended reactions in Cameroon.
“I am loopy about you and I would like the world to know,” she mentioned in an Instagram publish, together with a photograph of herself hugging Brazilian mannequin Layyons Valença.
in interview French newspaper Le ParisienShe mentioned she didn’t notify anybody at dwelling earlier than publishing the publish.
“Popping out is a chance to ship a powerful message,” she mentioned.
She added that she discovered anti-gay legal guidelines that existed earlier than her father got here to energy “unfair and I hope my story can change that”.
Paul Biya, 91, has served as Cameroon’s president since 1982 and is one among Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
Ms Biya mentioned she had been relationship the Brazilian mannequin for eight months and had taken her to Cameroon 3 times with out telling her household they had been in a relationship.
The musician, who lives overseas, mentioned she has obtained many messages of help in addition to unfavorable reactions since posting about her relationship.
She was blissful to disclose her id, including that she needed to present hope and “ship love” to these “struggling due to who they’re” [and] Assist them really feel much less alone”.
She instructed Le Parisien that her brother was the primary to name her after the publish was printed as a result of he was indignant that she had printed it with out informing her household.
Her mother and father, the president and first woman Chantal Biya later known as her to ask her to delete the publish. “From then on, all the things fell into silence,” she mentioned.
She mentioned she had a crush on a woman for the primary time when she was 16, however as a result of state of affairs within the nation, it was tough to specific her love.
Similar-sex relations are unlawful in Cameroon and punishable by as much as 5 years in jail.
There was no official remark from the president or first woman.
A authorities supply instructed French broadcaster RFI that the matter involved “the personal lives of adults dwelling overseas and has nothing to do with Cameroon or the pinnacle of state”.
Rights teams, which have been vital of Cameroon’s legal guidelines banning same-sex relations, hailed Ms Zambia’s revelation as a brave transfer.
