The Rwandan government has recently recognized same-sex relationships in a new sexuality education book for young people, aimed at curbing teenage pregnancies. The book, titled “Amahitamo Yanjye” (“My Choice”) in the country’s Kinyarwanda language, recognizes and promotes education about homosexuality and other sexual orientations. It also uses the “Genderbread Person” tool to educate young people about gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.
The Comprehensive Sexuality Education Toolkit is a product of Plan International Rwanda, a non-governmental organization, in collaboration with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health and Rwanda Biomedical Center. During the launch of the sexuality toolkit on March 31, Rwanda’s Permanent Secretary in the Gender and Family Promotion Ministry, Mireille Batamuliza, acknowledged it as a solution to address teenage pregnancy through sensitization. She also mentioned that the kit provides lessons for adolescents especially those out of school, parents, teachers, and health workers for additional knowledge.
While the sexuality toolkit has been praised by LGBTQ+ communities and rights defenders, it has also faced criticism from the public. The public outcry prompted the Rwandan government’s spokesperson to state that the toolkit belongs to Plan International Rwanda and denied any state institution having “validated, endorsed or adopted” it. The book’s cover, however, bears the logos of the Health Ministry, the Rwanda Biomedical Center, and Plan International Rwanda.
Rwanda is the only East African nation that treats sexual orientation as a private matter free from government interference through legislation to restrict certain sexual practices. Homosexuality remains criminalized in neighboring Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. In fact, Kenya has started cracking down on foreign teenage books with LGBTQ+ content and passed a resolution that bans public discussion, reporting, and distribution of LGBTQ+-specific material. In contrast, Rwanda recognizes the existence of gay and lesbian relationships, and the book is seen as a step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in the country.
Despite the progress made, the LGBTQ+ community in Rwanda still faces discrimination and abuse from local authorities. Various queer activists and civil society groups last year petitioned the government to collect data about the LGBTQ+ community in the August 2022 national census for consideration in planning, but their request was ignored. Activists have also called for marriage equality, a non-discrimination law, recognition of LGBTQ+ people as a distinct group to enjoy equal rights, and other policies that protect them. While the Church of God in Africa in Kigali has accepted some LGBTQ+ people and treated them equally, Rwandan society remains largely homophobic.