Church group protests against gays and lesbians in Zimbabwe

On Sunday, a group of protesters claiming to represent various churches vandalized the perimeter wall outside the offices of the Gays and Lesbians Association of Zimbabwe (GALZ) in Harare.

The group, consisting of about a dozen men and women, sprayed graffiti with messages such as "Say No" and "Down with Homosexuals" on the wall and gate of GALZ's Milton Park offices while singing anti-homosexual songs.
GALZ reported the incident to the police, emphasizing that while they respect differing values, acts of vandalism and intimidation are unacceptable. The organization called on authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable and urged religious and political leaders to condemn such acts, highlighting the ongoing discrimination and hostility faced by the LGBTI community in Zimbabwe.

The country's 2013 constitution prohibits same-sex marriage but does not explicitly address gay relations. Laws against gay sex can result in up to three years in jail, though police often arrest and then release individuals without charges. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has stated he will be guided by the constitution, which bans homosexuality, and will not advocate for the rights of gays.