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Join on Telegram Every June, many countries in the world celebrate Pride month to reflect on the fight for LGBTQ+ civil rights. Gay equality is still an active work-in-progress for millions around the world. There are nearly seventy countries around the globe that penalize homosexual behaviors, and about half of those are in Africa. Although there is still work to be done on the issue, Morocco is seeing a huge increase in advocacy for gay equality.
While most Western countries have had several decades of LGBTQ+ advocacy, Morocco’s fight for LGBTQ+ rights is relatively new. Currently, “lewd or unnatural acts with an individual of the same sex” is illegal under Article 489 of the Moroccan Penal Code. Any relationship and sexual orientation that do not conform to the law can be punished from anything between six months to three years’ imprisonment and receive a fine ranging from $20 (MAD 200) to $100 (MAD 1,000).
Over the years, certain groups and individuals have sought to make progress in the socio-political facets of Moroccan life. LGBTQ activists have made varying degrees of progress.
One of the largest groups of gay activists is Kif-Kif, a Moroccan LGBTQ+-dedicated NGO. In 2010, Kif-Kif became pioneer in the LGBTQ+ struggle after it launched the Monthly magazine. This was a monumental first step for LGBTQ+ recognition in mainstream Moroccan culture.
Another group participating in LGBTQ+ activism is Nassawiyat. Nassawiyat, or “feminists,” is a Moroccan-based group that advocates for womens’ and LGBTQ+ rights. The group actively works to provide a safe, inclusive space for the community, in hopes of transforming Moroccan society in its recognition of and respect for these individuals.
During the lockdown period amid the COVID-19 crisis, Nassawiyat developed a report that outlines the challenges queer Moroccans faced as a result of the pandemic. They also appealed to Moroccan society to provide resources to this fragile community.
In addition to the group’s efforts to support the LGBTQ+ community, Nassawayit has also worked to develop a program that centers on the needed change that many in the Moroccan LGBTQ+ community desire.
“We are also preparing a campaign in which we will share letters, texts, pictures, and videos, which will be launched in the beginning of June and will shed light on diverse and rich opinions of LGBTQI+ people in Morocco, ” Nassawiyat announced recently.
Nassawiyat hopes to “explore what Pride month means in a country that still criminalizes homosexuality,” according to a statement from the group. What potential influences these groups may have on future political legislation remain unclear. However, organizations such as Nassawiyat and Kif Kif are still making strides towards an unparalleled time of progress for Moroccan LGBTQ+ communities.
