 |
 Dollhouse Miniatures Ice Cream Parlour Sign 12 $2.35 Time Remaining: 5d 20h 13m Buy It Now for only: $2.35 |
 Dollhouse MiniaturesIce Cream Parlour Sign 9 $2.35 Time Remaining: 5d 20h 8m Buy It Now for only: $2.35 |
 Dollhouse Miniatures Ice Cream Parlour Sign 7 $2.35 Time Remaining: 5d 20h 5m Buy It Now for only: $2.35 |
 Dollhouse Miniature Ice Cream Parlor Signs RFS103 $1.69 Time Remaining: 29d 19h 21m Buy It Now for only: $1.69 |
 Dollhouse Miniature Ice Cream Parlor Signs $1.32 Time Remaining: 12d 15h 6m Buy It Now for only: $1.32 |
 Dollhouse Miniatures Ice Cream Parlour Sign 8 $2.35 Time Remaining: 5d 20h 7m Buy It Now for only: $2.35 |
 Dollhouse Miniatures Billiard Parlor Sign $2.75 Time Remaining: 2d 21h 21m Buy It Now for only: $2.75 |
 Dollhouse Miniature Plaque Sign ICE CREAM Shop Parlor Pink Double Scoop Cones $14.99 Time Remaining: 3d 11h 46m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
 Miniature Dollhouse Signs Ice Cream Parlour $2.29 Time Remaining: 17h 59m Buy It Now for only: $2.29 |
 Dollhouse Miniatures Ice Cream Parlour Sign $3.75 Time Remaining: 8d 13h 31m Buy It Now for only: $3.75 |
 Dollhouse Miniatures Vintage style Billiard Parlor Sign $2.75 Time Remaining: 6d 14h 18m Buy It Now for only: $2.75 |
Freetown’s Hidden Sexual Identity
A single storey house on Scotland Street in the eastern end of Freetown was the venue of a quiet party on a recent Sunday afternoon. Unlike other parties in Freetown, the music was not only selective, but was toned down. Inside, the well organized party, the guests were seated in twos around small round tables. In the main parlour, there was a centre stage for dancing. All of the guests were male and this was Freetown’s version of a gay party. The party started when the soft-spoken DJ, also gay, opened the dance floor. One could not help but notice the guests’ manner of walking, speaking, and dancing. One couple on stage spent nearly three minutes kissing and slowly turning round and round as soft music played in the background.
Also in the main parlour hung a big photo of one of the world’s most famous gay couples, Sir Elton John and David Furnish during their wedding ceremony. Around 10 pm, most of the guests started departing and some of them looked prosperous. In poverty-stricken Freetown where a car is a luxury, most came with their own vehicles, and one was a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep. The owner, according to sources, was a manager at one of Freetown’s accounting firms. There were several others, students, the unemployed and even secondary school pupils.
The issue of homosexuality is not new in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown, though homosexuals have been forced to live in the shadows. But recent signs indicate that they are slowly breaking new ground and coming out of the closet. Homosexuals have serious hurdles to overcome in a relatively conservative African society like Sierra Leone's where many citizens cannot comprehend and frown upon same sex relationships.
In September 2004, Fanny Ann Eddy, a founder of the Sierra Leone Lesbian and Gay Association was raped and murdered. Like most Africans, Sierra Leoneans regard homosexuality as taboo. On a recent radio call-in programme on Freetown’s Citizens Radio, callers used all types of derogatory remarks against homosexuals. One caller went so far as to say that homosexuals should be locked up and castrated. A few called for restraint and tolerance with one lady saying that adults who wish to be gay or lesbian must be free to choose their sexual orientation, as long as they do so within the confines of the law.
Despite the negative perception of homosexuality, Sierra Leone ’s only entertainment and sport newspaper, Kalleone Entertainment and Sport recently reported that there are now a number of underground gay clubs around Freetown. The paper also asserted that there was a sizeable lesbian community in Freetown, but that you would never knew where to find them if you are new in the game. The paper also revealed that most homosexuals as stated earlier, are influential and well-to-do members of society. One bar alongside Lumley Beach caters to lesbians especially on Friday nights. This reporter was denied entrance into the bar until he could prove that he was only interested in telling their story. Inside the bar, the average Sierra Leonean will be taken aback by the number of women in attractive attire holding hands and kissing. The atmosphere was generally romantic with sweet words being whispered all around. One of the ladies who declined to be identified said, “Go and tell the world that we are living and enjoying our lives more than a man and a woman does…” She boasted that their lives are "complete and alright " and that she once dated a man but that since she became a lesbian she has found satisfaction and nothing would make her leave her newfound sexual identity.
Asked about the negative perception of homosexuality among Sierra Leoneans, she observed that sooner, more and more people of substance in society will discover the sweet passion in lesbianism and that society will gradually appreciate and tolerate them. A Madam with a lot of experience in the tourist area of Aberdeen revealed that she was at first only involved in promotion of traditional forms of prostitution. But for the past two years, she claimed, most of the rich foreign expatriates and tourists who pay valued US dollar, are asking for gay or lesbian partners. “At times for only a single night they pay US$50,” she said. She also revealed that at first there was a problem recruiting gay and lesbian prostitutes. Now, she boasted, there are loads of them. “Only yesterday I had an order from Kimbima Hotel. I went with ten gay prostitutes and only four were chosen.” Because of the competition, the Madam said that gay and lesbian prostitutes now have to be very decent and neat in appearance. “They should to be good looking too, because we now give our clients the opportunity to choose the best,” she said as she hurriedly climbed into a taxi, pointing to five anxiously looking young men sitting in the back of the Peugeot station wagon. She declined to state her destination as the taxi pulled off the curb and disappeared down the dusty road. Many Sierra Leoneans are not only hostile to these new sexual identities in their midst, but some are still refusing to believe their actual existence. The fact is they are here and little by little, are making headway. Sierra Leonean society will surely have to come to grips with the new breed of gays and lesbians.
About the Author
Gallus Brothers at Miz Kitty's Parlour