Sexuality  is a central aspect of being human throughout life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles,sexual orientation,eroticism,pleasure,intimacy and reproduction.Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts,fantasies,desires,beliefs,attitudes,values,behaviours,practices,roles and relationships.While sexuality can include all of these dimensions,not all of them are always experienced
or expressed.Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of  biological,psychological,social,economic , cultural,ethical,legal,historical,religious and spiritual factors.

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Ethiopia- - a nation of harmony, of truly diverse variety. A place where culture and social attitude define most aspects of one's identity if not all. A very close social interaction and ancient practises that have been observed and passed down for generations remain intact manly due to the fact that it was never colonized and hardly any significant inward transfer of foreign cultures  took place. Currently with over 80 million inhabitants, Ethiopia is one of the most populous nations in the African continent. It is diverse a nation as it can be yet, hundreds of languages, several nations and nationalities and countless beliefs and life style seem to exist in perfect harmony. Mutual respect prevails among religions which would be considered extremes in other parts of the world.  Ethiopians are never indifferent but rather highly reverent & considerate of  a neighbour’s cultural practice, be it a tribal chore or a family tradition' no matter how dissimilar  from ones own heritage.
       Considering Ethiopia's famous title as a land of welcoming and incredibly hospitable people and given the above overview, one might easily assume our nation to be the perfect place to be. And more often than not, it definitely is; weather you are white or black, tall or short, female or male... But unfortunately this is not always the case!
 The deeply conservative values and tradition are rather oblivious to some aspects of humanity and nature there by leaving in a black hall ' these undeniable facts of life among which are; sex and sexuality. An unspoken rule seems to restrict any different approach and our society has for generations declared that' what whoever decided these matters to be beyond taboo' to remain as they were millennia ago. While This has led to lack of any kind of sexual education, parent to child discussion or some sort of means to educate the young about this foremost aspect of existance.It on  the other hand has also lead to immeasurable degree of hate and  violent intolerance towards  any one raising the issues of Sexuality, sexual(gender)identity and subjects alike. It's either one or nothing else when it comes to sexuality hence any shape or form that is thought to be out of the ordinary is utterly inconceivable. 
  A major reflection of this culture of silence and turning deaf ears to the issue is the pandemic spread of sexually transmitted diseases mainly HIV/Aids. This could have been a possible wake up call to bring about change in attitude at large but that is still not the case.
  Sex, sexuality and any issues related are just as unmentionable in today Ethiopia as they possibly were  hundreds of years ago. And if so, one might wonder how sexual minority groups like LGBTs and even individuals with various sexual conditions exist? Truth of the matter is; They(we) don't! The simple definition of sexuality above tells how indispensable a contributing factor sexuality is to any human being's very existance.And if this aspect of life is to be unconditionally suppressed, then how does the individual exist/live? 
 For me a Gay Ethiopian, that is not life but eternal existence in limbo! 
   Some raise the argument that the two are mutually exclusive; being Ethiopian Vs. being Gay. Homosexuality is perceived as being an evil disease or curse brought up on man for his wrong doings ' courtesy of erroneous biblical interpretations and extreme religious views. hence any appearance of it in Ethiopia would then be attributed to just another shortcoming of Globalization. Further on any form of sexual condition or disorder is simply thought to be a punishment for the parents, a curse up on the family. Something not to be treated just as any other ailment but a evil whammy to be unquestionably ostracized.
     But this hardly has anything to do with the undeniable but (In my opinion) mostly insignificant flaws of being a part of globalization and trying to move with time and the rest of the world.Instead,it is one fact among many of our  mere indifference to the true facts of life as a society and a nation. Our infatuation with abiding by societal trend and not actual reasoning.
  
  History tells us that the Agaw people who are the ancestors of  the Tigre and  Amhara tribes practised same sex marriages until late 17th century Ethiopia.long before any alleged foreign culture could influence their's.
 Now was it globalization that led them to do so?  
 In fact, i have come to realize that in reality, the  reverse is the case.
I recall a Ugandan Gay rights activist saying “It is thought the white man brought homosexuality to Africa but In reality, it is  the white man that brought Homophobia!" referring  to an American evangelical preacher shouting on a loud  megaphone ''death to the homos'' -In his home town.   
   This reasoning clearly disproves the theory of homosexuality having been brought to Ethiopia by colonials and outsiders as at least some of our own  fellow Ethiopian  ancestors  accepted homosexuality and willfully allowed homosexual marriages, generations long before the white man set foot in Africa and supposedly adulterated  our tradition and what not. 

  As it is now,I believe that Ethiopia is probably the worst place to be a minority of some kind or another not only because any form of demeaning & degrading treatment towards what the majority acknowledges to be abnormal; is widely accepted' but, also because there is never protection of any sort by the governing authorities for generations. This is mainly due to the fact that state and religion have always been inseparable from monarchical dynasties to the current, presumably democratic government.  
Hence discrimination,hate,abuse,violence,physical or psychological attack against such groups even if reported, is undoubtedly over looked.  
  That being the case, how inconceivable would a natural existence be for some one which both the law and society have unconditionally despised.
 What would life be like for gay,lesbian,bisexual and transsexual brethren and sistren.what would a day be in the 21st century Ethiopia for someone like me;
a proud gay/ዜጋ Ethiopian. It certainly doesn't require a great stretch of  imagination.
 
Though this site really is no more than a drop in the ocean in terms of work that needs to be done to bring about the desired change in attitude at individual and societal levels to alter the very many misconceptions about homosexuality in habesha context and also  our Community in general, I hope that it is to the very least ,a constituent to the very first real step in the right direction - to bring about  real change. 

          A better, fairer Ethiopia free of hate, Prejudice and discrimination

                                                                                                Selam(ሰላም)