New York Times Journalist Documents The Lives Of The Gay Community In Ghana – PHOTOS

The question of gay rights remain anathema in deeply religious Ghana, and there's no question public opinion is deeply entrenched against even raising the issue. Those caught for committing the 'crime' of being gay face a raft of social punishments including lynching, prosecution or at the very least alienation from society. Despite all these, there exists a gay community in the country who go about their lives. Ghanaian born photo journalist Eric Gyamfi has documented their lives with a touching photo story for the New York Times. The piece, “Photos That Celebrate Ghana’s LGBT Community”- "offers rare everyday images of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in a country where it remains illegal." READ ALSO: Ghana Standards Authority Boss Resigns After Just One Week In Charge Check out the photos below....names of the subjects have been abbreviated to protect their identities. Photos credit: The New York Times [caption id="attachment_98148" align="aligncenter" width="770"] S. meets A., her girlfriend, after work. S. is a musician and A. is studying feminism and climate change for her master’s degree.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_98144" align="aligncenter" width="770"] H. and his boyfriend, M.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_98145" align="aligncenter" width="770"] H. performing in drag.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_98142" align="aligncenter" width="770"] L. and N. met through a mutual friend and have been together since September 2014. L. moved out of her home when she was 17 and has been living on her own since. “I try not to make friends. That way, I keep people away from my private life as their questions and suspicions never get answered nor confirmed,” she told the photographer. “We keep a close circle of friends who are mostly just like us. It’s not the best way to live but it has worked for us thus far.”[/caption] [caption id="attachment_98140" align="aligncenter" width="770"] N., R., and N.’s nephew cleaning in the morning. N. and R. have been together for nearly two years and live together. N. is a chef and R. is a musician.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_98139" align="aligncenter" width="770"] A. and K., and little A., making rice balls for lunch. A. and K. are a couple and have been living together for almost two years. Little A., who lives in the same compound house, spends time with them when she is not school.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_98141" align="aligncenter" width="770"] A. examining herself in her bathroom mirror.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_98147" align="aligncenter" width="770"] H., A., O., M., and Y. hanging out on a weekend when one of H.’s friends got married.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_98143" align="aligncenter" width="770"] S., who is gay, contemplating his imminent marriage to a woman. His wife was selected for him by his family. “I need a child,” he said. “My parents are demanding a grandchild, too.”[/caption] [caption id="attachment_98146" align="aligncenter" width="770"] C., who is Hindu, teaches children at the Mandir. C. is the only Hindu in an otherwise Christian family. “I had to find a way to stay religious without feeling nervous or guilty about my sexuality. Here, at the temple, I find that peace, rid of all forms of guilt,” he said. His siblings visit the Mandir with him every once in a while.[/caption]

New York Times Journalist Documents The Lives Of The Gay Community In Ghana – PHOTOS

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New York Times Journalist Documents The Lives Of The Gay Community In Ghana – PHOTOS

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