00:00:37:08 ,00:00:41:10 IÕve been in here since June 1st,2005
00:00:42:14 ,00:00:44:18 ICharged with what?
00:00:45:04 ,00:00:46:05 IHomosexuality
00:00:48:15 ,00:00:53:22 Since 1972, homosexuality has been punishable^I|^Iin Cameroun with up to 5 years in prison.
00:00:53:22 ,00:00:59:01 At that time President AhidjoÕs goal was to reunite the two Camerouns
00:00:59:01 ,00:01:01:02 the English part with the French part.
00:01:01:02 ,00:01:05:24 The new citizens minds were framed to forget about the freedom
00:01:05:24 ,00:01:09:22 they had been given since their independence 10 years earlier.
00:01:09:22 ,00:01:14:19 He enforced a repressive penal code under which homosexuality is penalized.
00:01:17:09 ,00:01:22:06 They came in through a small veranda they asked everybody to go into the bar,
00:01:23:13 ,00:01:28:10 there was around 30 of us, a bit more, we went into the bar,
00:01:28:11 ,00:01:31:00 They had called for the bus.
00:01:31:00 ,00:01:33:19 A police bus to take everyone away.
00:01:34:10 ,00:01:38:07 We asked them what we were being charged with.
00:01:38:22 ,00:01:43:18 They told us it was a roundup
00:01:43:18 ,00:01:49:23 and that at the police station the innocents would be let go.
00:01:53:11 ,00:01:56:09 Before, there was a lot of sexual abuse. ItÕs getting a bit better now.
00:01:56:09 ,00:02:02:23 The director took drastic measures but it used to be a lot worse.
00:02:02:23 ,00:02:10:12 They would use pills, drugs, put tranquilizers in your food.
00:02:10:12 ,00:02:14:08 After you ate youÕd feel tired and theyÕd drag you to their beds.
00:02:14:08 ,00:02:16:00 They donÕt do it that much nowadays
00:02:19:01 ,00:02:26:04 With my lawyer I believe in my future because they fight hard to get us out.
00:02:27:14 ,00:02:40:08 As a jurist IÕve decided to fight for legalization, because itÕs the key.
00:02:40:08 ,00:02:44:02 If we manage to get this out of the penal code, then everything becomes possible.
00:02:44:02 ,00:02:47:20 ThatÕs why I decided nd up for them.
00:02:47:22 ,00:02:53:05 Because I realized, if itÕs not me,then I canÕt really see who else will do it.
00:02:53:05 ,00:02:55:16 These children cannot stand for their rights alone,
00:02:55:16 ,00:03:01:16 because they are being prejudiced in a tough environment that judges them guilty,
00:03:01:17 ,00:03:07:01 as potential prisoners for the next five years.
00:03:07:01 ,00:03:08:16 Five years being the highest sentence.
00:03:08:17 ,00:03:15:02 That is why I agreed to fight publically for them.
00:03:24:03 ,00:03:45:21 CAMEROON
00:04:42:19 ,00:04:45:23 WhatÕs with being ready or notÉ
00:04:45:23 ,00:04:50:05 Until 1972 there was no law forbidding homosexuality and Cameroun was doing fine.
00:04:51:14 ,00:04:58:06 ItÕs none of their business, IÕm sorry, itÕs nothing to do with being ready.
00:05:09:24 ,00:05:12:01 The publication of a list of 50 homosexuals
00:05:12:01 ,00:05:17:16 that came out is proof that evil is driving our country down.
00:05:19:21 ,00:05:25:05 It is really sad to think that the people governing us are homosexuals,
00:05:25:11 ,00:05:30:08 these guys should be hung publicly, we really should hang them,
00:05:31:01 ,00:05:34:18 what they do is witchcraft!
00:05:34:20 ,00:05:38:03 How can we possibly consider a man making love to another man
00:05:38:03 ,00:05:40:11 and a woman making love to another woman?
00:05:40:11 ,00:05:43:22 From a religious or moral point of view, this isnÕt normal.
00:05:43:22 ,00:05:45:12 ItÕs very disturbing.
00:05:45:12 ,00:05:48:21 The homosexuals must change their behaviour. Cameroun must become a better country.
00:05:54:12 ,00:05:59:21 In 2006, the Cameroonian tabloids publish lists suspected homosexuals among highest levels of society.
00:05:59:21 ,00:06:04:04 According to these lists, half of the government is reported to be gay.
00:06:04:23 ,00:06:09:17 If these guys, up there in the government want to govern us, down here,
00:06:09:18 ,00:06:14:18 they donÕt want to govern us with this sect, believe me itÕs not going to happen
00:06:14:19 ,00:06:18:04 otherwise itÕs going to get heated, you know what I meanÉ
00:06:18:05 ,00:06:21:01 We think they are part of a sect,
00:06:21:13 ,00:06:23:10 we hear about Freemasonry,
00:06:23:10 ,00:06:28:10 since I was born I knew, but I never learnt,
00:06:28:11 ,00:06:32:00 I never tried to understand why two men would want to have sex together,
00:06:32:00 ,00:06:34:22 But when I learnt about it, it really surprised me.
00:06:34:22 ,00:06:36:13 I know it comes from the Western world É
00:06:53:21 ,00:06:58:01 Since the lists, they areÉ
00:06:59:20 ,00:07:03:09 They want to control visitsÉ
00:07:03:23 ,00:07:06:15 I donÕt know why because that doesnÕt change anything.
00:07:08:05 ,00:07:09:19 I donÕt have my permit.
00:07:09:20 ,00:07:12:09 Only the public prosecutor can sign it and heÕs not available today.
00:07:12:09 ,00:07:17:01 HeÕs the only one allowed to sign this, his assistants cannot do anything for me.
00:07:17:01 ,00:07:22:09 So because heÕs not free, I have to wait untilÉ
00:07:23:20 ,00:07:28:11 But, I am going to try to discuss this with the public prosecutor.
00:07:28:21 ,00:07:30:04 IÕm going to try to see.
00:07:33:18 ,00:07:37:05 I visited my clients last Friday in jail
00:07:37:06 ,00:07:41:17 and I heard they were abused, that orders were given to do so.
00:07:42:04 ,00:07:44:24 They are being raped, one after the other.
00:07:45:01 ,00:07:51:09 Did you know that among the 11, one of them is only 16 and they violate him too?
00:07:52:07 ,00:07:54:06 Do you know where I can find the public prosecutor?
00:07:57:05 ,00:07:58:24 - Have a sit here Madame. - Thank you
00:08:00:08 ,00:08:04:02 Because these guys have been in jail so far they never talked about homosexuality?
00:08:04:24 ,00:08:12:11 Some of them told me they did it to get promoted socially,
00:08:12:11 ,00:08:20:08 so all the machos are getting confused thinking they will have to get fucked to succeed.
00:08:21:07 ,00:08:24:11 I mean we hear these stories everyday,
00:08:24:11 ,00:08:28:01 but when it is women who go through the same thing it is normal, naturalÉ
00:08:28:01 ,00:08:28:23 They do not worry about it.
00:08:29:00 ,00:08:33:03 But when it comes to themselves,
00:08:33:03 ,00:08:41:21 their own social promotion to get out of unemployment, poverty,
00:08:41:24 ,00:08:43:24 they feel attacked and fear for their phallus.
00:08:44:14 ,00:08:45:22 Believe me this is the real problem.
00:08:45:24 ,00:08:48:24 In Cameroun, people used homosexuality
00:08:49:00 ,00:08:56:07 to be more powerful and to keep people under control,
00:08:56:10 ,00:08:59:07 under their yoke.
00:08:59:13 ,00:09:03:06 It all started during post-colonizationÉ
00:09:06:18 ,00:09:11:21 A doctor was sent over,
00:09:11:21 ,00:09:13:14 can I say his name?
00:09:13:19 ,00:09:15:02 Doctor Aujoulat,
00:09:15:03 ,00:09:21:13 he now has our former president and political leaders under pressure,
00:09:21:14 ,00:09:24:13 yes, the very first president in Cameroun,
00:09:24:15 ,00:09:26:11 and force them to have homosexual sex.
00:09:28:05 ,00:09:32:24 Actually Doctor Aujoulat ruled over Cameroun for France during colonization.
00:09:33:01 ,00:09:38:15 This is when he met Ahmadou Ahidjo, the future first president of the Republic of Cameroun.
00:09:39:05 ,00:09:45:15 Today, the media accuses him of accepting the colonÕs advances
00:09:45:15 ,00:09:47:16 for coming to power.
00:09:48:13 ,00:09:51:18 A white man was apparently responsible for imposing homosexuality
00:09:51:19 ,00:09:53:10 as a mean of accessing power.
00:09:55:16 ,00:09:58:05 What made the rumour very persistent
00:09:58:06 ,00:10:03:01 was that accessing power here has always been very secret.
00:10:03:02 ,00:10:05:05 It all depends on the PrinceÕs will.
00:10:05:10 ,00:10:12:05 Ignorance is a form of protection for those who canÕt face their society
00:10:12:06 ,00:10:17:20 It shows how our societies are unaware of their own cultural practicesÉ
00:10:21:22 ,00:10:28:03 and mostly how Africans canÕt take colonization and its flaws any more.
00:10:29:13 ,00:10:30:21 Hi PG, howÕs it going?
00:10:31:09 ,00:10:34:06 Tomorrow IÕm pleading the Case of the Eleven,
00:10:34:07 ,00:10:35:15 they are nine now,
00:10:35:16 ,00:10:39:01 condemned for homosexuality.
00:10:40:21 ,00:10:43:09 I came a day early because I thought I could see them
00:10:43:09 ,00:10:46:06 and talk to them to prepare tomorrowÕs hearing.
00:10:46:07 ,00:10:51:04 But at the prison I was told attorneys now needed a permit.
00:10:51:05 ,00:10:56:24 I came back to get this permit but the public prosecutor was not available.
00:10:57:20 ,00:11:03:16 Someone else told me you could sign this permit for me.
00:11:03:23 ,00:11:07:03 Well, I do not see how I could sign this paper for youÉ
00:11:07:06 ,00:11:08:24 I do not understand.
00:11:11:16 ,00:11:13:06 Who could do it better than you?
00:11:13:13 ,00:11:17:15 I will go get this permit no matter what!
00:11:18:14 ,00:11:21:08 This guy is a first class homophobe.
00:11:25:19 ,00:11:26:08 LetÕs go.
00:11:29:15 ,00:11:33:20 IÕve been travelling from Douala since 5 AM to visit clientsÉ
00:11:35:12 ,00:11:38:00 We havenÕt seen them yet. You canÕt know you werenÕt here then.
00:11:38:19 ,00:11:41:11 ItÕs my fault that we have to go through all these check today.
00:11:42:02 ,00:11:45:02 The interview with Lambert in prison stirred up a lot of interest.
00:11:46:10 ,00:11:51:16 Corrupted cops use it as an excuse to arrest me and confiscate my shooting material.
00:11:52:13 ,00:11:55:24 The night of this arrest, I was with homosexual girl friends.
00:11:56:10 ,00:11:57:18 They took the girls as well,
00:11:57:24 ,00:11:59:17 which is why I yielded to their threats
00:11:59:17 ,00:12:04:04 and paid 1500 Euros so that Muriel and Tatiana were set free
00:12:04:05 ,00:12:06:05 before they could find out they were homosexual.
00:12:06:07 ,00:12:12:14 Another example that criminalizing homosexuality is only an additional pretext for corruption
00:12:14:03 ,00:12:16:20 Muriel and Tatiana ran away from Yaounde, to Ebolown.
00:12:17:10 ,00:12:18:15 Muriel is so shocked
00:12:18:18 ,00:12:21:20 that from now on she does not want me to show her face in this documentary.
00:12:30:01 ,00:12:32:22 You are going to put this on, right? É. And powder too?
00:12:42:03 ,00:12:45:10 I put powder on so my face doesnÕt look oily,
00:12:47:04 ,00:12:48:11 Put some on me.
00:12:48:14 ,00:12:50:24 It prevents me for sweating too.
00:12:51:20 ,00:12:54:05 Put some on me too
00:12:56:24 ,00:12:59:11 You can do it yourself. YouÕre a big girl.
00:12:59:13 ,00:13:00:21 Come on, please
00:13:01:09 ,00:13:03:15 Go ahead, do as I do. Put on some lip liner too.
00:13:03:22 ,00:13:05:04 But I canÕt!
00:13:05:04 ,00:13:07:13 YouÕve got to learn to be pretty. YouÕve got to learn to look pretty.
00:13:07:17 ,00:13:08:16 Do it for me today, please
00:13:08:17 ,00:13:10:00 No, I already did it once with you!
00:13:10:04 ,00:13:12:14 Tatiana, itÕsÉ
00:13:14:13 ,00:13:17:03 I did your makeup, I did your hair!
00:13:17:06 ,00:13:18:01 Hey baby?
00:13:18:01 ,00:13:18:14 No
00:13:20:02 ,00:13:23:03 Why are you being so hard on me lately?
00:13:23:06 ,00:13:24:02 Hard?
00:13:26:06 ,00:13:32:07 IÕm not being hard with you, IÕm nice, IÕm being nice with you.
00:13:33:01 ,00:13:34:09 Thanks.
00:13:36:10 ,00:13:40:17 I wouldnÕt say that IÕve already had a strong Relationship
00:13:40:18 ,00:13:44:16 like the one IÕm having now with women.
00:13:44:18 ,00:13:48:14 SheÕs the second women that IÕve loved this much.
00:13:48:15 ,00:13:52:19 You see because, my first girlfriend was the same.
00:13:52:19 ,00:13:54:07 I loved her like I love Tatiana.
00:13:54:08 ,00:13:57:05 The only difference is that the first girl was sweeter.
00:14:02:11 ,00:14:04:14 I want you in the kitchen because youÕre a woman
00:14:08:04 ,00:14:10:04 Baby, can you hand me a plate please, babe, please, baby come onÉ
00:14:10:23 ,00:14:15:09 IÕm against women who only go with women,
00:14:20:01 ,00:14:21:23 at some point,
00:14:21:23 ,00:14:25:11 you need to feel safe in the arms of a man.
00:14:26:13 ,00:14:27:21 We need that at some point.
00:14:28:20 ,00:14:33:17 IÕve got every reason to hate men
00:14:33:19 ,00:14:36:21 and hate making love with them.
00:14:36:21 ,00:14:41:13 I got to experience a man when I was 13. It was rape.
00:14:42:22 ,00:14:44:05 DonÕt disturb me. Ok?
00:14:45:24 ,00:14:47:01 IÕm just askingÉ
00:14:47:03 ,00:14:48:17 You ask why? Just do what you want.
00:14:51:24 ,00:14:55:10 YouÕre annoying, I canÕt concentrate when youÕre around,
00:14:56:16 ,00:15:01:08 I donÕt like to talk, IÕm concentrating on what IÕm doing.
00:15:02:03 ,00:15:05:03 YouÕre annoying me, youÕre a pain in the ass!
00:15:05:09 ,00:15:07:14 Thanks! Real nice of you.
00:15:31:18 ,00:15:33:04 I understood that Cameroonians
00:15:33:04 ,00:15:40:17 donÕt like to see two girls or two guys being too close in public.
00:15:41:04 ,00:15:44:11 So to avoid being insulted, as it is often the case here,
00:15:44:16 ,00:15:45:24 you behave well,
00:15:46:00 ,00:15:51:01 you act like you are with your friends
00:15:51:01 ,00:15:53:13 otherwise they beat the shit out of you.
00:16:04:00 ,00:16:09:23 IÕm saying that if we ever find a homosexual in my kingdom
00:16:09:23 ,00:16:11:12 we will exile him.
00:16:14:09 ,00:16:17:05 What will be the consequences of this exile?
00:16:19:10 ,00:16:23:04 Banishment, yes it is banishement.
00:16:26:11 ,00:16:29:24 All gods in the village will be against him.
00:16:32:16 ,00:16:36:23 He will live like a hermit, outside of society.
00:16:39:19 ,00:16:42:24 In Cameroun, we donÕt have social security.
00:16:43:02 ,00:16:46:10 People help each other out, we take care of each other.
00:16:47:11 ,00:16:53:13 But he gets excluded from that. It is like being sentenced to death.
00:17:21:12 ,00:17:22:20 WhoÕs a poof?
00:17:23:11 ,00:17:24:19 WhoÕs a poof? Me?
00:17:26:20 ,00:17:28:03 Well IÕm not.
00:17:29:05 ,00:17:31:08 YouÕre insulting me thatÕs all I know
00:17:36:11 ,00:17:39:20 My stall is also a call box as we say in Cameroun,
00:17:41:04 ,00:17:45:11 Phone booth along the road. A counter and a sunshade.
00:17:46:14 ,00:17:51:23 People come to phone. The minute costs from 150 to 200.
00:17:52:13 ,00:17:59:18 ThatÕs a stall. The call box, the real name is a call box.
00:18:00:24 ,00:18:03:07 IÕm going to get my sunshade across the roadÉ
00:18:05:17 ,00:18:08:11 Tell her to come back with money because I gave money.
00:18:09:11 ,00:18:10:00 Where is she?
00:18:10:01 ,00:18:12:21 She said you give me 5000 when I see you
00:18:13:01 ,00:18:14:09 What 5000? ItÕs 3000?
00:18:14:13 ,00:18:16:04 She said 5000.
00:18:16:07 ,00:18:16:19 Where is she?
00:18:17:00 ,00:18:17:19 Over there.
00:18:18:03 ,00:18:19:24 Tell her I got back from Douala, tell her IÕm back.
00:18:21:00 ,00:18:22:08 You tell her to come over.
00:18:25:13 ,00:18:26:16 I got back yesterday.
00:18:26:17 ,00:18:27:05 Ah really?
00:18:27:16 ,00:18:30:08 I donÕt like it when you ask me things like that.
00:18:30:09 ,00:18:31:04 No, heÕs my little brother
00:18:31:04 ,00:18:32:12 Please, IÕm not getting into it with him.
00:18:32:24 ,00:18:35:12 IÕll pay you later, after IÕm done with my work.
00:18:36:01 ,00:18:39:10 IÕll pay you later, in a little while, you come get it.
00:18:39:17 ,00:18:41:20 Look at him, IÕm sure he wanted to harrass me
00:18:42:00 ,00:18:43:05 No, he canÕt harass you.
00:18:43:05 ,00:18:45:00 What are you talking about, you mother fucker.
00:18:45:00 ,00:18:46:11 What do you mean if I wanted to mess with you?
00:18:47:10 ,00:18:51:24 You really want me to mess with you, do you?
00:18:54:02 ,00:18:56:03 Bastard. Poof.
00:19:10:03 ,00:19:12:18 IÕd like to have a man in my life one day,
00:19:12:20 ,00:19:15:16 like my girlfriends who have a man who help them,
00:19:15:18 ,00:19:17:24 send them money to rent a house.
00:19:18:01 ,00:19:21:03 IÕd like to have this opportunity one day.
00:19:21:07 ,00:19:23:21 Yeah I could even organize a party, or a buffet
00:19:23:22 ,00:19:29:03 and tell my family IÕm a poof I think itÕd be the right time to tell them.
00:19:42:04 ,00:19:47:20 One night I went out to organize a party and I screwed up.
00:19:49:08 ,00:19:50:16 I was feeling down.
00:19:50:16 ,00:19:52:01 So I went out clubbing.
00:19:53:11 ,00:19:55:10 I was standing there, not dancing,
00:19:57:11 ,00:20:01:06 and I saw Elvis who was dancing, who was hot
00:20:05:09 ,00:20:08:22 and I said to myself he must be É
00:20:08:22 ,00:20:10:05 G. A. Y.
00:20:13:17 ,00:20:14:13 We talked a bit
00:20:14:14 ,00:20:17:05 and I told him I wanted to have fun,
00:20:17:06 ,00:20:20:11 and that if he was ok we could go home together.
00:20:20:14 ,00:20:22:06 He answered Òhow much for the nightÓ?
00:20:23:10 ,00:20:27:01 So I said I just wanted to have fun and I wouldnÕt pay.
00:20:27:02 ,00:20:30:21 We would have fun, he would like it and I would like it.
00:20:30:22 ,00:20:33:00 I wonÕt pay because then you would have to pay me too
00:20:33:00 ,00:20:35:03 since we were going to have fun together.
00:20:35:07 ,00:20:40:10 In the end he refused and said it was not his way of seeing things.
00:20:40:10 ,00:20:46:06 We met again later and we became friends.
00:20:46:08 ,00:20:47:16 Today we are friends.
00:20:55:18 ,00:20:57:09 When your family learns about your homosexuality,
00:20:57:10 ,00:20:59:11 the first thing they do is stop giving you money.
00:20:59:12 ,00:21:02:04 And you say, how am I going to live?
00:21:03:02 ,00:21:08:19 When youÕre homosexual they think youÕre loaded because you are a prostitute.
00:21:08:21 ,00:21:11:04 Up until now, IÕve never sold myself.
00:21:18:15 ,00:21:22:18 I know many things could have happened if I hadnÕt told them.
00:21:22:22 ,00:21:25:24 I could have gone on with my studies,
00:21:28:06 ,00:21:30:00 I could be with my family,
00:21:30:00 ,00:21:32:22 I wouldnÕt have to fight to earn a living
00:21:36:22 ,00:21:44:10 and I wouldnÕt be considered as someone unworthy, dirtyÉ
00:21:44:13 ,00:21:45:21 Yeah, this is how youÕre seen.
00:21:49:01 ,00:21:50:22 But itÕs the only thing I regret.
00:21:50:23 ,00:21:56:01 But besides the regrets, IÕm happy because I can go on with my life as I want it to be
00:21:56:02 ,00:22:01:05 as I like, as I feel, and it gives me a lot of happiness and strength too.
00:22:02:05 ,00:22:03:18 This is why IÕm here.
00:22:04:04 ,00:22:10:20 We are putting on an AIDS awareness program in a middle school that just expulsed two lesbians.
00:22:11:21 ,00:22:13:10 Ok, letÕs go.
00:22:15:14 ,00:22:22:05 Article 345 of the penal code that applies to these poor suspected homosexuals
00:22:23:20 ,00:22:33:16 was signed in 1972 by President Ahidjo.
00:22:33:24 ,00:22:45:15 It cannot coexist with the Constitution of January 18th,1996 that I mentioned earlier.
00:22:45:19 ,00:22:47:21 One of these two documents has to disappear
00:22:47:23 ,00:22:50:01 It will not be the Constitution
00:22:50:03 ,00:22:54:20 as it is a fundamental document for the country
00:22:54:24 ,00:23:02:10 that cannot be replaced by a totalitarian order and É
00:23:02:14 ,00:23:09:16 outright degrading for humanity.
00:23:17:19 ,00:23:19:11 Hello, how are things?
00:23:19:13 ,00:23:20:09 Hello.
00:23:21:19 ,00:23:22:09 How are you?
00:23:32:15 ,00:23:34:05 He used to think differently.
00:23:34:08 ,00:23:35:16 I donÕt like thisÉ
00:23:35:19 ,00:23:38:24 Yes but when you detect it you donÕt come in this school.
00:23:39:03 ,00:23:42:04 There are thousands of high schools, thousands!!
00:23:42:08 ,00:23:47:13 IÕm blaming those who led this campaign and told us we could come,
00:23:47:13 ,00:23:48:17 they met with those in charge.
00:23:48:19 ,00:23:59:07 IÕm blaming them because they didnÕt realise this is a homophobic school, I donÕt know.
00:24:00:09 ,00:24:03:01 There are so many schools in this bloody country!!
00:24:03:06 ,00:24:06:14 Where is he? Anybody inthere? The director!
00:24:07:13 ,00:24:09:13 But go get someone that can É
00:24:09:14 ,00:24:11:16 Someone we could talk to!
00:24:12:01 ,00:24:16:20 Is that your place? Is that you? Is it here?
00:24:16:21 ,00:24:18:02 No we have many schools here.
00:24:19:17 ,00:24:21:00 This isnÕt right!
00:24:21:01 ,00:24:28:17 We called the parents and let them know their children where homosexuals,
00:24:28:19 ,00:24:31:01 that they were indulging in lesbians behaviour
00:24:31:05 ,00:24:32:18 and that we could not tolerate such a thing.
00:24:33:12 ,00:24:38:02 After that some parents told us they knew about their childrenÕs homosexuality.
00:24:40:10 ,00:24:41:19 Did you catch them red handed?
00:24:41:20 ,00:24:48:12 No É I asked the parents not to kill their children.
00:24:48:14 ,00:24:50:22 Take them with you and see if you can save them.
00:24:51:20 ,00:24:54:10 Some told me they took them to the priest.
00:24:54:17 ,00:24:56:19 Some others took them back to the village.
00:24:57:09 ,00:24:59:24 Look at me, I am heterosexual,
00:25:00:12 ,00:25:02:23 nobody can turn me into an homosexual, never.
00:25:04:18 ,00:25:06:14 This does not happen like that.
00:25:07:15 ,00:25:10:11 It is impossible to change someone like that.
00:25:10:17 ,00:25:13:23 When theyÕre telling you they bring them to the witches, theyÕre telling you stories.
00:25:14:21 ,00:25:17:02 Ok, a law is enforced by the parliament.
00:25:17:04 ,00:25:27:11 Crimes, infractions, sentences of any kind are to be dealt with law
00:25:27:15 ,00:25:31:05 meaning only the parliament can sayÉ
00:25:31:15 ,00:25:32:22 Using force.
00:25:33:13 ,00:25:41:00 No. Can say here in Cameroon, if this is an infraction, if this is a crime.
00:25:41:08 ,00:25:42:15 When it is only an order.
00:25:42:15 ,00:25:44:12 It is only an order made in 1972.
00:25:44:12 ,00:25:47:18 Ahidjo added that. He signed it. Ok?
00:25:48:03 ,00:25:50:03 One of them has to disappear,
00:25:50:06 ,00:25:52:20 which one do you think it should it be, the order or the constitution?
00:25:52:22 ,00:25:54:14 Do you know what guarantees my rights?
00:25:55:11 ,00:25:57:00 The constitution.
00:25:59:00 ,00:26:02:13 It protects me and that is why IÕm not afraid,
00:26:02:13 ,00:26:08:14 because it guarantees rights, the ones you are flouting, penalizing.
00:26:08:15 ,00:26:09:13 - Of course
00:26:09:18 ,00:26:11:08 Here we are, so IÕm obligedÉ
00:26:11:09 ,00:26:13:09 You are right, you did the right thing.
00:26:13:09 ,00:26:15:24 Do your job. IÕm going to do the same and sue you.
00:26:16:00 ,00:26:19:15 That way, we can defend ourselves and make things move forward in this country.
00:26:20:04 ,00:26:22:01 It has nothing to do with you personally.
00:26:22:01 ,00:26:25:14 But I think it is the only way to make a change.
00:26:34:03 ,00:26:37:05 ItÕs like it triggers something really personalÉ
00:26:38:01 ,00:26:39:09 IÕm meeting my friends today.
00:26:39:20 ,00:26:41:16 Something I had deep inside, sleeping.
00:26:41:18 ,00:26:42:20 WeÕre going to shoot you.
00:26:46:17 ,00:26:48:07 I canÕt come here without seeing my mum.
00:26:48:07 ,00:26:48:23 Here she is.
00:26:49:06 ,00:26:51:17 WeÕre making a film on AIDS
00:26:52:09 ,00:26:55:13 - AIDS, what AIDS? We donÕt have AIDS?
00:26:57:01 ,00:26:59:22 TheyÕre already talking about the interviews you know.
00:26:59:22 ,00:27:01:11 They want the interviews they say.
00:27:01:11 ,00:27:02:12 But I said no.
00:27:05:13 ,00:27:07:05 WeÕre in Akwa.^I
00:27:10:08 ,00:27:14:15 Here we go, look at that, big city, big parties.
00:27:14:15 ,00:27:15:23 This is the place to be!
00:27:16:02 ,00:27:19:22 Here you have all the bars, clubsÉ
00:27:21:17 ,00:27:25:11 ItÕs a real jungle! Fiesta jungle!
00:27:29:22 ,00:27:33:02 We are in control of ourselves in Douala.
00:27:33:02 ,00:27:34:21 We are free.
00:27:34:21 ,00:27:36:23 ThatÕs why Douala isnÕt Yaounde.
00:27:37:11 ,00:27:39:04 Shoot this, take this, look!
00:27:43:08 ,00:27:48:00 Yeah, I decided to live my life for me.
00:27:48:00 ,00:27:53:07 I make myself happy before asking what someone else thinks about my life.
00:27:54:22 ,00:27:56:16 Because IÕm alive!
00:27:57:08 ,00:28:04:06 Only God can stop me from breathing, punish me for what I do because itÕs bad, nobody else.
00:28:04:20 ,00:28:10:23 Not even my dad, the one who gave me life, could deprive me of being happy!
00:28:14:14 ,00:28:17:18 Do you know Angele? YouÕll see who she is.
00:28:18:21 ,00:28:20:20 YouÕll see her today.
00:28:26:19 ,00:28:29:07 Hey why donÕt you say Hi?
00:28:30:04 ,00:28:32:00 What is it you want? Food?
00:28:32:04 ,00:28:33:20 No IÕm here to talk.
00:28:33:21 ,00:28:35:05 You came to ask me for food?
00:28:35:13 ,00:28:38:23 Angele! Angele! I donÕt have any money,
00:28:39:03 ,00:28:40:19 for at least one week, I donÕt have any money.
00:28:42:10 ,00:28:43:04 SheÕs mad at me.
00:28:43:06 ,00:28:44:22 Girls! They are terrible arenÕt they?
00:28:44:23 ,00:28:48:07 I live with someone everyday.
00:28:48:07 ,00:28:49:15 SheÕs mad at me.
00:28:50:19 ,00:28:52:02 Did you see the look she gave me?
00:28:52:24 ,00:28:54:07 SheÕs mad.
00:28:54:12 ,00:28:55:20 Angele, Angele!
00:28:56:21 ,00:28:58:04 Tell her the truth, youÕre mad arenÕt you?
00:29:03:16 ,00:29:12:11 Actually, I donÕt generally condemn homosexuality, or homosexuals.
00:29:12:11 ,00:29:15:21 I think everybody has a reason to be one.
00:29:15:23 ,00:29:17:10 Yesterday, a friend of mine told me
00:29:17:10 ,00:29:22:07 that in every family there was an homosexual we hide but who we love.
00:29:22:07 ,00:29:26:06 So we are not a society of torturers.
00:29:26:07 ,00:29:27:24 But thereÕs an elite.
00:29:27:24 ,00:29:32:04 And in this very elite youÕll find the tribalists, the sexists, the.. the..
00:29:32:05 ,00:29:34:06 all the isms that rhyme with exclusion.
00:29:34:06 ,00:29:41:04 They are the one who went crazy, became fanatics with rage and hatred.
00:29:52:19 ,00:29:57:01 I know what your movie is about, butÉ
00:30:00:21 ,00:30:03:14 I donÕt want to talk about thatÉ
00:30:08:19 ,00:30:11:19 You know, itÕs a subject I donÕt feel like bring up.
00:30:14:18 ,00:30:16:21 Can you tell me why you donÕt want to talk about it?
00:30:17:18 ,00:30:22:03 Yes, first because it is forbidden in the Bible.
00:30:22:04 ,00:30:24:24 ItÕs abomination you know. ItÕsÉ
00:30:26:10 ,00:30:29:22 ItÕs been hard for her to accept it, but now sheÕs ok.
00:30:30:15 ,00:30:38:18 She accepts but does not approve of what I do. You see?
00:30:39:02 ,00:30:40:17 She accepts it because IÕm her daughter.
00:30:40:17 ,00:30:44:18 Once she told me she wouldnÕt reject me because IÕm bisexual,
00:30:44:20 ,00:30:46:21 but she accepted me as a I am, as her daughter.
00:30:51:13 ,00:30:57:13 Sometimes, if we need money, Muriel helps us, if she can.
00:30:59:07 ,00:31:00:16 How does she help you?
00:31:02:08 ,00:31:09:02 Well, her boyfriend cares a lot about us.
00:31:14:11 ,00:31:16:17 He knows we have to pay the rent.
00:31:18:05 ,00:31:19:16 I donÕt like Olivier you know?
00:31:19:18 ,00:31:20:15 No, I really donÕt like him!
00:31:20:15 ,00:31:23:12 I respect him, but even if I happen to fall in love with a man
00:31:23:12 ,00:31:26:23 I wonÕt give up a woman.
00:31:27:02 ,00:31:28:21 Because this is who I am.
00:31:28:21 ,00:31:31:06 If I happen to love a man, IÕm not going to give up women.
00:31:31:09 ,00:31:35:23 IÕll tell him,ÔI love you, but I also love Tatiana.
00:31:36:00 ,00:31:39:17 YouÕll have to accept me like that. '
00:31:40:09 ,00:31:43:12 I know that when youÕre young you want to have fun.
00:31:47:19 ,00:31:49:08 I also know sheÕs going to calm down.
00:31:49:10 ,00:31:52:12 Of course IÕm not lesbian, like totally lesbian,
00:31:54:08 ,00:31:58:21 but you see I stand for my brothers and sisters.
00:31:58:22 ,00:32:03:01 I Õd so much like them toÉtoÉ
00:32:03:02 ,00:32:04:21 I meanÉ
00:32:09:12 ,00:32:11:24 IÕm saying they should do what they want toÉ
00:32:12:01 ,00:32:17:10 You see É they should have this freedom that we give them
00:32:17:10 ,00:32:21:13 this freedom to do what they want where they want
00:32:21:13 ,00:32:27:15 without being threatened or punished or arrested.
00:32:27:19 ,00:32:32:06 You see? This is all I want. I mean, this is what I want most.
00:32:34:21 ,00:32:40:09 Anyway, all I know is that it is not going to happen soon, not even in a yearÉ
00:32:41:05 ,00:32:45:18 May be 2 years! And who knows, may be in 6 months, we never know.
00:32:45:20 ,00:32:47:07 We have hope. We still have hope.
00:33:07:06 ,00:33:09:18 My mum has 7 children, IÕm the 7th,
00:33:09:19 ,00:33:15:08 IÕve got 6 siblings,2 big sisters,4 big brothers.
00:33:15:17 ,00:33:19:23 IÕm the youngest. Humhum. IÕm the youngest.
00:33:22:21 ,00:33:28:22 Life has been tough, because my parents arenÕt really well off.
00:33:29:05 ,00:33:33:01 Life was tough but I always had something to eat.
00:33:58:23 ,00:33:59:24 Who are we visiting?
00:34:00:04 ,00:34:03:21 Eh, at my big brotherÕs place, the 3rd one.
00:34:08:23 ,00:34:13:09 I donÕt really know where he lives because itÕs been a while since I last saw him É
00:34:13:11 ,00:34:14:20 you know, since I last visited him.
00:34:15:14 ,00:34:17:08 Hello, what do I do, IÕm at F. Yeah. ItÕs F isnÕt it?
00:34:19:23 ,00:34:23:07 Yes, hold on, can you explain it to the taxi driver?
00:34:31:04 ,00:34:35:23 I decided that one day IÕd tell my brothers and sisters or my family that IÕm homosexual.
00:34:35:23 ,00:34:38:24 When I could make a living, when IÕd found a man who could support me.
00:34:39:24 ,00:34:42:02 Then I could tell them, here, IÕm free.
00:34:42:02 ,00:34:44:02 Here is the way I chose to live, a double life,
00:34:44:03 ,00:34:46:15 and thatÕs the way it is. Yes, thatÕs the way it is. ThatÕs it.
00:34:49:06 ,00:34:51:00 Are we there?
00:34:57:01 ,00:34:58:20 Hello! How is it going? ItÕs so remote!
00:35:13:10 ,00:35:16:18 Tell me what do you think when you see me with my friends?
00:35:16:19 ,00:35:18:19 What do you think about my future?
00:35:19:15 ,00:35:22:09 YouÕre future? Are you kidding me?
00:35:22:09 ,00:35:24:03 Only God can know
00:35:27:00 ,00:35:30:23 IÕm happy to see you with your friends. Even if this isnÕt in France.
00:35:31:24 ,00:35:33:18 Even if youÕre in Cameroun
00:35:33:19 ,00:35:40:01 and that your friends can understand that they have a friend called Elvis,
00:35:40:01 ,00:35:42:03 and that they try to find you someone.
00:35:43:14 ,00:35:45:08 The only thing we want is to see you in a family.
00:35:48:00 ,00:35:52:14 If you like your friends, if you keep all these girls around you
00:35:52:15 ,00:35:57:01 then it isnÕt too badÉ hummÉ. CanÕt be badÉ
00:36:39:03 ,00:36:43:03 How are you doing? I'm glad to see you
00:36:43:19 ,00:36:49:07 Ah! YouÕre tied up? Are you?
00:36:49:15 ,00:36:52:10 It looks like you weÕre in a concentration camp.
00:36:56:03 ,00:36:57:14 ItÕs sad.
00:36:57:16 ,00:37:01:09 You speak the language you want. English if it makes you feel better.
00:37:01:11 ,00:37:03:14 You speak English. Not a word in French.
00:37:04:13 ,00:37:06:11 Well, who are those who say yes!
00:37:08:04 ,00:37:10:13 Hey you two? He? Two is enough.
00:37:10:15 ,00:37:12:05 Lamb and you!
00:37:12:09 ,00:37:15:13 What are we going to say? Revision?
00:37:15:22 ,00:37:20:01 I decided because IÕm a down to earth woman
00:37:21:03 ,00:37:23:10 to go for abstinence
00:37:24:11 ,00:37:30:03 Yes, but IÕm not denying who I am and what I feel.
00:37:30:16 ,00:37:32:24 This is how you should do. Otherwise IÉ
00:37:33:08 ,00:37:34:22 What about you?
00:37:34:24 ,00:37:36:19 You have a nice story to share too?
00:37:38:19 ,00:37:43:10 The State Prosecutor himself said that he was to much of a good catholic
00:37:43:10 ,00:37:50:11 to accept the idea that, we, lawyers, could defend homosexuals.
00:37:50:14 ,00:37:54:07 He arrested people on June 1st,2005.
00:37:55:16 ,00:38:01:19 Then he started to look for evidence of their homosexuality.
00:38:01:19 ,00:38:05:24 He demanded a CUSS doctor to make an expertise
00:38:06:02 ,00:38:11:17 and to carry out tests on my clientÕs anuses
00:38:12:00 ,00:38:18:14 to determine under oath whether they had had homosexual intercourse.
00:38:48:24 ,00:38:53:23 Now I know for sure he is a homophobe and not so much of a man of law.
00:38:55:03 ,00:39:06:23 HeÕs not the kind of guy whoÕs prone to see things through the Law.
00:39:07:14 ,00:39:10:14 Christian! You need your mattress?
00:39:11:19 ,00:39:12:20 How much do you need?
00:39:13:10 ,00:39:15:05 Keep this away from robbers, will you.
00:39:17:17 ,00:39:21:22 Once youÕre out weÕve got to keep in touch right?
00:39:23:06 ,00:39:33:16 We got to fight together to get the others out too.
00:39:34:22 ,00:39:36:04 This is only the beginning.
00:39:37:15 ,00:39:39:10 The trial is postponed for three months.
00:39:40:07 ,00:39:42:07 The verdict is announced on June 12th,2006
00:39:42:22 ,00:39:46:03 Two are non guilty, seven are sentenced to eight months imprisonment.
00:39:46:04 ,00:39:50:07 But their are all set free because they already spent one year in jail.
00:39:50:20 ,00:39:55:14 Alice complained to the Court of Justice to expose this juridical paradox
00:39:55:15 ,00:40:01:09 and the inconsistency between the order ratified by the President in 1972
00:40:01:09 ,00:40:06:18 and the 1996 constitution requiring all laws to be ratified by the Assembly.
00:40:06:24 ,00:40:11:17 She secretly wants to lose this round to go on to the Supreme Court.
00:40:11:17 ,00:40:14:03 The only way to address this issue
00:40:14:03 ,00:40:19:08 and come to terms with the debate on prosecuting homosexuality.
00:40:20:00 ,00:40:22:20 But two years later the economic crisis starts in Africa.
00:40:23:10 ,00:40:24:19 Cameroun is not spared.
00:40:47:19 ,00:40:49:20 The official figures say 40 people died,
00:40:49:20 ,00:40:52:15 others say that it might be more than 100.
00:40:52:18 ,00:40:55:09 Whatever the figures, it was incredibly violent.
00:40:55:09 ,00:40:57:18 Some demonstrated because life is too expensive.
00:40:57:18 ,00:41:03:20 Some others did not want the constitution to be reviewed.
00:41:03:20 ,00:41:11:08 Some wanted to reopen radios or TV channels that had closed a few weeks before,
00:41:11:08 ,00:41:14:14 Ilike Equinoxe radio and television and Magic FM in Yaounde.
00:41:20:00 ,00:41:22:20 It's Equinoxe! It's Equinoxe!
00:41:26:12 ,00:41:32:03 Can you see the Cameroun of Paul Biya? Can you?
00:41:33:01 ,00:41:36:07 ItÕs all guns. There are already 8 deaths.
00:41:39:24 ,00:41:43:18 In 1990 Paul BIYA founded a Freedom Commission.
00:41:44:18 ,00:41:47:24 Cameroun opens to multi-partisan system and freedom of speech.
00:41:48:24 ,00:41:50:23 Today this very same president
00:41:50:23 ,00:41:54:12 is changing the constitution to be elected in 2011
00:41:58:11 ,00:42:03:16 The road to democracy, first felt 20 years ago, is a long, winding path.
00:42:11:00 ,00:42:16:00 With what I see in other African countries, I wouldnÕt like it to happen here.
00:42:16:13 ,00:42:19:08 For instance in Congo the women and children are raped.
00:42:20:19 ,00:42:26:02 They are killing everyone in Ivory Coast, in Kenya,
00:42:26:02 ,00:42:28:22 I wouldnÕt like it to happen here.
00:42:32:14 ,00:42:35:09 I think the government will do something.
00:42:55:01 ,00:42:58:09 Freedom in Cameroon? No, thereÕs no such thing here.
00:42:59:03 ,00:43:00:20 We arenÕt free.
00:43:01:06 ,00:43:10:04 I say to myself ÔDo what you have to do here and run awayÕ.
00:43:11:08 ,00:43:16:24 This country sucks, really.
00:43:26:13 ,00:43:30:11 We donÕt know where we belong toÉ us homosexuals.
00:43:30:17 ,00:43:37:14 We donÕt know what they want. Whether they want us to express ourselves or hide.
00:43:37:14 ,00:43:39:23 We really donÕt understand.
00:43:40:12 ,00:43:47:12 But I think that compared to a few years ago we are tolerated.
00:43:52:24 ,00:43:55:01 This is my bar. This is the place to be.
00:43:55:01 ,00:43:57:20 I chose the name.
00:43:57:20 ,00:44:01:04 I opened it a year ago. I wanted to evolve a bit.
00:44:03:13 ,00:44:06:08 It's light. It's light.
00:44:10:10 ,00:44:15:05 But we donÕt care. We live our life, tomorrow we can die, thatÕs life.
00:44:15:11 ,00:44:17:21 The thing is I am not an homosexual. IÕm not homosexual.
00:44:17:21 ,00:44:21:01 I like this place. You can have fun,
00:44:21:01 ,00:44:25:09 everybody has fun, can express themselves freely.
00:44:32:08 ,00:44:34:10 It proves that there are many of us.
00:44:34:10 ,00:44:40:09 It proves that each one of us feels like getting in touch with their family and talking.
00:44:42:08 ,00:44:44:06 Nathalie is really happy in her bar
00:44:44:06 ,00:44:46:07 where people from the neighbourhood and homosexuals mingle.
00:44:46:07 ,00:44:47:19 The first of its kind in Doula.
00:44:48:00 ,00:44:49:13 But Doula is not like Yaounde.
00:44:49:14 ,00:44:51:20 People keep being arrested in Yaound.
00:44:52:17 ,00:44:56:10 Moreover with the crisis Cameroonians are more preoccupied by survival
00:44:56:10 ,00:44:59:05 than by the homosexuality cause which is put on the back burner.
00:45:05:13 ,00:45:11:13 IÕve got a friend in England. HeÕs the one I told you I loved.
00:45:11:17 ,00:45:16:06 But you know what we say, out of sight, out of mind.
00:45:16:07 ,00:45:18:16 I donÕt see him, he doesnÕt see me. We donÕt know.
00:45:19:04 ,00:45:21:02 This one, we were in Kibri, that one too.
00:45:21:09 ,00:45:22:13 Ah! You were in Cameroon then?
00:45:22:19 ,00:45:24:09 Yes, he already came here
00:45:24:09 ,00:45:27:03 But he told me he wouldnÕt come back because heÕs afraid he will be arrested.
00:45:27:03 ,00:45:29:23 HeÕs afraid of being arrested. Yeah. ItÕs him again.
00:45:32:24 ,00:45:35:11 While Elvis and Serge wait and see,
00:45:35:12 ,00:45:39:01 Lambert who got out of prison 2 years ago Idecides to stand for his rights.
00:45:42:12 ,00:45:45:07 When I got out I first committed to Alice NÕkomÕs association ADFHO
00:45:45:15 ,00:45:48:00 defending homosexuals rights.
00:45:48:00 ,00:45:50:17 Then to Alternative Cameroun.
00:45:50:18 ,00:45:55:05 I work with jails and lawyers each time there is an arrest.
00:45:55:05 ,00:45:59:04 I first contact the association to let them know
00:45:59:04 ,00:46:03:23 and when I have their authorization I refer the case to the lawyer
00:46:04:03 ,00:46:08:06 so he goes into the field to find out how much the fees will cost and so on.
00:46:13:16 ,00:46:16:11 I wanted to have elements to be able to, I mean É
00:46:16:18 ,00:46:19:13 to be used by Sir TOGUE to put the ClerkÕs Office under pressureÉ
00:46:21:01 ,00:46:24:05 to make things move faster.
00:46:25:06 ,00:46:30:03 You ask the head of the penal department how the appeal procedure is going.
00:46:32:02 ,00:46:33:03 So who do you have news from?
00:46:33:03 ,00:46:35:23 What about my young fellow, the one under 18?
00:46:36:00 ,00:46:38:20 - Angoula. - WhatÕs up with him, do you have any news?
00:46:38:24 ,00:46:40:22 - Yes - Is he still studying?
00:46:40:23 ,00:46:43:02 - No - He dropped out of school?
00:46:44:17 ,00:46:50:18 Ok! Bye sweetie. See you soon. ItÕs a good thing you decided to get involved with us.
00:46:51:01 ,00:46:53:21 - Thanks - YouÕre doing the right thing. Bye. Ciao.
00:46:59:14 ,00:47:03:09 What really changed is that deep inside I feel É
00:47:03:13 ,00:47:07:02 I feel much moreÉ I got in touch with my homo side.
00:47:08:03 ,00:47:16:05 Last time I thought I was bi. I truly made my coming out.
00:47:17:17 ,00:47:21:18 Sexuality is generally alike in all societies
00:47:21:18 ,00:47:24:07 In Cameroun it is strange.
00:47:24:23 ,00:47:28:07 It is based on power,
00:47:28:07 ,00:47:33:04 on the relationship between dominant and dominated, strong and weak.
00:47:35:10 ,00:47:40:19 I've met someone, Alfred, he is 23 years old, and we live together
00:47:41:06 ,00:47:42:19 - Alfred - Yes
00:47:43:11 ,00:47:46:04 - Could you come here please? - I'm coming
00:47:52:18 ,00:47:59:19 He wants me to bring money home, to find a job
00:48:00:16 ,00:48:02:20 - Could you make the bed? - Yes.
00:48:06:14 ,00:48:13:13 Meanwhile, he tries to help on the household chores
00:48:13:16 ,00:48:20:05 as a compensation of his henpecked role.
00:48:23:00 ,00:48:27:01 It is a way for the dominated to show their will
00:48:27:10 ,00:48:33:02 to break the mould that had existed for ages,
00:48:33:08 ,00:48:36:10 and try to put an end to this domination relationship.
00:48:36:22 ,00:48:42:13 The typical characteristic of power in Cameroon is that it is hidden,
00:48:42:19 ,00:48:45:03 you have to decrypt this subtlety.
00:48:45:03 ,00:48:47:14 I mean you have to understand the logic
00:48:47:22 ,00:48:52:06 and to do so you need to have been immersed in Cameroonian culture.
00:49:17:18 ,00:49:20:01 Nature calls me and accuses me
00:49:21:04 ,00:49:23:12 Society marginalises me and condemns me
00:49:24:16 ,00:49:27:11 My sense of guilt overwhelms me
00:49:28:16 ,00:49:31:07 I feel my strength leaving me, abandoning me,
00:49:31:16 ,00:49:34:12 When I think that IÕm fighting to beat you
00:49:35:09 ,00:49:38:22 I eventually accept to let you stay in peace with myself.
00:50:29:15 ,00:50:32:12 In 2009, the appeal procedure is still held up in the Court of Yaound.
00:50:33:19 ,00:50:39:20 After the association for the rights of homosexuals (ADEFHO), Alice has created the Group for Families with Homosexual Children
00:50:40:15 ,00:50:49:05 This new institution works so that families no longer disown their children. Alice knows that the family is the one place where changing attitudes is possible because family do not give their children up to the police.
00:50:50:05 ,00:50:54:16 The self-righteous Cameroonians are still homophobe.To this day, homosexuality is a crime.
00:00:42:14 ,00:00:44:18 ICharged with what?
00:00:45:04 ,00:00:46:05 IHomosexuality
00:00:48:15 ,00:00:53:22 Since 1972, homosexuality has been punishable^I|^Iin Cameroun with up to 5 years in prison.
00:00:53:22 ,00:00:59:01 At that time President AhidjoÕs goal was to reunite the two Camerouns
00:00:59:01 ,00:01:01:02 the English part with the French part.
00:01:01:02 ,00:01:05:24 The new citizens minds were framed to forget about the freedom
00:01:05:24 ,00:01:09:22 they had been given since their independence 10 years earlier.
00:01:09:22 ,00:01:14:19 He enforced a repressive penal code under which homosexuality is penalized.
00:01:17:09 ,00:01:22:06 They came in through a small veranda they asked everybody to go into the bar,
00:01:23:13 ,00:01:28:10 there was around 30 of us, a bit more, we went into the bar,
00:01:28:11 ,00:01:31:00 They had called for the bus.
00:01:31:00 ,00:01:33:19 A police bus to take everyone away.
00:01:34:10 ,00:01:38:07 We asked them what we were being charged with.
00:01:38:22 ,00:01:43:18 They told us it was a roundup
00:01:43:18 ,00:01:49:23 and that at the police station the innocents would be let go.
00:01:53:11 ,00:01:56:09 Before, there was a lot of sexual abuse. ItÕs getting a bit better now.
00:01:56:09 ,00:02:02:23 The director took drastic measures but it used to be a lot worse.
00:02:02:23 ,00:02:10:12 They would use pills, drugs, put tranquilizers in your food.
00:02:10:12 ,00:02:14:08 After you ate youÕd feel tired and theyÕd drag you to their beds.
00:02:14:08 ,00:02:16:00 They donÕt do it that much nowadays
00:02:19:01 ,00:02:26:04 With my lawyer I believe in my future because they fight hard to get us out.
00:02:27:14 ,00:02:40:08 As a jurist IÕve decided to fight for legalization, because itÕs the key.
00:02:40:08 ,00:02:44:02 If we manage to get this out of the penal code, then everything becomes possible.
00:02:44:02 ,00:02:47:20 ThatÕs why I decided nd up for them.
00:02:47:22 ,00:02:53:05 Because I realized, if itÕs not me,then I canÕt really see who else will do it.
00:02:53:05 ,00:02:55:16 These children cannot stand for their rights alone,
00:02:55:16 ,00:03:01:16 because they are being prejudiced in a tough environment that judges them guilty,
00:03:01:17 ,00:03:07:01 as potential prisoners for the next five years.
00:03:07:01 ,00:03:08:16 Five years being the highest sentence.
00:03:08:17 ,00:03:15:02 That is why I agreed to fight publically for them.
00:03:24:03 ,00:03:45:21 CAMEROON
00:04:42:19 ,00:04:45:23 WhatÕs with being ready or notÉ
00:04:45:23 ,00:04:50:05 Until 1972 there was no law forbidding homosexuality and Cameroun was doing fine.
00:04:51:14 ,00:04:58:06 ItÕs none of their business, IÕm sorry, itÕs nothing to do with being ready.
00:05:09:24 ,00:05:12:01 The publication of a list of 50 homosexuals
00:05:12:01 ,00:05:17:16 that came out is proof that evil is driving our country down.
00:05:19:21 ,00:05:25:05 It is really sad to think that the people governing us are homosexuals,
00:05:25:11 ,00:05:30:08 these guys should be hung publicly, we really should hang them,
00:05:31:01 ,00:05:34:18 what they do is witchcraft!
00:05:34:20 ,00:05:38:03 How can we possibly consider a man making love to another man
00:05:38:03 ,00:05:40:11 and a woman making love to another woman?
00:05:40:11 ,00:05:43:22 From a religious or moral point of view, this isnÕt normal.
00:05:43:22 ,00:05:45:12 ItÕs very disturbing.
00:05:45:12 ,00:05:48:21 The homosexuals must change their behaviour. Cameroun must become a better country.
00:05:54:12 ,00:05:59:21 In 2006, the Cameroonian tabloids publish lists suspected homosexuals among highest levels of society.
00:05:59:21 ,00:06:04:04 According to these lists, half of the government is reported to be gay.
00:06:04:23 ,00:06:09:17 If these guys, up there in the government want to govern us, down here,
00:06:09:18 ,00:06:14:18 they donÕt want to govern us with this sect, believe me itÕs not going to happen
00:06:14:19 ,00:06:18:04 otherwise itÕs going to get heated, you know what I meanÉ
00:06:18:05 ,00:06:21:01 We think they are part of a sect,
00:06:21:13 ,00:06:23:10 we hear about Freemasonry,
00:06:23:10 ,00:06:28:10 since I was born I knew, but I never learnt,
00:06:28:11 ,00:06:32:00 I never tried to understand why two men would want to have sex together,
00:06:32:00 ,00:06:34:22 But when I learnt about it, it really surprised me.
00:06:34:22 ,00:06:36:13 I know it comes from the Western world É
00:06:53:21 ,00:06:58:01 Since the lists, they areÉ
00:06:59:20 ,00:07:03:09 They want to control visitsÉ
00:07:03:23 ,00:07:06:15 I donÕt know why because that doesnÕt change anything.
00:07:08:05 ,00:07:09:19 I donÕt have my permit.
00:07:09:20 ,00:07:12:09 Only the public prosecutor can sign it and heÕs not available today.
00:07:12:09 ,00:07:17:01 HeÕs the only one allowed to sign this, his assistants cannot do anything for me.
00:07:17:01 ,00:07:22:09 So because heÕs not free, I have to wait untilÉ
00:07:23:20 ,00:07:28:11 But, I am going to try to discuss this with the public prosecutor.
00:07:28:21 ,00:07:30:04 IÕm going to try to see.
00:07:33:18 ,00:07:37:05 I visited my clients last Friday in jail
00:07:37:06 ,00:07:41:17 and I heard they were abused, that orders were given to do so.
00:07:42:04 ,00:07:44:24 They are being raped, one after the other.
00:07:45:01 ,00:07:51:09 Did you know that among the 11, one of them is only 16 and they violate him too?
00:07:52:07 ,00:07:54:06 Do you know where I can find the public prosecutor?
00:07:57:05 ,00:07:58:24 - Have a sit here Madame. - Thank you
00:08:00:08 ,00:08:04:02 Because these guys have been in jail so far they never talked about homosexuality?
00:08:04:24 ,00:08:12:11 Some of them told me they did it to get promoted socially,
00:08:12:11 ,00:08:20:08 so all the machos are getting confused thinking they will have to get fucked to succeed.
00:08:21:07 ,00:08:24:11 I mean we hear these stories everyday,
00:08:24:11 ,00:08:28:01 but when it is women who go through the same thing it is normal, naturalÉ
00:08:28:01 ,00:08:28:23 They do not worry about it.
00:08:29:00 ,00:08:33:03 But when it comes to themselves,
00:08:33:03 ,00:08:41:21 their own social promotion to get out of unemployment, poverty,
00:08:41:24 ,00:08:43:24 they feel attacked and fear for their phallus.
00:08:44:14 ,00:08:45:22 Believe me this is the real problem.
00:08:45:24 ,00:08:48:24 In Cameroun, people used homosexuality
00:08:49:00 ,00:08:56:07 to be more powerful and to keep people under control,
00:08:56:10 ,00:08:59:07 under their yoke.
00:08:59:13 ,00:09:03:06 It all started during post-colonizationÉ
00:09:06:18 ,00:09:11:21 A doctor was sent over,
00:09:11:21 ,00:09:13:14 can I say his name?
00:09:13:19 ,00:09:15:02 Doctor Aujoulat,
00:09:15:03 ,00:09:21:13 he now has our former president and political leaders under pressure,
00:09:21:14 ,00:09:24:13 yes, the very first president in Cameroun,
00:09:24:15 ,00:09:26:11 and force them to have homosexual sex.
00:09:28:05 ,00:09:32:24 Actually Doctor Aujoulat ruled over Cameroun for France during colonization.
00:09:33:01 ,00:09:38:15 This is when he met Ahmadou Ahidjo, the future first president of the Republic of Cameroun.
00:09:39:05 ,00:09:45:15 Today, the media accuses him of accepting the colonÕs advances
00:09:45:15 ,00:09:47:16 for coming to power.
00:09:48:13 ,00:09:51:18 A white man was apparently responsible for imposing homosexuality
00:09:51:19 ,00:09:53:10 as a mean of accessing power.
00:09:55:16 ,00:09:58:05 What made the rumour very persistent
00:09:58:06 ,00:10:03:01 was that accessing power here has always been very secret.
00:10:03:02 ,00:10:05:05 It all depends on the PrinceÕs will.
00:10:05:10 ,00:10:12:05 Ignorance is a form of protection for those who canÕt face their society
00:10:12:06 ,00:10:17:20 It shows how our societies are unaware of their own cultural practicesÉ
00:10:21:22 ,00:10:28:03 and mostly how Africans canÕt take colonization and its flaws any more.
00:10:29:13 ,00:10:30:21 Hi PG, howÕs it going?
00:10:31:09 ,00:10:34:06 Tomorrow IÕm pleading the Case of the Eleven,
00:10:34:07 ,00:10:35:15 they are nine now,
00:10:35:16 ,00:10:39:01 condemned for homosexuality.
00:10:40:21 ,00:10:43:09 I came a day early because I thought I could see them
00:10:43:09 ,00:10:46:06 and talk to them to prepare tomorrowÕs hearing.
00:10:46:07 ,00:10:51:04 But at the prison I was told attorneys now needed a permit.
00:10:51:05 ,00:10:56:24 I came back to get this permit but the public prosecutor was not available.
00:10:57:20 ,00:11:03:16 Someone else told me you could sign this permit for me.
00:11:03:23 ,00:11:07:03 Well, I do not see how I could sign this paper for youÉ
00:11:07:06 ,00:11:08:24 I do not understand.
00:11:11:16 ,00:11:13:06 Who could do it better than you?
00:11:13:13 ,00:11:17:15 I will go get this permit no matter what!
00:11:18:14 ,00:11:21:08 This guy is a first class homophobe.
00:11:25:19 ,00:11:26:08 LetÕs go.
00:11:29:15 ,00:11:33:20 IÕve been travelling from Douala since 5 AM to visit clientsÉ
00:11:35:12 ,00:11:38:00 We havenÕt seen them yet. You canÕt know you werenÕt here then.
00:11:38:19 ,00:11:41:11 ItÕs my fault that we have to go through all these check today.
00:11:42:02 ,00:11:45:02 The interview with Lambert in prison stirred up a lot of interest.
00:11:46:10 ,00:11:51:16 Corrupted cops use it as an excuse to arrest me and confiscate my shooting material.
00:11:52:13 ,00:11:55:24 The night of this arrest, I was with homosexual girl friends.
00:11:56:10 ,00:11:57:18 They took the girls as well,
00:11:57:24 ,00:11:59:17 which is why I yielded to their threats
00:11:59:17 ,00:12:04:04 and paid 1500 Euros so that Muriel and Tatiana were set free
00:12:04:05 ,00:12:06:05 before they could find out they were homosexual.
00:12:06:07 ,00:12:12:14 Another example that criminalizing homosexuality is only an additional pretext for corruption
00:12:14:03 ,00:12:16:20 Muriel and Tatiana ran away from Yaounde, to Ebolown.
00:12:17:10 ,00:12:18:15 Muriel is so shocked
00:12:18:18 ,00:12:21:20 that from now on she does not want me to show her face in this documentary.
00:12:30:01 ,00:12:32:22 You are going to put this on, right? É. And powder too?
00:12:42:03 ,00:12:45:10 I put powder on so my face doesnÕt look oily,
00:12:47:04 ,00:12:48:11 Put some on me.
00:12:48:14 ,00:12:50:24 It prevents me for sweating too.
00:12:51:20 ,00:12:54:05 Put some on me too
00:12:56:24 ,00:12:59:11 You can do it yourself. YouÕre a big girl.
00:12:59:13 ,00:13:00:21 Come on, please
00:13:01:09 ,00:13:03:15 Go ahead, do as I do. Put on some lip liner too.
00:13:03:22 ,00:13:05:04 But I canÕt!
00:13:05:04 ,00:13:07:13 YouÕve got to learn to be pretty. YouÕve got to learn to look pretty.
00:13:07:17 ,00:13:08:16 Do it for me today, please
00:13:08:17 ,00:13:10:00 No, I already did it once with you!
00:13:10:04 ,00:13:12:14 Tatiana, itÕsÉ
00:13:14:13 ,00:13:17:03 I did your makeup, I did your hair!
00:13:17:06 ,00:13:18:01 Hey baby?
00:13:18:01 ,00:13:18:14 No
00:13:20:02 ,00:13:23:03 Why are you being so hard on me lately?
00:13:23:06 ,00:13:24:02 Hard?
00:13:26:06 ,00:13:32:07 IÕm not being hard with you, IÕm nice, IÕm being nice with you.
00:13:33:01 ,00:13:34:09 Thanks.
00:13:36:10 ,00:13:40:17 I wouldnÕt say that IÕve already had a strong Relationship
00:13:40:18 ,00:13:44:16 like the one IÕm having now with women.
00:13:44:18 ,00:13:48:14 SheÕs the second women that IÕve loved this much.
00:13:48:15 ,00:13:52:19 You see because, my first girlfriend was the same.
00:13:52:19 ,00:13:54:07 I loved her like I love Tatiana.
00:13:54:08 ,00:13:57:05 The only difference is that the first girl was sweeter.
00:14:02:11 ,00:14:04:14 I want you in the kitchen because youÕre a woman
00:14:08:04 ,00:14:10:04 Baby, can you hand me a plate please, babe, please, baby come onÉ
00:14:10:23 ,00:14:15:09 IÕm against women who only go with women,
00:14:20:01 ,00:14:21:23 at some point,
00:14:21:23 ,00:14:25:11 you need to feel safe in the arms of a man.
00:14:26:13 ,00:14:27:21 We need that at some point.
00:14:28:20 ,00:14:33:17 IÕve got every reason to hate men
00:14:33:19 ,00:14:36:21 and hate making love with them.
00:14:36:21 ,00:14:41:13 I got to experience a man when I was 13. It was rape.
00:14:42:22 ,00:14:44:05 DonÕt disturb me. Ok?
00:14:45:24 ,00:14:47:01 IÕm just askingÉ
00:14:47:03 ,00:14:48:17 You ask why? Just do what you want.
00:14:51:24 ,00:14:55:10 YouÕre annoying, I canÕt concentrate when youÕre around,
00:14:56:16 ,00:15:01:08 I donÕt like to talk, IÕm concentrating on what IÕm doing.
00:15:02:03 ,00:15:05:03 YouÕre annoying me, youÕre a pain in the ass!
00:15:05:09 ,00:15:07:14 Thanks! Real nice of you.
00:15:31:18 ,00:15:33:04 I understood that Cameroonians
00:15:33:04 ,00:15:40:17 donÕt like to see two girls or two guys being too close in public.
00:15:41:04 ,00:15:44:11 So to avoid being insulted, as it is often the case here,
00:15:44:16 ,00:15:45:24 you behave well,
00:15:46:00 ,00:15:51:01 you act like you are with your friends
00:15:51:01 ,00:15:53:13 otherwise they beat the shit out of you.
00:16:04:00 ,00:16:09:23 IÕm saying that if we ever find a homosexual in my kingdom
00:16:09:23 ,00:16:11:12 we will exile him.
00:16:14:09 ,00:16:17:05 What will be the consequences of this exile?
00:16:19:10 ,00:16:23:04 Banishment, yes it is banishement.
00:16:26:11 ,00:16:29:24 All gods in the village will be against him.
00:16:32:16 ,00:16:36:23 He will live like a hermit, outside of society.
00:16:39:19 ,00:16:42:24 In Cameroun, we donÕt have social security.
00:16:43:02 ,00:16:46:10 People help each other out, we take care of each other.
00:16:47:11 ,00:16:53:13 But he gets excluded from that. It is like being sentenced to death.
00:17:21:12 ,00:17:22:20 WhoÕs a poof?
00:17:23:11 ,00:17:24:19 WhoÕs a poof? Me?
00:17:26:20 ,00:17:28:03 Well IÕm not.
00:17:29:05 ,00:17:31:08 YouÕre insulting me thatÕs all I know
00:17:36:11 ,00:17:39:20 My stall is also a call box as we say in Cameroun,
00:17:41:04 ,00:17:45:11 Phone booth along the road. A counter and a sunshade.
00:17:46:14 ,00:17:51:23 People come to phone. The minute costs from 150 to 200.
00:17:52:13 ,00:17:59:18 ThatÕs a stall. The call box, the real name is a call box.
00:18:00:24 ,00:18:03:07 IÕm going to get my sunshade across the roadÉ
00:18:05:17 ,00:18:08:11 Tell her to come back with money because I gave money.
00:18:09:11 ,00:18:10:00 Where is she?
00:18:10:01 ,00:18:12:21 She said you give me 5000 when I see you
00:18:13:01 ,00:18:14:09 What 5000? ItÕs 3000?
00:18:14:13 ,00:18:16:04 She said 5000.
00:18:16:07 ,00:18:16:19 Where is she?
00:18:17:00 ,00:18:17:19 Over there.
00:18:18:03 ,00:18:19:24 Tell her I got back from Douala, tell her IÕm back.
00:18:21:00 ,00:18:22:08 You tell her to come over.
00:18:25:13 ,00:18:26:16 I got back yesterday.
00:18:26:17 ,00:18:27:05 Ah really?
00:18:27:16 ,00:18:30:08 I donÕt like it when you ask me things like that.
00:18:30:09 ,00:18:31:04 No, heÕs my little brother
00:18:31:04 ,00:18:32:12 Please, IÕm not getting into it with him.
00:18:32:24 ,00:18:35:12 IÕll pay you later, after IÕm done with my work.
00:18:36:01 ,00:18:39:10 IÕll pay you later, in a little while, you come get it.
00:18:39:17 ,00:18:41:20 Look at him, IÕm sure he wanted to harrass me
00:18:42:00 ,00:18:43:05 No, he canÕt harass you.
00:18:43:05 ,00:18:45:00 What are you talking about, you mother fucker.
00:18:45:00 ,00:18:46:11 What do you mean if I wanted to mess with you?
00:18:47:10 ,00:18:51:24 You really want me to mess with you, do you?
00:18:54:02 ,00:18:56:03 Bastard. Poof.
00:19:10:03 ,00:19:12:18 IÕd like to have a man in my life one day,
00:19:12:20 ,00:19:15:16 like my girlfriends who have a man who help them,
00:19:15:18 ,00:19:17:24 send them money to rent a house.
00:19:18:01 ,00:19:21:03 IÕd like to have this opportunity one day.
00:19:21:07 ,00:19:23:21 Yeah I could even organize a party, or a buffet
00:19:23:22 ,00:19:29:03 and tell my family IÕm a poof I think itÕd be the right time to tell them.
00:19:42:04 ,00:19:47:20 One night I went out to organize a party and I screwed up.
00:19:49:08 ,00:19:50:16 I was feeling down.
00:19:50:16 ,00:19:52:01 So I went out clubbing.
00:19:53:11 ,00:19:55:10 I was standing there, not dancing,
00:19:57:11 ,00:20:01:06 and I saw Elvis who was dancing, who was hot
00:20:05:09 ,00:20:08:22 and I said to myself he must be É
00:20:08:22 ,00:20:10:05 G. A. Y.
00:20:13:17 ,00:20:14:13 We talked a bit
00:20:14:14 ,00:20:17:05 and I told him I wanted to have fun,
00:20:17:06 ,00:20:20:11 and that if he was ok we could go home together.
00:20:20:14 ,00:20:22:06 He answered Òhow much for the nightÓ?
00:20:23:10 ,00:20:27:01 So I said I just wanted to have fun and I wouldnÕt pay.
00:20:27:02 ,00:20:30:21 We would have fun, he would like it and I would like it.
00:20:30:22 ,00:20:33:00 I wonÕt pay because then you would have to pay me too
00:20:33:00 ,00:20:35:03 since we were going to have fun together.
00:20:35:07 ,00:20:40:10 In the end he refused and said it was not his way of seeing things.
00:20:40:10 ,00:20:46:06 We met again later and we became friends.
00:20:46:08 ,00:20:47:16 Today we are friends.
00:20:55:18 ,00:20:57:09 When your family learns about your homosexuality,
00:20:57:10 ,00:20:59:11 the first thing they do is stop giving you money.
00:20:59:12 ,00:21:02:04 And you say, how am I going to live?
00:21:03:02 ,00:21:08:19 When youÕre homosexual they think youÕre loaded because you are a prostitute.
00:21:08:21 ,00:21:11:04 Up until now, IÕve never sold myself.
00:21:18:15 ,00:21:22:18 I know many things could have happened if I hadnÕt told them.
00:21:22:22 ,00:21:25:24 I could have gone on with my studies,
00:21:28:06 ,00:21:30:00 I could be with my family,
00:21:30:00 ,00:21:32:22 I wouldnÕt have to fight to earn a living
00:21:36:22 ,00:21:44:10 and I wouldnÕt be considered as someone unworthy, dirtyÉ
00:21:44:13 ,00:21:45:21 Yeah, this is how youÕre seen.
00:21:49:01 ,00:21:50:22 But itÕs the only thing I regret.
00:21:50:23 ,00:21:56:01 But besides the regrets, IÕm happy because I can go on with my life as I want it to be
00:21:56:02 ,00:22:01:05 as I like, as I feel, and it gives me a lot of happiness and strength too.
00:22:02:05 ,00:22:03:18 This is why IÕm here.
00:22:04:04 ,00:22:10:20 We are putting on an AIDS awareness program in a middle school that just expulsed two lesbians.
00:22:11:21 ,00:22:13:10 Ok, letÕs go.
00:22:15:14 ,00:22:22:05 Article 345 of the penal code that applies to these poor suspected homosexuals
00:22:23:20 ,00:22:33:16 was signed in 1972 by President Ahidjo.
00:22:33:24 ,00:22:45:15 It cannot coexist with the Constitution of January 18th,1996 that I mentioned earlier.
00:22:45:19 ,00:22:47:21 One of these two documents has to disappear
00:22:47:23 ,00:22:50:01 It will not be the Constitution
00:22:50:03 ,00:22:54:20 as it is a fundamental document for the country
00:22:54:24 ,00:23:02:10 that cannot be replaced by a totalitarian order and É
00:23:02:14 ,00:23:09:16 outright degrading for humanity.
00:23:17:19 ,00:23:19:11 Hello, how are things?
00:23:19:13 ,00:23:20:09 Hello.
00:23:21:19 ,00:23:22:09 How are you?
00:23:32:15 ,00:23:34:05 He used to think differently.
00:23:34:08 ,00:23:35:16 I donÕt like thisÉ
00:23:35:19 ,00:23:38:24 Yes but when you detect it you donÕt come in this school.
00:23:39:03 ,00:23:42:04 There are thousands of high schools, thousands!!
00:23:42:08 ,00:23:47:13 IÕm blaming those who led this campaign and told us we could come,
00:23:47:13 ,00:23:48:17 they met with those in charge.
00:23:48:19 ,00:23:59:07 IÕm blaming them because they didnÕt realise this is a homophobic school, I donÕt know.
00:24:00:09 ,00:24:03:01 There are so many schools in this bloody country!!
00:24:03:06 ,00:24:06:14 Where is he? Anybody inthere? The director!
00:24:07:13 ,00:24:09:13 But go get someone that can É
00:24:09:14 ,00:24:11:16 Someone we could talk to!
00:24:12:01 ,00:24:16:20 Is that your place? Is that you? Is it here?
00:24:16:21 ,00:24:18:02 No we have many schools here.
00:24:19:17 ,00:24:21:00 This isnÕt right!
00:24:21:01 ,00:24:28:17 We called the parents and let them know their children where homosexuals,
00:24:28:19 ,00:24:31:01 that they were indulging in lesbians behaviour
00:24:31:05 ,00:24:32:18 and that we could not tolerate such a thing.
00:24:33:12 ,00:24:38:02 After that some parents told us they knew about their childrenÕs homosexuality.
00:24:40:10 ,00:24:41:19 Did you catch them red handed?
00:24:41:20 ,00:24:48:12 No É I asked the parents not to kill their children.
00:24:48:14 ,00:24:50:22 Take them with you and see if you can save them.
00:24:51:20 ,00:24:54:10 Some told me they took them to the priest.
00:24:54:17 ,00:24:56:19 Some others took them back to the village.
00:24:57:09 ,00:24:59:24 Look at me, I am heterosexual,
00:25:00:12 ,00:25:02:23 nobody can turn me into an homosexual, never.
00:25:04:18 ,00:25:06:14 This does not happen like that.
00:25:07:15 ,00:25:10:11 It is impossible to change someone like that.
00:25:10:17 ,00:25:13:23 When theyÕre telling you they bring them to the witches, theyÕre telling you stories.
00:25:14:21 ,00:25:17:02 Ok, a law is enforced by the parliament.
00:25:17:04 ,00:25:27:11 Crimes, infractions, sentences of any kind are to be dealt with law
00:25:27:15 ,00:25:31:05 meaning only the parliament can sayÉ
00:25:31:15 ,00:25:32:22 Using force.
00:25:33:13 ,00:25:41:00 No. Can say here in Cameroon, if this is an infraction, if this is a crime.
00:25:41:08 ,00:25:42:15 When it is only an order.
00:25:42:15 ,00:25:44:12 It is only an order made in 1972.
00:25:44:12 ,00:25:47:18 Ahidjo added that. He signed it. Ok?
00:25:48:03 ,00:25:50:03 One of them has to disappear,
00:25:50:06 ,00:25:52:20 which one do you think it should it be, the order or the constitution?
00:25:52:22 ,00:25:54:14 Do you know what guarantees my rights?
00:25:55:11 ,00:25:57:00 The constitution.
00:25:59:00 ,00:26:02:13 It protects me and that is why IÕm not afraid,
00:26:02:13 ,00:26:08:14 because it guarantees rights, the ones you are flouting, penalizing.
00:26:08:15 ,00:26:09:13 - Of course
00:26:09:18 ,00:26:11:08 Here we are, so IÕm obligedÉ
00:26:11:09 ,00:26:13:09 You are right, you did the right thing.
00:26:13:09 ,00:26:15:24 Do your job. IÕm going to do the same and sue you.
00:26:16:00 ,00:26:19:15 That way, we can defend ourselves and make things move forward in this country.
00:26:20:04 ,00:26:22:01 It has nothing to do with you personally.
00:26:22:01 ,00:26:25:14 But I think it is the only way to make a change.
00:26:34:03 ,00:26:37:05 ItÕs like it triggers something really personalÉ
00:26:38:01 ,00:26:39:09 IÕm meeting my friends today.
00:26:39:20 ,00:26:41:16 Something I had deep inside, sleeping.
00:26:41:18 ,00:26:42:20 WeÕre going to shoot you.
00:26:46:17 ,00:26:48:07 I canÕt come here without seeing my mum.
00:26:48:07 ,00:26:48:23 Here she is.
00:26:49:06 ,00:26:51:17 WeÕre making a film on AIDS
00:26:52:09 ,00:26:55:13 - AIDS, what AIDS? We donÕt have AIDS?
00:26:57:01 ,00:26:59:22 TheyÕre already talking about the interviews you know.
00:26:59:22 ,00:27:01:11 They want the interviews they say.
00:27:01:11 ,00:27:02:12 But I said no.
00:27:05:13 ,00:27:07:05 WeÕre in Akwa.^I
00:27:10:08 ,00:27:14:15 Here we go, look at that, big city, big parties.
00:27:14:15 ,00:27:15:23 This is the place to be!
00:27:16:02 ,00:27:19:22 Here you have all the bars, clubsÉ
00:27:21:17 ,00:27:25:11 ItÕs a real jungle! Fiesta jungle!
00:27:29:22 ,00:27:33:02 We are in control of ourselves in Douala.
00:27:33:02 ,00:27:34:21 We are free.
00:27:34:21 ,00:27:36:23 ThatÕs why Douala isnÕt Yaounde.
00:27:37:11 ,00:27:39:04 Shoot this, take this, look!
00:27:43:08 ,00:27:48:00 Yeah, I decided to live my life for me.
00:27:48:00 ,00:27:53:07 I make myself happy before asking what someone else thinks about my life.
00:27:54:22 ,00:27:56:16 Because IÕm alive!
00:27:57:08 ,00:28:04:06 Only God can stop me from breathing, punish me for what I do because itÕs bad, nobody else.
00:28:04:20 ,00:28:10:23 Not even my dad, the one who gave me life, could deprive me of being happy!
00:28:14:14 ,00:28:17:18 Do you know Angele? YouÕll see who she is.
00:28:18:21 ,00:28:20:20 YouÕll see her today.
00:28:26:19 ,00:28:29:07 Hey why donÕt you say Hi?
00:28:30:04 ,00:28:32:00 What is it you want? Food?
00:28:32:04 ,00:28:33:20 No IÕm here to talk.
00:28:33:21 ,00:28:35:05 You came to ask me for food?
00:28:35:13 ,00:28:38:23 Angele! Angele! I donÕt have any money,
00:28:39:03 ,00:28:40:19 for at least one week, I donÕt have any money.
00:28:42:10 ,00:28:43:04 SheÕs mad at me.
00:28:43:06 ,00:28:44:22 Girls! They are terrible arenÕt they?
00:28:44:23 ,00:28:48:07 I live with someone everyday.
00:28:48:07 ,00:28:49:15 SheÕs mad at me.
00:28:50:19 ,00:28:52:02 Did you see the look she gave me?
00:28:52:24 ,00:28:54:07 SheÕs mad.
00:28:54:12 ,00:28:55:20 Angele, Angele!
00:28:56:21 ,00:28:58:04 Tell her the truth, youÕre mad arenÕt you?
00:29:03:16 ,00:29:12:11 Actually, I donÕt generally condemn homosexuality, or homosexuals.
00:29:12:11 ,00:29:15:21 I think everybody has a reason to be one.
00:29:15:23 ,00:29:17:10 Yesterday, a friend of mine told me
00:29:17:10 ,00:29:22:07 that in every family there was an homosexual we hide but who we love.
00:29:22:07 ,00:29:26:06 So we are not a society of torturers.
00:29:26:07 ,00:29:27:24 But thereÕs an elite.
00:29:27:24 ,00:29:32:04 And in this very elite youÕll find the tribalists, the sexists, the.. the..
00:29:32:05 ,00:29:34:06 all the isms that rhyme with exclusion.
00:29:34:06 ,00:29:41:04 They are the one who went crazy, became fanatics with rage and hatred.
00:29:52:19 ,00:29:57:01 I know what your movie is about, butÉ
00:30:00:21 ,00:30:03:14 I donÕt want to talk about thatÉ
00:30:08:19 ,00:30:11:19 You know, itÕs a subject I donÕt feel like bring up.
00:30:14:18 ,00:30:16:21 Can you tell me why you donÕt want to talk about it?
00:30:17:18 ,00:30:22:03 Yes, first because it is forbidden in the Bible.
00:30:22:04 ,00:30:24:24 ItÕs abomination you know. ItÕsÉ
00:30:26:10 ,00:30:29:22 ItÕs been hard for her to accept it, but now sheÕs ok.
00:30:30:15 ,00:30:38:18 She accepts but does not approve of what I do. You see?
00:30:39:02 ,00:30:40:17 She accepts it because IÕm her daughter.
00:30:40:17 ,00:30:44:18 Once she told me she wouldnÕt reject me because IÕm bisexual,
00:30:44:20 ,00:30:46:21 but she accepted me as a I am, as her daughter.
00:30:51:13 ,00:30:57:13 Sometimes, if we need money, Muriel helps us, if she can.
00:30:59:07 ,00:31:00:16 How does she help you?
00:31:02:08 ,00:31:09:02 Well, her boyfriend cares a lot about us.
00:31:14:11 ,00:31:16:17 He knows we have to pay the rent.
00:31:18:05 ,00:31:19:16 I donÕt like Olivier you know?
00:31:19:18 ,00:31:20:15 No, I really donÕt like him!
00:31:20:15 ,00:31:23:12 I respect him, but even if I happen to fall in love with a man
00:31:23:12 ,00:31:26:23 I wonÕt give up a woman.
00:31:27:02 ,00:31:28:21 Because this is who I am.
00:31:28:21 ,00:31:31:06 If I happen to love a man, IÕm not going to give up women.
00:31:31:09 ,00:31:35:23 IÕll tell him,ÔI love you, but I also love Tatiana.
00:31:36:00 ,00:31:39:17 YouÕll have to accept me like that. '
00:31:40:09 ,00:31:43:12 I know that when youÕre young you want to have fun.
00:31:47:19 ,00:31:49:08 I also know sheÕs going to calm down.
00:31:49:10 ,00:31:52:12 Of course IÕm not lesbian, like totally lesbian,
00:31:54:08 ,00:31:58:21 but you see I stand for my brothers and sisters.
00:31:58:22 ,00:32:03:01 I Õd so much like them toÉtoÉ
00:32:03:02 ,00:32:04:21 I meanÉ
00:32:09:12 ,00:32:11:24 IÕm saying they should do what they want toÉ
00:32:12:01 ,00:32:17:10 You see É they should have this freedom that we give them
00:32:17:10 ,00:32:21:13 this freedom to do what they want where they want
00:32:21:13 ,00:32:27:15 without being threatened or punished or arrested.
00:32:27:19 ,00:32:32:06 You see? This is all I want. I mean, this is what I want most.
00:32:34:21 ,00:32:40:09 Anyway, all I know is that it is not going to happen soon, not even in a yearÉ
00:32:41:05 ,00:32:45:18 May be 2 years! And who knows, may be in 6 months, we never know.
00:32:45:20 ,00:32:47:07 We have hope. We still have hope.
00:33:07:06 ,00:33:09:18 My mum has 7 children, IÕm the 7th,
00:33:09:19 ,00:33:15:08 IÕve got 6 siblings,2 big sisters,4 big brothers.
00:33:15:17 ,00:33:19:23 IÕm the youngest. Humhum. IÕm the youngest.
00:33:22:21 ,00:33:28:22 Life has been tough, because my parents arenÕt really well off.
00:33:29:05 ,00:33:33:01 Life was tough but I always had something to eat.
00:33:58:23 ,00:33:59:24 Who are we visiting?
00:34:00:04 ,00:34:03:21 Eh, at my big brotherÕs place, the 3rd one.
00:34:08:23 ,00:34:13:09 I donÕt really know where he lives because itÕs been a while since I last saw him É
00:34:13:11 ,00:34:14:20 you know, since I last visited him.
00:34:15:14 ,00:34:17:08 Hello, what do I do, IÕm at F. Yeah. ItÕs F isnÕt it?
00:34:19:23 ,00:34:23:07 Yes, hold on, can you explain it to the taxi driver?
00:34:31:04 ,00:34:35:23 I decided that one day IÕd tell my brothers and sisters or my family that IÕm homosexual.
00:34:35:23 ,00:34:38:24 When I could make a living, when IÕd found a man who could support me.
00:34:39:24 ,00:34:42:02 Then I could tell them, here, IÕm free.
00:34:42:02 ,00:34:44:02 Here is the way I chose to live, a double life,
00:34:44:03 ,00:34:46:15 and thatÕs the way it is. Yes, thatÕs the way it is. ThatÕs it.
00:34:49:06 ,00:34:51:00 Are we there?
00:34:57:01 ,00:34:58:20 Hello! How is it going? ItÕs so remote!
00:35:13:10 ,00:35:16:18 Tell me what do you think when you see me with my friends?
00:35:16:19 ,00:35:18:19 What do you think about my future?
00:35:19:15 ,00:35:22:09 YouÕre future? Are you kidding me?
00:35:22:09 ,00:35:24:03 Only God can know
00:35:27:00 ,00:35:30:23 IÕm happy to see you with your friends. Even if this isnÕt in France.
00:35:31:24 ,00:35:33:18 Even if youÕre in Cameroun
00:35:33:19 ,00:35:40:01 and that your friends can understand that they have a friend called Elvis,
00:35:40:01 ,00:35:42:03 and that they try to find you someone.
00:35:43:14 ,00:35:45:08 The only thing we want is to see you in a family.
00:35:48:00 ,00:35:52:14 If you like your friends, if you keep all these girls around you
00:35:52:15 ,00:35:57:01 then it isnÕt too badÉ hummÉ. CanÕt be badÉ
00:36:39:03 ,00:36:43:03 How are you doing? I'm glad to see you
00:36:43:19 ,00:36:49:07 Ah! YouÕre tied up? Are you?
00:36:49:15 ,00:36:52:10 It looks like you weÕre in a concentration camp.
00:36:56:03 ,00:36:57:14 ItÕs sad.
00:36:57:16 ,00:37:01:09 You speak the language you want. English if it makes you feel better.
00:37:01:11 ,00:37:03:14 You speak English. Not a word in French.
00:37:04:13 ,00:37:06:11 Well, who are those who say yes!
00:37:08:04 ,00:37:10:13 Hey you two? He? Two is enough.
00:37:10:15 ,00:37:12:05 Lamb and you!
00:37:12:09 ,00:37:15:13 What are we going to say? Revision?
00:37:15:22 ,00:37:20:01 I decided because IÕm a down to earth woman
00:37:21:03 ,00:37:23:10 to go for abstinence
00:37:24:11 ,00:37:30:03 Yes, but IÕm not denying who I am and what I feel.
00:37:30:16 ,00:37:32:24 This is how you should do. Otherwise IÉ
00:37:33:08 ,00:37:34:22 What about you?
00:37:34:24 ,00:37:36:19 You have a nice story to share too?
00:37:38:19 ,00:37:43:10 The State Prosecutor himself said that he was to much of a good catholic
00:37:43:10 ,00:37:50:11 to accept the idea that, we, lawyers, could defend homosexuals.
00:37:50:14 ,00:37:54:07 He arrested people on June 1st,2005.
00:37:55:16 ,00:38:01:19 Then he started to look for evidence of their homosexuality.
00:38:01:19 ,00:38:05:24 He demanded a CUSS doctor to make an expertise
00:38:06:02 ,00:38:11:17 and to carry out tests on my clientÕs anuses
00:38:12:00 ,00:38:18:14 to determine under oath whether they had had homosexual intercourse.
00:38:48:24 ,00:38:53:23 Now I know for sure he is a homophobe and not so much of a man of law.
00:38:55:03 ,00:39:06:23 HeÕs not the kind of guy whoÕs prone to see things through the Law.
00:39:07:14 ,00:39:10:14 Christian! You need your mattress?
00:39:11:19 ,00:39:12:20 How much do you need?
00:39:13:10 ,00:39:15:05 Keep this away from robbers, will you.
00:39:17:17 ,00:39:21:22 Once youÕre out weÕve got to keep in touch right?
00:39:23:06 ,00:39:33:16 We got to fight together to get the others out too.
00:39:34:22 ,00:39:36:04 This is only the beginning.
00:39:37:15 ,00:39:39:10 The trial is postponed for three months.
00:39:40:07 ,00:39:42:07 The verdict is announced on June 12th,2006
00:39:42:22 ,00:39:46:03 Two are non guilty, seven are sentenced to eight months imprisonment.
00:39:46:04 ,00:39:50:07 But their are all set free because they already spent one year in jail.
00:39:50:20 ,00:39:55:14 Alice complained to the Court of Justice to expose this juridical paradox
00:39:55:15 ,00:40:01:09 and the inconsistency between the order ratified by the President in 1972
00:40:01:09 ,00:40:06:18 and the 1996 constitution requiring all laws to be ratified by the Assembly.
00:40:06:24 ,00:40:11:17 She secretly wants to lose this round to go on to the Supreme Court.
00:40:11:17 ,00:40:14:03 The only way to address this issue
00:40:14:03 ,00:40:19:08 and come to terms with the debate on prosecuting homosexuality.
00:40:20:00 ,00:40:22:20 But two years later the economic crisis starts in Africa.
00:40:23:10 ,00:40:24:19 Cameroun is not spared.
00:40:47:19 ,00:40:49:20 The official figures say 40 people died,
00:40:49:20 ,00:40:52:15 others say that it might be more than 100.
00:40:52:18 ,00:40:55:09 Whatever the figures, it was incredibly violent.
00:40:55:09 ,00:40:57:18 Some demonstrated because life is too expensive.
00:40:57:18 ,00:41:03:20 Some others did not want the constitution to be reviewed.
00:41:03:20 ,00:41:11:08 Some wanted to reopen radios or TV channels that had closed a few weeks before,
00:41:11:08 ,00:41:14:14 Ilike Equinoxe radio and television and Magic FM in Yaounde.
00:41:20:00 ,00:41:22:20 It's Equinoxe! It's Equinoxe!
00:41:26:12 ,00:41:32:03 Can you see the Cameroun of Paul Biya? Can you?
00:41:33:01 ,00:41:36:07 ItÕs all guns. There are already 8 deaths.
00:41:39:24 ,00:41:43:18 In 1990 Paul BIYA founded a Freedom Commission.
00:41:44:18 ,00:41:47:24 Cameroun opens to multi-partisan system and freedom of speech.
00:41:48:24 ,00:41:50:23 Today this very same president
00:41:50:23 ,00:41:54:12 is changing the constitution to be elected in 2011
00:41:58:11 ,00:42:03:16 The road to democracy, first felt 20 years ago, is a long, winding path.
00:42:11:00 ,00:42:16:00 With what I see in other African countries, I wouldnÕt like it to happen here.
00:42:16:13 ,00:42:19:08 For instance in Congo the women and children are raped.
00:42:20:19 ,00:42:26:02 They are killing everyone in Ivory Coast, in Kenya,
00:42:26:02 ,00:42:28:22 I wouldnÕt like it to happen here.
00:42:32:14 ,00:42:35:09 I think the government will do something.
00:42:55:01 ,00:42:58:09 Freedom in Cameroon? No, thereÕs no such thing here.
00:42:59:03 ,00:43:00:20 We arenÕt free.
00:43:01:06 ,00:43:10:04 I say to myself ÔDo what you have to do here and run awayÕ.
00:43:11:08 ,00:43:16:24 This country sucks, really.
00:43:26:13 ,00:43:30:11 We donÕt know where we belong toÉ us homosexuals.
00:43:30:17 ,00:43:37:14 We donÕt know what they want. Whether they want us to express ourselves or hide.
00:43:37:14 ,00:43:39:23 We really donÕt understand.
00:43:40:12 ,00:43:47:12 But I think that compared to a few years ago we are tolerated.
00:43:52:24 ,00:43:55:01 This is my bar. This is the place to be.
00:43:55:01 ,00:43:57:20 I chose the name.
00:43:57:20 ,00:44:01:04 I opened it a year ago. I wanted to evolve a bit.
00:44:03:13 ,00:44:06:08 It's light. It's light.
00:44:10:10 ,00:44:15:05 But we donÕt care. We live our life, tomorrow we can die, thatÕs life.
00:44:15:11 ,00:44:17:21 The thing is I am not an homosexual. IÕm not homosexual.
00:44:17:21 ,00:44:21:01 I like this place. You can have fun,
00:44:21:01 ,00:44:25:09 everybody has fun, can express themselves freely.
00:44:32:08 ,00:44:34:10 It proves that there are many of us.
00:44:34:10 ,00:44:40:09 It proves that each one of us feels like getting in touch with their family and talking.
00:44:42:08 ,00:44:44:06 Nathalie is really happy in her bar
00:44:44:06 ,00:44:46:07 where people from the neighbourhood and homosexuals mingle.
00:44:46:07 ,00:44:47:19 The first of its kind in Doula.
00:44:48:00 ,00:44:49:13 But Doula is not like Yaounde.
00:44:49:14 ,00:44:51:20 People keep being arrested in Yaound.
00:44:52:17 ,00:44:56:10 Moreover with the crisis Cameroonians are more preoccupied by survival
00:44:56:10 ,00:44:59:05 than by the homosexuality cause which is put on the back burner.
00:45:05:13 ,00:45:11:13 IÕve got a friend in England. HeÕs the one I told you I loved.
00:45:11:17 ,00:45:16:06 But you know what we say, out of sight, out of mind.
00:45:16:07 ,00:45:18:16 I donÕt see him, he doesnÕt see me. We donÕt know.
00:45:19:04 ,00:45:21:02 This one, we were in Kibri, that one too.
00:45:21:09 ,00:45:22:13 Ah! You were in Cameroon then?
00:45:22:19 ,00:45:24:09 Yes, he already came here
00:45:24:09 ,00:45:27:03 But he told me he wouldnÕt come back because heÕs afraid he will be arrested.
00:45:27:03 ,00:45:29:23 HeÕs afraid of being arrested. Yeah. ItÕs him again.
00:45:32:24 ,00:45:35:11 While Elvis and Serge wait and see,
00:45:35:12 ,00:45:39:01 Lambert who got out of prison 2 years ago Idecides to stand for his rights.
00:45:42:12 ,00:45:45:07 When I got out I first committed to Alice NÕkomÕs association ADFHO
00:45:45:15 ,00:45:48:00 defending homosexuals rights.
00:45:48:00 ,00:45:50:17 Then to Alternative Cameroun.
00:45:50:18 ,00:45:55:05 I work with jails and lawyers each time there is an arrest.
00:45:55:05 ,00:45:59:04 I first contact the association to let them know
00:45:59:04 ,00:46:03:23 and when I have their authorization I refer the case to the lawyer
00:46:04:03 ,00:46:08:06 so he goes into the field to find out how much the fees will cost and so on.
00:46:13:16 ,00:46:16:11 I wanted to have elements to be able to, I mean É
00:46:16:18 ,00:46:19:13 to be used by Sir TOGUE to put the ClerkÕs Office under pressureÉ
00:46:21:01 ,00:46:24:05 to make things move faster.
00:46:25:06 ,00:46:30:03 You ask the head of the penal department how the appeal procedure is going.
00:46:32:02 ,00:46:33:03 So who do you have news from?
00:46:33:03 ,00:46:35:23 What about my young fellow, the one under 18?
00:46:36:00 ,00:46:38:20 - Angoula. - WhatÕs up with him, do you have any news?
00:46:38:24 ,00:46:40:22 - Yes - Is he still studying?
00:46:40:23 ,00:46:43:02 - No - He dropped out of school?
00:46:44:17 ,00:46:50:18 Ok! Bye sweetie. See you soon. ItÕs a good thing you decided to get involved with us.
00:46:51:01 ,00:46:53:21 - Thanks - YouÕre doing the right thing. Bye. Ciao.
00:46:59:14 ,00:47:03:09 What really changed is that deep inside I feel É
00:47:03:13 ,00:47:07:02 I feel much moreÉ I got in touch with my homo side.
00:47:08:03 ,00:47:16:05 Last time I thought I was bi. I truly made my coming out.
00:47:17:17 ,00:47:21:18 Sexuality is generally alike in all societies
00:47:21:18 ,00:47:24:07 In Cameroun it is strange.
00:47:24:23 ,00:47:28:07 It is based on power,
00:47:28:07 ,00:47:33:04 on the relationship between dominant and dominated, strong and weak.
00:47:35:10 ,00:47:40:19 I've met someone, Alfred, he is 23 years old, and we live together
00:47:41:06 ,00:47:42:19 - Alfred - Yes
00:47:43:11 ,00:47:46:04 - Could you come here please? - I'm coming
00:47:52:18 ,00:47:59:19 He wants me to bring money home, to find a job
00:48:00:16 ,00:48:02:20 - Could you make the bed? - Yes.
00:48:06:14 ,00:48:13:13 Meanwhile, he tries to help on the household chores
00:48:13:16 ,00:48:20:05 as a compensation of his henpecked role.
00:48:23:00 ,00:48:27:01 It is a way for the dominated to show their will
00:48:27:10 ,00:48:33:02 to break the mould that had existed for ages,
00:48:33:08 ,00:48:36:10 and try to put an end to this domination relationship.
00:48:36:22 ,00:48:42:13 The typical characteristic of power in Cameroon is that it is hidden,
00:48:42:19 ,00:48:45:03 you have to decrypt this subtlety.
00:48:45:03 ,00:48:47:14 I mean you have to understand the logic
00:48:47:22 ,00:48:52:06 and to do so you need to have been immersed in Cameroonian culture.
00:49:17:18 ,00:49:20:01 Nature calls me and accuses me
00:49:21:04 ,00:49:23:12 Society marginalises me and condemns me
00:49:24:16 ,00:49:27:11 My sense of guilt overwhelms me
00:49:28:16 ,00:49:31:07 I feel my strength leaving me, abandoning me,
00:49:31:16 ,00:49:34:12 When I think that IÕm fighting to beat you
00:49:35:09 ,00:49:38:22 I eventually accept to let you stay in peace with myself.
00:50:29:15 ,00:50:32:12 In 2009, the appeal procedure is still held up in the Court of Yaound.
00:50:33:19 ,00:50:39:20 After the association for the rights of homosexuals (ADEFHO), Alice has created the Group for Families with Homosexual Children
00:50:40:15 ,00:50:49:05 This new institution works so that families no longer disown their children. Alice knows that the family is the one place where changing attitudes is possible because family do not give their children up to the police.
00:50:50:05 ,00:50:54:16 The self-righteous Cameroonians are still homophobe.To this day, homosexuality is a crime.