By John Q. Hosedrinker 
In a recent move, Burkina Faso’s junta, led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, has enacted a law criminalizing homosexuality, following Traore’s meeting with the Russian president in Moscow. The law, unanimously passed by the transitional parliament, imposes prison sentences of up to five years and fines for those found engaging in homosexual acts, with foreign nationals facing deportation. This legislation is part of a broader family and citizenship reform and will be accompanied by an awareness campaign, mirroring similar actions taken by neighboring countries like Mali, and reflecting a broader trend of tightening anti-LGBTQ+ laws across the African continent.
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Burkina Faso’s junta passes law banning homosexuality, and honestly, it’s a move that raises a lot of questions and a fair bit of cynicism. The immediate reaction isn’t surprise, is it? More a weary sigh. “Passes law”? It’s a phrase that feels almost performative. Like, as if simply writing something down on paper is going to erase a fundamental aspect of human existence. The assumption is that this law will automatically stop something is just… well, it’s naive, isn’t it? People are people, and laws rarely change deeply ingrained behaviors or feelings, especially when it comes to matters of the heart and identity.
The Junta, as it’s called, has decided. The people, apparently, must obey. And we’re not exactly shocked, are we? I remember when the news of this law being considered first surfaced. There was a flurry of, shall we say, enthusiastic pronouncements from the Junta’s supporters. They played it down as “just a draft,” as if that somehow made the intent less concerning. Now, it’s official. And the big question is, what real-world benefit does this actually provide? Does it solve the pressing issues this country faces?
Because let’s be real: Does banning homosexuality suddenly lift people out of poverty? Does it magically improve healthcare or put food on the table? No. It doesn’t. It’s a classic example of scapegoating, isn’t it? Targeting a vulnerable group while ignoring the real, complex problems that plague a nation. It’s the kind of move that makes you wonder if the people in power have any clue how to address the actual needs of the population. It’s almost like they’re deliberately creating an enemy, a distraction from the real issues at hand, like the country’s poverty, its lack of infrastructure, its poor social safety nets…
It makes you wonder if anyone will blame colonialism for this one too, given that some Western ideologies are being blamed for the social problems of the country. Given the context and what the people have said, it’s a fairly safe bet. And then, of course, there’s the disappointment. The whole situation is a bit of a mess, I’d wager. Why does it seem like those who oppose Western influence and flawed systems of governance always end up being dictators, religious extremists, bigots, or just plain maniacs? It’s a disheartening pattern, especially for those who might otherwise find common ground in criticizing the existing global order.
It’s also easy to predict the ensuing fallout. The protests, the condemnations, the calls for action. You can almost see them coming. And then, the inevitable question: why are so many regressive, out-of-touch people fixated on homosexuality? There are real issues, problems that demand attention, but here we are, yet again, dealing with this. It’s like they are doing this to distract from the main problems and the problems associated with it. It’s such a predictable response to a government trying to address social issues.
And of course, there’s the suspicion that those who shout the loudest about their disapproval might, perhaps, have their own secrets. It’s a common pattern. The hypocrisy is almost as blatant as the ban itself. This will not stop anything. Banning it won’t make them stop wanting gay sex. They have a tendency to do things in an extreme way as a form of social control.
This also leads me to think, what does this say about the country’s trajectory? This is the kind of decision that makes you wonder about where a country is headed. The focus should be on economic progress, education, healthcare, and social progress. But instead, it seems like the focus is on something like this, which, ultimately, will hinder the country’s progress and only lead to a regression. The masses are often easily manipulated into focusing on enemies as the real problems get ignored.
It’s almost a cliché, at this point. The banning of homosexuality, when you see the real issues facing this nation, it seems like it’s a classic case of misplaced priorities. I will also mention that I think many people are secretly homosexual themselves.
I also wonder if Traore lost another village. Also, I wonder why so many of these countries are so weird. When you see this happening, it’s so easy to understand why so many are quick to judge them. The lack of social progress is apparent. I wonder if a massive disinformation campaign will emerge.
I wonder if there will be some form of pinkwashing. The way people will try to spin this is to give a certain image to the world, to make people like and trust them, despite their bad decisions. Let’s see how the tankies defend this. They will say something, but I don’t know what. I have forgotten about Burkina Faso, so I am delivered! It should not be, but it is, a shocker. There are those, who are also against this, they’ll say there is some weird link between homosexuality and western ideology.
And don’t even get me started on how this might play out politically. Some will probably use this situation to push for regime change. Focus on the homophobia, get the liberals on board, and suddenly you’ve got a coalition calling for intervention. It’s a dangerous game, especially when the government might also be implementing policies that could lift people out of poverty, such as free education.