A snapshot of LGBT media coverage in East, West and Southern Africa

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people remain largely absent from public discourse in Africa. This study set out to analyse representations of these communities in media in South, West and East Africa in the month of April 2015. The paucity of stories about LGBT topics compelled the research team to cast a wider net and look for any and all stories on this topic in 2015. This absence underscores the main finding of this study: LGBT people continue to be underrepresented and misrepresented in African media.

This research also found that a majority of stories analysed about LGBT issues fail to incorporate the voices of those affected. In addition, many stories use only secondary sources À“ or no sources À“ and feature discriminatory or stereotypical language. The sample also presents a reliance on international news about this topic; only a handful of articles presented insightful background or analysis of this complex topic area as it pertains to the African context.

Download the full report below.

Download : Analysis of media coverage of LBGT in East, West and Southern Africa