FemmeNoir
A Web Portal For Lesbians Of Color

Fannyann Viola Eddy
Activist

Activist Murdered
[Photo:  Fannyann Eddy and partner, Esther Chikalipa from Zambia at the CAL (Coalition of African Lesbians) Conference]

Prominent lesbian activist, Fannyann Eddy, was murdered while working late in the offices of SLLAGA (Sierra Leone Lesbian and Gay Association). Many fear her murder was a homophobic hate crime judging by the brutal nature of the attack. Eddy, 30, was found dead the morning of September 29, 2004. While working alone in the SLLAGA, her assailant(s) apparently broke in. She was reportedly raped repeatedly, stabbed and her neck was broken.

Eddy founded the Sierra Leone Lesbian and Gay Association two years prior in 2002. SLLAGA provided social and psychological support to a fearful and underground community. Eddy, however, was a visible and courageous figure, lobbying government ministers to address the health and human rights needs of same gender loving men and women. Eddy and her organization documented harassment, beatings and arbitrary arrests of lesbian, gay and transgender people in Sierra Leone.

In April 2004, Eddy was part of a delegation of sexual-rights activists whom Human Rights Watch and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) helped attend the annual session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. Eddy met with her own government’s delegation, and testified to the Commission about lesbian and gay rights in what she called “my beloved Sierra Leone.”

“We face constant harassment and violence from neighbors and others,” she told the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. “Their homophobic attacks go unpunished by authorities, further encouraging their discriminatory and violent treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.”

Tributes from fellow activists, international human rights organizations and funding bodies have been flooding in following the harrowing news of Fannyann's death. “Fannyann was an activist in the real sense of the word.” Said Keith Goddard, the director of GALZ in a tribute to Fannyann. “She dedicated herself to the cause of normalizing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in society through direct action and she was an example to those of us who play the victim and claim that nothing is possible in the hostile climates in which we exist. In 2002 she came to the GALZ Offices in Harare, Zimbabwe looking for assistance in the setting up an LGBT group in her home country, Sierra Leone. It was obvious she had all the determination and willpower to do so. Even in Zimbabwe, where she was a refugee, she brushed with members of our police force and others who tried to threaten her because she was lesbian. Naturally, she refused to be intimidated.”

Even though Fannyann had the opportunity to remain in southern Africa she chose to return to Sierra Leone, a country which she loved deeply. In an interview published on Behind the Mask shortly after her visit to Johannesburg for the All Africa Symposium in February this year she named Sierra Leone as her favorite place in the world. In the same interview when asked about the inspiration for her career she answered. “My dreams! I hope to see more women being liberated or stand for what they believe in and hope to see a universe free of discrimination, torture and violence.”

Fannyann was elected as a member of the committee of the All Africa Rights Initiative (AARI), which was born out of the February Symposium - she was also a member of the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) - steering committee formed in Namibia just weeks ago. Other members of both processes have expressed their deep shock and loss at the news of her senseless murder.

Fannyann made a submission to the UN Committee on Human rights at the Geneva meeting in April this year which discussed the Brazialian Resolution. In her impassioned presentation she highlighted the violence and often State sponsored oppression that lesbian and gay people in Africa face, ending, “Silence creates vulnerability. You, members of the Commission on Human Rights, can break the silence. You can acknowledge that we exist, throughout Africa and on every continent, and that human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity are committed every day. You can help us combat those violations and achieve our full rights and freedoms, in every society, including my beloved Sierra Leone.”

Fannyann is survived by her 10 year old son and her girlfriend in South Africa, and will be sorely missed by activists and individuals across the continent.

Anyone wishing to make donations to help support Fannyann's son, girlfriend (who would like to travel to Sierra Leone to pay her last respects) and/or SLLAGA. The donation details are as follows:

Donations may be made to assist in three (3) areas following the death of Sierra Leonean activist Fannyann Viola Eddy. Donors may chose to which fund they wish to contribute:

Donations to support Fannyann's son, Valentine, are being collected and managed by Hans Binswanger of the World Bank.

Hans Binswanger for Fannyann Eddy
Euro Account Number 500.019.839
Thurgauer Kantonalbank
Hauptstrasse
8280 Kreuzlingen
Switzerland
Swift code KBTGCH22

Payments can be in any convertible currency by electronic transfer to that account directly, or by sending a check/cheque to Hans at the following address: 1853 Ontario Place NW, Washington DC. 20009, USA.

The Bank will automatically convert the money to Euros at the exchange rate prevailing on the day when the money is received. Bank statements will regularly be made available to the family and SLLAGA.

Donations to support SLLAGA are being collected by Behind the Mask. Please indicate in the reference field "SLLAGA" for reporting purposes.

Behind the Mask
reference SLLAGA
Bank: Nedbank
Branch: 96 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Branch code: 195 005
Account no.: 195 055 8401
Swift: NEDSZAJJ

Payments can be in any convertible currency by electronic transfer to that account directly, or by sending a check/cheque to BTM at the following address: PO Box 93843, Yeoville 2143, Johannesburg, South Africa

Donations will be reconciled on a monthly basis and forwarded to SLLAGA with a report.

Donations to assist Fannyann's partner, Esther, to visit Sierra Leone to pay her last respects are being collected by Behind the Mask. Please indicate in the reference field "Esther" for reporting purposes.

Behind the Mask
reference Esther
Bank: Nedbank
Branch: 96 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Branch code: 195 005
Account no.: 195 055 8401
Swift: NEDSZAJJ

Payments can be in any convertible currency by electronic transfer to that account directly, or by sending a check/cheque to BTM at the following address: PO Box 93843, Yeoville 2143, Johannesburg, South Africa

Donations will be used for Esther's visit to Sierra Leone. Excess funds will revert to the SLLAGA fund.
 

Source:  Behind the Mask – http://www.mask.org.za/sections/AfricaPerCountry/ABC/sierra%20leone/sierra%20leone_6.htm
Article  http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/10/04/sierra9440.htm

Links:

Interview with Fannyann Eddy: [Behind the Mask] http://www.mask.org.za/sections/Women/newlook/gnd/gnd012.htm 

Fannyann Viola Eddy's Submission To UN On March 2004 -- http://www.mask.org.za/sections/AfricaPerCountry/ABC/all%20africa/all%20africa_18.htm

Or:
Testimony by FannyAnn Eddy at the U.N. Commission on Human Rights
Item 14 – 60th Session, U.N. Commission on Human Rights -- http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/10/04/sierra9439.htm 

Astraea Mourns the Murder of Fannyann Eddy Lesbian Activist was Founder of Sierra Leone
Lesbian & Gay Association:  http://www.astraea.org/PHP/NewsAndResources/FannyannEddy.php4