Transgenders Shamed By Anti-Gay Mobster In Benin Republic, Cotonou

An angry mob over on Cotonou, Benin Republic drew the ire of LGBT groups when they shamed three crossdressers who are said to be homosexuals. The group is believed to be anti-gay, attacking the three people with bottles and then forcing them to strip naked last May 1.

The incident happened at a popular lounge in Cotonou with videos circulating over social media. Footage shows the men harassing the three crossdressers, some even slapping them and throwing bottles. According to one of the victims, the whole thing was planned and rued that they may never have a chance to find a job again.

“My man knew I was transgender and asked me to invite my transgender friends. When we arrived, he asked me to go outside,” one of the victims rued told the Observers. “Once we managed to get outside to help our friend, they began attacking the three of us. There were about 200 men there, and they forced us to strip naked while they laughed and filmed up. It was humiliating.”

When the video of the attack surfaced online, an NGO and LGBT+ advocacy group, Hirondelle Club Benin immediately shared it on Twitter, denounced the act and batted to spread awareness on the violence against transgenders.

“We have just denounced an umpteenth aggression against people LGBTQi in Benin a few days before the celebration of May 17. We condemn these acts with the last rigor. We will come back for more details,” a caption of the video read after translation.

The unfortunate incident is linked to the growing pains that transgenders have had to deal with due to the pandemic. Violence and abuse against them have increased during these trying times, some even getting rejected by their families.

Homosexuality is not criminalized, unlike in neighboring countries such as Togo, Ghana, Cameroon or Nigeria. The country’s current penal code, which dates back to 1947, sets the age of sexual consent to 13 for heterosexuals and 21 for homosexuals.