GALZ, Zimbabwe

GALZ was formed in 1989 to provide gay men and lesbians in Zimbabwe with a network to facilitate communication within the gay community. By default the network also provided a space for bisexuals and other alternative people who sought more broad-minded company. Primarily concerned with providing the community with social events, the organisation kept a low profile at its onset. However, with the growing awareness of the needs of the gay community as a whole within the country, GALZ initiated a programme of outreach which inevitably led to the organisation's "outing". Presently GALZ' aim is to network broadly with other human rights organisations, the womens' movement, AIDS initiatives and regional associates. The objective is to increase awareness of gay rights in as broad a forum as possible thereby integrating these rights with the other basic human rights for which civil society is currently battling.