Gays will not be included in Tanzania’s community-based HIV/AIDS prevention program as the government cracks down on the group in the country.
Gay sex is illegal in Tanzania, and is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
Ummy Mwalimu, Tanzania’s minister for health said the government had received reports that some local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were promoting and normalizing same-sex relationships as part of their HIV programs, Reuters reports.
The Tanzanian government in September threatened to ban groups that “promote” the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, in its first public statement against the minority group.
“We have suspended MSM (men who have sex with men) community-based interventions pending (a) review,” Mwalimu said.
The minister however said that the government would continue providing HIV/AIDS services to adolescent girls, drug users and other groups.
