Group 8

READING PROJECT
GROUP 8
Students:

Vũ Thùy Linh - 2213790033

Đào Uyên Minh - 2213790034

Nguyễn Hoàng Trang Nhung - 2212790039

Nguyễn Mai Trang - 2213790056

Đào Thiện Minh Thy - 2212790053

Instructor: Mrs. Nguyen Hien Hoa

Course Number: TANE216.1

Date: June 6, 2023.

Nicholas Kristof. (May 27, 2023). When Your Sexuality Is Against the Law. The New York Times.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/27/opinion/africa-homosexuality-illegal.html

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ANALYSIS
Author’s background:

Nicholas Donabet Kristof is an American journalist and political commentator. He was a longtime foreign correspondent for The New
York Times and speaks several languages. He graduated from Harvard, studied law at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and
then studied Arabic in Cairo. Throughout his career, he served as a foreign correspondent for The New York Times, reporting on
human rights, women's rights, health, and global affairs Therefore, the author is experienced in writing about humanitarianism and has
a deep understanding about laws.

The article reflects Kristof's personal views and experiences and may not fully represent the lived realities of LGBTQ individuals in
South African countries.

The author's viewpoint is based on laws so it will be more reliable because lawful evidence offers the best possibility of being better
evidence.

Issue: LGBTQIA+ individuals in Africa are persecuted and homosexuality is considered against the law.

Conclusion: Soft power and leverage influence should be used to advocate for tolerance and support for L.G.B.T.Q. rights in African
countries. This requires a nuanced approach that involves collaboration with local organizations and strategic actions to challenge
discriminatory laws and practices.

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Paragraph Assumptions Evidences Argument

Sierra Leone is one of more than 30 LGBTQ+ community

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — The attack on Abdul was African nations (over half the in Sierra Leone faces
When Abdul was a teenager and motivated by his sexual continent) that criminalize same-sex discrimination in
coming to terms with being gay, orientation. relations. various aspects of life
he was attacked by a group of
men. They mocked him with The response of the police The gay people the author spoke with
homophobic slurs and assaulted was influenced by said discrimination against them was
him with broken beer bottles, homophobic attitudes widespread in housing, employment
slicing his thumb open. He and family life.
reported the attack to the police
and was told that an arrest could Evaluating: The evidence consists of
be made — of him, for a personal account of an individual
homosexuality. Sierra Leone is named Abdul in Sierra Leone.
one of more than 30 African
nations (over half the continent) It is a single anecdote and may not
that criminalize same-sex represent the experiences of all
relations. While most of the gay LGBTQ+ individuals in Sierra Leone
people I spoke with there did not or other African nations.
seem to fear being arrested, they
said discrimination against them Additional sources, statistics, and
was widespread in housing, research on the topic would be
employment and family life beneficial to gain a more
comprehensive understanding of the
situation and to verify the claims
made.

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American conservative Christian American conservative

Meanwhile, American The actions of American groups with records of fighting Christian groups have
conservative Christian groups conservative Christian L.G.B.T.Q. rights have poured influenced anti-
with records of fighting groups have negatively millions of dollars into African L.G.B.T.Q. sentiment
L.G.B.T.Q. rights have poured impacted L.G.B.T.Q. rights countries, according to a 2020 report. and legislation in
millions of dollars into African in African countries. African countries,
countries, according to a 2020 Even though L.G.B.T.Q. people still particularly Uganda.
report. Some American suffer danger and discrimination in
evangelicals have been known to America, travel in West Africa shows
encourage anti-L.G.B.T.Q. a more immense adversity queer
legislation in countries such as people experience there and their
Uganda. Queer issues are deeply resilience and courage in the face of
personal to me, since I am it.
bisexual. While L.G.B.T.Q. People
still suffer danger and Evaluating: The evidence is
discrimination in America, attributed to a 2020 report but the
traveling with Nick in West Africa specific details of the report, such as
offered a window into the immense its scope and methodology, are not
adversity queer people experience provided.
here — and their resilience and
courage in the face of it. The author's personal reflection adds
an emotional element to his firsthand
experience of witnessing adversity
and resilience among LGBTQ+
individuals during travel in West
Africa.

This evidence should be recognized

as subjective and not representative
of the overall experiences of
LGBTQ+ individuals in America or
West Africa.

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In São Tomé and Príncipe, an island There is still some

But Africa is not uniformly People in São Tomé and nation off the west coast of Africa, physical and virtual
homophobic, and I found some Príncipe don't have a hate homosexuality has been legal since space emerging for
physical and virtual space attitude toward gay people. 2012. LGBTQ communities
emerging for L.G.B.T.Q. in Africa.
communities. In São Tomé and The country’s prime minister, Patrice
Príncipe, an island nation off the Trovoada said: “Sexuality is free.”
west coast of Africa,
homosexuality has been legal The writer met two dozen queer
since 2012. “Sexuality is free,” people inside a community center run
the country’s prime minister, by the Dignity Association, a local
Patrice Trovoada, told me, adding advocacy group. The center’s warmth
that in his country, “you don’t reminded her of a support group she
have this hate attitude” toward belonged to in high school, where she
gay people. had her first kiss with a girl. (the
following paragraph) -> the private
place for people in LGBTQ
community.

Evaluating: The evidence consists of

an appeal to authorities made by a
prime minister, Patrice Trovoada,
who expresses a positive attitude
towards the LGBTQ+ community.

Consideration should be given to the

political, social, and cultural factors
that may influence his perspective
and the broader LGBTQ+ rights
landscape in São Tomé and Príncipe.

Additional research and multiple

sources of evidence would provide a

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more comprehensive understanding

of the LGBTQ+ rights situation
across the African continent.

Although people were happy to talk L.G.B.T.Q. people in

Still, it’s complicated. Members of Although LGBTQ people about homosexuality when being Africa have
an association for gay men in São have their own space and asked, most said they’d never experienced violence
Tomé say L.G.B.T.Q. People in Africa is not uniformly encountered a gay person. and been ostracized
the country have experienced homophobic, they are not from their families.
violence and been ostracized from confident enough to come However, in 2013, the Sierra
their families. The group’s out and talk about their Leonean government estimated that
president, Kelve Borros, 28, told LGBT relationship when around 20,000 (and possibly more)
me, “Nothing about life is easy.” being asked. men who have sex with men live in
the country. Statistics for queer
In Sierra Leone, I met two dozen Spending time online may women are fuzzier.
queer people inside a community be broadening some people’s
center run by the Dignity worldviews because internet A 2020 review of Africans’ attitudes
Association, a local advocacy users are more likely to be toward homosexuality suggests that
group. The center’s warmth tolerant of gay people. frequent internet users are more
reminded me of a support group I likely to be tolerant of gay people.
belonged to in high school, where
I had my first kiss with a girl. Evaluating: The evidence is
attributed to an estimation made by
Outside, the atmosphere is the government and a 2020 review,
chillier. Although people were but the specific details of the
happy to talk about homosexuality evidence, such as its scope and
when I asked, most said they’d methodology, are not provided.
never encountered a gay person.
But in 2013, the Sierra Leonean The personal experiences shared are
government estimated that around anecdotal and may not represent the
20,000 (and possibly more) men entire LGBTQ+ population in these
who have sex with men live in the countries.

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country. Statistics for queer Additionally, while internet use may

women are fuzzier. influence attitudes, it does not
guarantee widespread acceptance or
Spending time online may be legislative changes.
broadening some people’s
worldviews. A 2020 review of
Africans’ attitudes toward
homosexuality suggests that
frequent internet users are more
likely to be tolerant of gay people.

The two teenagers have seen plenty What African teenagers

Two teenagers in the city of Teenagers in the city of of gay people online, though they are taught about the
Makeni in northern Sierra Leone, Makeni in northern Sierra don't believe homosexuality exists in LGBTQ community is
Fatmata Binta Jalloh, 17, and Leone are taught to be afraid their country. not true in real life, and
Marie Kamara, 16, told me that of LGBTQ people, who they it cannot shape their
while they believe homosexuality actually believe do not even The video of a lesbian couple feelings towards that
doesn’t exist in their country, exist in their country. celebrating after conceiving a child community.
they’ve seen plenty of gay people through in vitro fertilization made
online. They recalled watching a Seeing people having a Fatmata and Marie happy.
viral TikTok video of a lesbian child, regardless of their
couple celebrating after sexual orientations, makes Evaluating: This evidence uses the
conceiving a child through in vitro children feel a sense of experiences and opinions of two
fertilization. The video, they said, happiness. teenagers as case examples. This may
made them happy for this couple, not represent the entire population's
whose sexuality they had been views in Sierra Leone. Further
taught to fear. exploration is needed to assess the
broader societal attitudes towards
homosexuality in the country and the
potential impact of online content on
shaping public perceptions.

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Abdul follows queer celebrities on Online content could

For L.G.B.T.Q. youths like Abdul, Following queer celebrities Instagram, including Sam Smith and help LGBTQ youths to
online content can be a kind of can aspire LGBTQ youths to Saucy Santana. escape from the
lifeline. He follows queer a level of success. harshness they have to
celebrities on Instagram, He feels partly insulated from face due to their sexual
including the musician Sam Smith LGBTQ youths are faced violence and homophobia. orientation.
and the rapper Rashad Spain with violence and
(known as Saucy Santana), and homophobia. Evaluating: The evidence highlights
aspires to a level of success that the potential positive impact of
could partly insulate him from online content in providing support
violence and homophobia. and inspiration for L.G.B.T.Q. youths
like Abdul.

The experience is strictly anecdotal

and may not represent the impact of
online content in LGBTQ+
population in these countries. While
internet use may influence attitudes,
it may not guarantee widespread
acceptance or legislative changes

Julias compared external influences Watching online

When asked about the queer Technology allows for to the contagion of gun violence. LGBTQ content can
representation that Sierra Leone’s copycatting. affect the way teenagers
young people may see online, the Julias worried that outside think and behave,
country’s president, Julius Maada Teenagers influenced by information “poses a serious threat to threatening the culture
Bio, compared external influences online LGBTQ content will our own culture and way of life.” of the country.
to the contagion of gun violence. follow the LGBTQ way of
Because of technology, he said, living. Evaluating: This evidence reflects
“copycatting becomes very easy,” the viewpoint of one individual, and
and he worried that outside it is crucial to consider a range of
information “poses a serious perspectives when evaluating the
impact of online queer

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threat to our own culture and way representation. While President Bio
of life.” raises concerns about outside
information, it is essential to balance
cultural preservation with the rights
and well-being of marginalized
communities, including the
L.G.B.T.Q. community.

Government can use certain forms of Certain approaches can

I’d like to see the United States The government's influence aid, like requiring participating be done to pledge for
use its influence to press for more can help decrease the organizations not to discriminate more tolerance towards
tolerance — certain forms of aid, harshes LGBTQ have to face against L.G.B.T.Q. people. LGBTQ community -
for example, could require due to discrimination. government's force or
participating organizations not to Seeing the influence of the Tik Tok soft power, the latter of
discriminate against L.G.B.T.Q. Soft power is better than video where a lesbian couple which is considered the
people — but after talking to government force when it celebrates after conceiving a child best one.
people like Fatmata and Marie, I comes to persuading people through in vitro fertilization affects
suspect that our greatest tool for to change their way of the feeling of Fatmata and Marie
making change is soft power. thinking. positively.

Evaluating: The evidence is an

appeal to authority made by a
president. Consideration should be
given to the political, social, and
cultural factors that may influence his
perspective and the broader LGBTQ+
rights landscape in the U.S.

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There is no evidence in this paragraph. There is no argument in

We should be outraged by how far The other countries in this paragraph.
the Christian right has gone to context support the rights of
support the persecution of gay gay people. Local
people in African countries. These organizations in Africa
laws need to change, but I doubt which support gay people
that equal and opposite meddling are allowed to
is the solution. Instead, we can exist/establish.
call on our own leaders to help
fund safe spaces abroad and
strengthen lines of communication
with local organizations in Africa
like the Dignity Association, and
speak out when their members are
threatened.

There is no evidence in this paragraph. There is no argument in

As for those of us in the Countries in Africa allowed this paragraph.
L.G.B.T.Q. community, let’s people to post online about
embrace our power online. In the pride content, and “flaunting
face of bigotry and restrictive our pride” on social media is
legislation at home and abroad, legal. Tourists will care
flaunting our pride can be an act about the same-sex love law
of radical resistance. And all of us in the countries (especially
can speak with our wallets, in Africa) that they are going
making clear that tourism will be to visit.
jeopardized in countries that
punish same-sex love.

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Abdul, who was outed in 2019 and There is no argument in

Attitudes aren’t shifting fast driven from his home. Now 20, he this paragraph.
enough for young people like imagines a different life for himself
Abdul, who was outed in 2019 and because of the queer celebrities he
driven from his home. Now 20, he follows online. -> The article only
imagines a different life for takes one example from Abdul
himself because of the queer (personal evidence). There may be
celebrities he follows online. an overgeneralization in the
They’ve taught him that he has to situation/living condition of gay
strive, he said, adding, “I know people in Africa and we need more
it’s not going to be easy.” research on it.

Fallacy:

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — When Abdul was a teenager and coming to terms with being gay, he was attacked by a group of men.
They mocked him with homophobic slurs and assaulted him with broken beer bottles, slicing his thumb open. He reported the attack to
the police and was told that an arrest could be made — of him, for homosexuality. Sierra Leone is one of more than 30 African
nations (over half the continent) that criminalize same-sex relations. While most of the gay people I spoke with there did not seem to
fear being arrested, they said discrimination against them was widespread in housing, employment and family life.

Appeal to Popularity

Discrimination against gay people was widespread in housing, employment and family life in Sierra Leone so same-sex
relations are legally criminalized.

We should be outraged by how far the Christian right has gone to support the persecution of gay people in African countries. These
laws need to change, but I doubt that equal and opposite meddling is the solution. Instead, we can call on our own leaders to help
fund safe spaces abroad and strengthen lines of communication with local organizations in Africa like the Dignity Association, and
speak out when their members are threatened.

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Appeal to Emotion

Instead, we can call on our own leaders to help fund safe spaces abroad and strengthen lines of communication with
local organizations in Africa like the Dignity Association, and speak out when their members are threatened.

=> The emotion affects the solution that the author suggests.

Ambiguity:

Two teenagers in the city of Makeni in northern Sierra Leone, Fatmata Binta Jalloh, 17, and Marie Kamara, 16, told me that while
they believe homosexuality doesn’t exist in their country, they’ve seen plenty of gay people online. They recalled watching a viral
TikTok video of a lesbian couple celebrating after conceiving a child through in vitro fertilization. The video, they said, made them
happy for this couple, whose sexuality they had been taught to fear.

The evidence is a personal experience and overgeneralized. Only two teenagers' viewpoints cannot represent the whole
generation's perspective.

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