Gay Community In Liberia Persecuted For Ebola; Church Leaders Call Virus 'Punishment' For Homosexuality

The gay community in Liberia is being persecuted for Ebola. Since the outbreak began in West Africa, Christian churches in the region have described Ebola in Liberia as a punishment from God for homosexuality. In a Reuters report, LGBT rights advocate Leroy Ponpon said he doesn't know whether to hide from the virus or because of his homosexuality.

Ponpon said homosexuals were being harassed and physically attacked. There were also incidents of people smashing cars of gays who were accused of causing the disease. He told the Thomson Reuters Foundation over the phone from Monrovia about church ministers declaring Ebola as a "plague sent by God to punish sodomy in Liberia." The statements of religious leaders have escalated the violent reactions towards the gay community. Ponpon said gay Liberians are living in fear since the people have asked for the death penalty.

Since the outbreak in West Africa, Ebola has infected nearly 100,000 people and killed half of those afflicted. Reports said Liberia is the worst hit by Ebola where poverty, corruption and past civil wars have left its healthcare systems weak and unable to deal with the virus.

However, religious leaders in the country have different views of Ebola. Previous reports said the Liberian Council of Churches reacted to the disease and called it God's punishment for Liberia's corrupt and immoral acts like homosexuality. In May, Catholic Church of Liberia Archbishop Lewis Zeigler also declared the virus as a punishment for homosexuality.

Amnesty International representative in West Africa Francois Patuel revealed there have been reports of threats and violent incidents against the LGBT community in Monrovia, following the statements of religious leaders. He told Reuters how gays are forced to leave their homes to hide somewhere safe and away from those who persecute them. Ponpon wants the government to provide protection and treat the gay community as a minority group with rights just like everyone else.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has announced large doses of Ebola vaccines are ready to be tested in West Africa by 2015. According to reports, millions of doses of two experimental vaccines will be ready for use. WHO officials said five more experimental vaccines will be tested in March. However, WHO warned it was not clear if any of the vaccines will stop the virus as they will first be tested for safety and effectiveness.