North of South Africa, things begin to get a bit hectic when it comes to accepting gay people in Africa. Uganda is right up there, but so is Cameroon.

The Cameroon court of appeals has however just bucked the trend of severely punishing gay people and acquitted two men who had been sentenced to five years in prison for “looking gay”.

Their crime: ordering Bailey’s Irish Cream.

The court on Monday ordered their release after they had already served one year in prison and been subjected to abuse from other inmates and guards, according to human rights advocates.

This news comes after another Cameroonian man’s conviction for sending an “I love you” text to another man was upheld in mid-December. He is serving five years for his crime.

Human rights lawyers and gay rights advocates were pleased with the latest ruling and again called on President Paul Biya to release all other prisoners found guilty under anti-gay laws.

[Source: NationalPost]