Bayoh Conteh Faces Intimidation, Stigmatization & Discrimination

Reports reaching this medium reveal that community members at Water Street, Congo Town, West of Freetown, attacked Bayoh Conteh of 23c Water Street and his gay partner, Stephen Douglas, on allegation of practicing same sex, an act described by them and many as demonic, and condemned by both Muslims and Christians as devilish, inspired by demonic affiliations. Both Conteh and Douglas are said to have only been saved by the intervention of some police officers, whose timely intervention at the scene became a blessing to them.

According to investigations mounted by this medium, Bayoh Conteh is said to have been secretly practicing gay, unknown to his family. Living at Water Street, Conteh has been seen in the company of one Stephen Douglas , who was incidentally named as the partner he was caught in the act with, on several occasions. Bayoh Conteh is said to be residing at Water Street, Freetown western urban, the main capital city of Sierra Leone.
Family sources say that they have seen both men spending time together on many occasions, but did not have the slightest idea that they were both gay. It was further disclosed that Bayoh had told them that he was visiting the family and was taking his friend along to see his village.
While in Koidu town, our investigation revealed that a neighbour living next to the family house stumbled on the two men when he went to collect his phone from a male inmate, whose room was being occupied by Conteh and his friend. Upon entering the room, which was apparently unlocked, he discovered both Bayoh and Stepehn in a very compromising position. It was further revealed that he then raised an alarm, which brought both family members and community people to the scene. Bayoh and his partner were alleged to have been dragged out of the house and subjected to embarrassing postures, including beating, and were only saved from lynching, by some police officers passing through the area on their way to another Community . As some of the officers knew the Bayoh family, they warned him to leave the township or both of them will be lynched.
On his return to Freetown, news of the said incident quickly filtered to town, and Bayoh became a subject of discussion by neighbours and members of the community. Wherever he went, he was hounded by community youths and elders, who see him as a big disgrace, and there are indications that some youths were planning on attacking him.
Our source further explained that since this incident, Bayoh has been made uncomfortable, as he has been subjected to abuse, intimidation and threats of violence by both male and female residents in the community, and there is information that his home has been targeted by youths on several occasions, leading his landlord to contemplate on giving him notice to quit his premises.
According to a family friend of Bayoh, who spoke to this medium on condition of anonymity, Bayoh Conteh comes from a very strict religious family, who are opposed to such practices, which are also seen by both religions in the country, as demonic and devilish, and being caught in the act is like a taboo. He expressed fear for the safety of Bayoh, giving as example, intelligence that some youths are planning on attacking him with the intention of giving him the lesson of his life, that if he survives, he will desist from such practice.
Same sex relationships are described by both religions in the country as demonic, and condemned by society, including the government. It is even worse in traditional setting. In many cases, people caught in such acts are often beaten to death, and deaths from such matters are seen by society as good riddance. In cases where parents get to know of such situations, the suspect is taken to traditional herbalists, who often declare them as demon possessed, and would administer herbal concoctions, as well as rituals to exorcize the demons, often leading to their deaths.
Our investigation also revealed that Bayoh Conteh lost his job, due to the above incident, and has since been taunted by residents in his area. He is said to be highly traumatized and hardly leaves his house, for fear of being attacked.
As we go to press, Bayoh Conteh is still facing humiliation, discrimination and constantly being taunted, wherever he goes. Having lost his source of livelihood, due to his sexual orientation, Bayoh is now traumatized, and is being treated as an outcast by both friends and family members, including threats against his life. Reports of the aforesaid threats have had no response from the police, and Bayoh has been left to face his fate at the hands of the community people. It was however learnt that his gay partner, Stephen Douglas, has been deported from the country, whilst Bayoh’s whereabouts remained unknown. Our Investigations continue…