I was a Peace Corps Volunteer: Sexuality in Guinea

Americans spend a lot of time thinking about and discussing sexuality. We've experienced decades of riots, court cases, LGBTQ parades, explicit movies. Without realizing it, we're very tuned to investigating if someone is LGBTQ based on superficial traits or single acts.
Guineans don't think like that. They don't discuss sexuality. They can't define all the acronyms or identify what sort of struggles LGBTQ people may have had in life.
Guinean culture is different. Sure, it's a Muslim-heavy country with Christian regions but they practice much differently than I thought going in. Guineans were victims of ethnic-based attacks for a very long time and were taught to not get involved in other people's business to avoid trouble in their own homes. This extends to domestic violence, alcoholism, and sexuality.
My principal and my police commissioner both knew of gay people but even while most people disagreed with their lifestyles, they never harassed them. An engineer in my town described how homosexuality was a grave sin but he would never do any physical harm. Most young people that I spoke with didn't really have much opinions on it because they didn't really think about it.
Guineans show affection very differently than we do. Guineans will hold hands with their guy friends in public, cuddle with guys in bed, and even sleep together. Those are almost always non-sexual experiences but it supported a statement that my boss said: it's very easy to be gay in Guinea because almost everything a gay couple does, guys are already doing it.
If a Guinean is doing things like this with you, don't interpret it as sexual at all. They can just be really friendly. This can be confusing and sometimes upsetting but you'll learn how to adjust.
None of what I'm saying should imply that Guinea is a great country to be gay. Gay people can and still are shunned by their families. People are expected to marry the opposite sex. There is only one gay club in Conakry (which I never found but heard enough about). Gay Guineans who know their identity do have struggles and desire to go to Western countries where they can be with others. It also isn't safe or wise to talk about sexuality with people you don't know, but that's true anywhere, even in America.
That being said, gay, lesbian, bi, queer volunteers have all served in Guinea and have done well. I could definitely talk more about my experiences but if you have any questions, please write me.

[@meghanfitz-james49]

First of all, thank you for being so candid. I randomly happened upon your video. I think it is this kind of insight-giving video on an element of humanity in another country that is so important for someone to articulate as you have. Stereotypes based solely on statistics take away the necessary caveats and context. Thank you for this teaching moment. Well done. I hope it reduces the fear of other gay men to feel they have more travel choices and experience choices as a result. I really respect your effort. It may seem like a small thing but it is actualy really important in ways that are difficult to quantify. Thank you for broadening my understanding.

[@emilyryan9698]

Thanks for sharing your stories! I love hearing about your personal experiences!

[@dawanrobinson5697]

Thank you! Let me know if you have any questions :)

[@williamoliver9988]

This is awesome and so helpful! Thank you so much for publishing this! I can't say how funny and insightful this is! (Prospective PCV here)

[@dawanrobinson5697]

You're welcome!!

[@markjohnson9012]

Thank you for this (and other videos). I am gearing up to apply for PC, and this subject has been a concern for me. I appreciate your candor and for your time.

[@dawanrobinson5697]

Thank you! Good luck with your application!

[@nnatounkara6652]

My parents are actually from guinea and I love that you make these videos .

[@keaganwyatt8574]

Thanks for the video. I just had my interview for agroforestry in Guinea.

[@dawanrobinson5697]

AWESOME! Best of luck! Bring sunflower seeds!

[@stanceonlife7883]

Thank you for this. Just sifting through the website seeing that most countries go against LGBT relations etc has been somewhat deterring, but this video gives me a sparkle of hope.

[@dawanrobinson5697]

You're welcome! Do reach out to other RPCVs and find out their experiences as well!

[@stanceonlife7883]

I definitely will! Just did a RPCV LGBT Panel Discussion today :)

[@dawanrobinson5697]

Awesome! The more times you hear from others should help you make a good decision about what's right for you!

[@anam.8234]

Thank you so much! This video was very helpful. During the application process, the Peace Corps kept giving me the canned response that you can go but you should probably stay closeted, and we are trying to help them not change them. I would love to do Peace Corps in the future, but not if I have to be completely in the closet for 2 years! So, in the USA, when people say to stay in the closet, that stuff is personal anyway, I don't feel like they mean it, because straight people always talk about "wife and kids" at the water cooler, etc. And if you are gay, you're left out of those conversations. Do they have those conversations there? Do they ask if you have a wife back home? Also part of the Peace Corps canned response was to expect lots of personal questions. It sounds like that didn't really apply to Guinea?

[@dawanrobinson5697]

Hi Ana! Yes, PC does tell you to keep closeted depending the country you're going to. That's for your own safety and to cover their own bases. And yes, people will ask a lot of personal questions. A lot of PC volunteers say they have a relationship back home or that they might even be waiting for marriage. It's an easy answer. You'll be the director of your conversations so you can change topics or steer them for more safe or professional subjects. Guineans will ask you about your love life and why you aren't married and if you want to marry a local. Sorry if I didn't make that clear.

[@anam.8234]

I'm ok with questions because my answers are not gender specific. I guess peace corps has to be vague because each village is different. It's great to hear personal stories to see specific examples of what life is like. It's definitely helpful. Thank you.

[@phoebewarren]

Hey, would it be possible to get in touch with you? I've been watching tons of your videos and they've been an incredible resource - I'm currently under consideration and having my interview soon for Secondary English Education in Guinea and I'm gay so I have tons to ask you about if it's at all a possibility. REPLY

[@dawanrobinson5697]

Sure--if they're general questions, please write them here or reach out to me on Instagram or Facebook

[@ringodax12]

Phoebe Warren hi phoebe! I just found out I was placed for a secondary English position. I hope you were/ will be selected too! Dawan your videos are so helpful. This is such an important topic and your videos have made me feel a lot less nervous about everything!

[@dawanrobinson5697]

Thanks so much for watching! Lemme know if you have any questions and good luck!

[@layeb-cm4875]

“Which Guinea you talking about?”