Thirty-six year old McHenry Venaani was sworn in to Namibian parliament on the 11th of February.

Venaani, president of the opposition Democratic Turnhalle Alliance Party (DTA), has pledged to defend LGBTI rights in parliament.

In an interview with Gay Star News, Venaani said “For many years gays have been part of the society all along. It is scientifically proven all races and cultures have gays.”

He stated that homosexuality had always existed in Africa, even before the country was colonized.

“Africans must stop hiding the reality. Society always denies the reality, homosexuality existence cannot be denied.”

Venaani comes from the Bantu-speaking Herero tribe of Namibia, and said that gay, lesbian and bisexual people should be allowed to live their private lives without interference.