The daughter of Cameroon’s president, Paul Biya, has shared that she’s dating Brazilian model Layyons Valença, despite the fact same-sex sexual activity is criminalised in Cameroon.
Brenda Biya officially came out as LGBTQ+ on her Instagram account @KingNastyy on 30 June, sharing a picture of her kissing her girlfriend.
Cameroon criminalises LGBTQ+ activity; a crime punishable with up to five years in prison and a fine. LGBTQ+ people in the country are frequently subjected to discrimination.
In 2022, a civil society group tracked a rise in violence and abuse against LGBTQ+ people in Cameroon.
Brenda captioned the photo of her and Layyons: “PS: I’m crazy about you & I want the world to know.”
One commenter reminded her that her father is Paul Biya, the long-running president of Cameroon, where it is prohibited to be LGBTQ+.
In response, she wrote, as reported by Cameroon News Agency: “Nobody will have anything to say because only love shall win.
“I don’t condone hate, I think the mentality should change, but it will change once the people are ready.”
The comments on the Instagram post now appear to have been turned off.
The 26-year-old Cameroonian first daughter is also featured in Valença’s TikTok videos.
People have questioned if Brenda Biya will be prosecuted under Cameroon‘s anti-LGBTQ+ law, with one person writing on X/Twitter that the law is only “for the poor”.
Others have praised her bravery in coming out and standing with the marginalised LGBTQ+ community.
Another supporter said they were “proud of her” for going public with her relationship.
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