A death penalty against homosexuality may be introduced soon in Ethiopia, according to anti-gay organizations that ran a recent workshop on the topic.

The workshop, dealt with the social ‘evils’ and ‘disastrous’ effects of homosexuality in Ethiopia, and was led by United for Life Ethiopia, a Western Evangelical organization with local representation.

Government officials, religious leaders, leading heath professionals, charities and members of the public attended the event at the Bethel Teaching Hospital in Addis Ababa, last week.

Homosexuality is a rapidly growing 'infestation' whose carriers are now estimated to have reached 16,000 in Ethiopia according to one of the country's newspapers.

The article published by Yenga daily this week also alleged that gays have an average of 75 sexual partners a year, and their ‘promiscuous’ nature propels some to have seven to nine sexual partners a day.

Ethiopian government officials, religious leaders and civil representatives have declared their opposition to LGBT rights and condemned homosexuality as a western epidemic.

A national conference entitled 'Homosexuality and its associated social disastrous consequences' on Saturday (9 June) was held in the newly built African Union headquarters, in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.

Mr Gay World contestants have spent the last few days absorbing South African culture and stripping off to take part in a ‘sports challenge’.

Delegates from around the world are attending the event in Johannesburg but Mr Gay New Zealand, Andrea Derleth, have picked up the prize so far, for an obstacle course and written exam on questions about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history.

The Mr Gay World contestant from Ethiopia may not be able to return to his country after receiving death threats.

The global male beauty pageant, which is this year held in Johannesburg, from 4 to 8 April, was last week celebrating after getting its first black African finalists.