LGBTQIA+ - The African Mirror

Apr

30

2024

Ghana’s high court dismisses bid to speed up anti-LGBTQ law passage

LGBTQIA+

A high court in Ghana has dismissed a legal challenge to President Nana Akufo-Addo's decision not to act immediately on an anti-LGBTQ bill passed by parliament in February, it ruled. Lawmakers who unanimously passed legislation that would intensify a crackdown on LGBTQ rights in the West African nation have been calling on Akufo-Addo to promulgate the new law. But the presidency has said it would not forward the bill to the president for assent until two legal challenges against it were settled, sparking criticism in parliament. One opposition lawmaker, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, took the delay to the high court, which ruled against his challenge on Monday.…

Apr

26

2024

By LUCY MIDDLETON

Is Rwanda a safe place to send LGBTQ+ asylum seekers from the UK?

LGBTQIA+

LGBTQ+ rights groups are concerned that gay, bisexual, and transgender refugees could face discrimination and abuse if they are sent to Rwanda under Britain's policy to deport asylum seekers to the East African nation. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to start sending asylum seekers to Rwanda within 10 to 12 weeks as the upper house of parliament finally passed the required legislation, delayed for weeks by attempts to alter the contentious plan. As LGBTQ+ rights groups criticise the plan, Illegal Migration Minister Michael Tomlinson said on Tuesday that "openly gay" asylum seekers would be sent to Rwanda. "It is not unlawful to be…

Apr

19

2024

By PELUMI SALAKO and SADIYA ANSARI

Anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Ghana and Uganda feel the heat from sanctions

LGBTQIA+

A ruling this month by Uganda's Constitutional Court to water down a tough anti-LGBTQ+ law may have stemmed from concern to avoid further international sanctions over the controversial legislation, rights activists and analysts say. The court's decision to strike out several of the law's most contentious clauses came weeks after a similar law passed by Ghana appeared to have hit a roadblock amid Finance Ministry warnings it could derail $3.8 billion in international aid. Steven Kabuye, a Ugandan LGBTQ+ activist, said the court's April 3 ruling appeared aimed at appeasing international donors who had raised particular objections about the affected clauses on the grounds that they…

Apr

12

2024

By The African Mirror

Ghana ruling party presidential candidate says he opposes same-sex relations

LGBTQIA+

THE presidential candidate of Ghana's ruling party, Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, said that he was opposed to "the practice of homosexuality", a stance he promised to maintain if elected in December. President Nana Akufo-Addo faces pressure to sign into law one of Africa's most severe anti-LGBT bills, which has been criticised by rights advocates and the United Nations. Speaking at prayers marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Bawumia did not refer to the bill but said: "It is important to note that our cultural and societal norms and values as Ghanaians frown on the practice of homosexuality. "All…

Apr

06

2024

By SADIYA ANSARI

What you need to know about Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ+ law

LGBTQIA+

A Ugandan court has upheld a sweeping law that introduced the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality", leaving only one legal route to challenge some of the most punitive anti-LGBTQ+ measures in Africa. The Constitutional Court on Wednesday upheld the validity of the so-called Anti-Homosexuality Act, while striking down some of its key sections, citing health and privacy concerns. Here's the big picture. What is the Anti-Homosexuality Act? The Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) was signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni in May 2023, and its draconian measures have prompted U.S. and World Bank sanctions. While Uganda had long criminalised gay sex, the new law is harsher than its…

Apr

04

2024

By The African Mirror

Ugandan court upholds anti-LGBTQ law but says some rights infringed

LGBTQIA+

UGANDA'S constitutional court refused to annul or suspend an anti-LGBTQ law that includes the death penalty for certain same-sex acts, but voided some provisions it said are inconsistent with certain fundamental human rights. The legislation, adopted in May last year, is among the world's harshest anti-gay laws and has drawn condemnation from rights campaigners and sanctions from Western nations. Activists say the law has unleashed a torrent of abuse against LGBTQ people, including torture, rape, arrest and eviction. "We decline to nullify the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 in its entirety, neither will we grant a permanent injunction against its enforcement," said lead judge Richard Buteera,…

Apr

03

2024

By CLEMENCE MANYUKWE

As Zimbabwe makes strides on HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ+ people left behind

HEALTH, LGBTQIA+

AS a gay man in Zimbabwe, Admore braced himself for a hostile reception from medical staff when he went for an HIV test at a city-run clinic in Harare five years ago. His worries proved justified. "When I (said) I was gay ... they gave each other that look that made me feel they thought I was not normal," said Admore, who asked to use a pseudonym to protect his identity. Despite such uncomfortable dealings with health workers, Admore - who tested positive - has been able to access life-saving antiretroviral treatment (ART). But his experience helps explain why LGBTQ+…

Mar

23

2024

By The African Mirror

Ghana parliament speaker criticises president for delaying anti-LGBTQ bill

NEWS, LGBTQIA+

GHANA'S speaker of parliament has said President Nana Akufo-Addo's refusal to act on an anti-LGBTQ bill for the time being was unconstitutional and that parliament would stop approving new ministerial appointments. One of Africa's harshest anti-LGBTQ laws, unanimously passed by Ghana's parliament last month, has been on hold since the president's office said it would wait for the outcome of two legal challenges before the law goes to Akufo-Addo for assent. The decision to wait came after a finance ministry warning that the bill could jeopardise $3.8 million in World Bank financing and derail a $3-billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan package. But it has sparked…

Mar

14

2024

By PELUMI SALAKO

Could Ghana’s tough anti-LGBTQ+ bill be blocked over economic fears?

NEWS, LGBTQIA+

PARLIAMENT'S approval of a bill cracking down on LGBTQ+ people in Ghana has raised fears in the government that the country could lose international aid vital to help its economy recover from a deep crisis. If President Nana Akufo-Addo ignores Finance Ministry advice and signs the bill into law, penalties for gay sex would be toughened and new offences introduced. Akufo-Addo has said he will wait for the outcome of a Supreme Court challenge over the constitutionality of the bill, which the Finance Ministry has warned could jeopardise nearly $4 billion in World Bank financing. Here's what you need to know.…

Mar

07

2024

By HALEY MCEWEN

US Christian right has taken aim at LGBTIQ+ rights, sex education and abortion in Africa – new book

LITERATURE, LGBTQIA+

A new book – The US Christian Right and Pro-Family Politics in 21st Century Africa – reveals the role played by some right-wing US Christian groups in trying to spread their social and moral influence in African countries. Sociologist Haley McEwen, who specialises in the subject, answers five questions about her book. HALEY MCEWEN, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Gothenburg What do you want readers to take away? I hope that readers can better understand the reasons why lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) rights, abortion and sexuality education have become so highly politicised in African countries (and other…