Namibia’s sodomy laws have been overturned – what that means for LGBTIQ+ rights in the country: Bennian/Getty Images, CC BY The Namibian high court recently invalidated the country’s colonial-era “sodomy law”, which had made consensual sexual acts between men a criminal offence. The court declared that the common law offences of “sodomy” and “unnatural sexual …
Angola’s untold history: archive project explores LGBTIQ+ lives and struggles: As I write these lines, I mourn the passing of Carlos Fernandes, a leading queer activist and organiser in Angola. Carlos was found dead in his home earlier this year under circumstances that are still being investigated. For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer …
US Christian right has taken aim at LGBTIQ+ rights, sex education and abortion in Africa – new book: 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 …
Ghana’s new anti-homosexuality bill violates everyone’s rights, not just LGBTIQ+ people – expert: Ghana’s new anti-homosexuality bill infringes several rights and freedoms, not only of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) people but of heterosexuals too. The bill has been in the works since 2021 when it was tabled in parliament as a …
Being queer in Africa: the state of LGBTIQ+ rights across the continent: Rajesh Jantilal/AFP via Getty Images In recent years several African countries have decriminalised same-sex relationships. But they’re not representative of the continent. In fact, queer rights at times appear to be eroding in much of the continent, with Kenya and Uganda most recently …
Queerphobia in Kenya: a supreme court ruling on gay rights triggers a new wave of anger against the LGBTIQ+ community: A demonstrator during Queer Republic protests in Nairobi, Kenya. John Ochieng/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The Kenyan supreme court recently struck down a government decision to ban the registration of an LGBTIQ+ community rights organisation, …
Uganda’s anti-homosexuality bill wants to ‘rehabilitate’ LGBTIQ+ people – African psychologists warn of its dangers: Sukhomoy Sen/Eyepix Group/Future Publishing via Getty Images Mental health professionals from across Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa, have signed a declaration against conversion practices that are used to forcibly change the sexual orientation, gender identity or …
LGBTIQ+ migrants and asylum seekers in South Africa: major new study identifies a diverse, wide-spread community: South Africa is the only African nation to formally extend refugee protection to LGBTI+ people. Luca Sola/AFP via Getty Images Since 1998, South Africa has recognised persecution based on gender and sexuality as legitimate grounds for asylum. This makes …
LGBTIQ learners at risk in South Africa as conservative Christian groups fight plans for safer schools: Viacheslav Chernobrovin/Getty Images, CC BY-SA Advocacy groups in South Africa are intensifying their efforts to prevent the country’s education department from creating safer environments for children of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations. Some of the advocacy groups have …
South Africa in the news: The World Cup in Qatar is less than a year away; here’s why LGBTIQ+ Socceroos fans won’t be going: Joe, who is gay and travelled to see the Socceroos play at World Cups in Brazil, South Africa and Germany, will be staying home during next year’s tournament in Qatar, rather …