SA Groups Urge SA Government to Condemn Ghana Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill

Led by OUT LGBT Well-being, more than 20 LGBTIQ+ organisations in South Africa, including MambaOnline, have condemned Ghana’s new Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill and called on the South African government to speak out against this evil legislation.

We believe that for far too long, the government has shamefully stayed silent on the oppression of LGBTQ+ people in Africa. As a new surge of homophobia and transphobia spreads across the continent, South Africa remains complicit through its silence.

It is time that the silence ends.

Read the full statement below:

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OUT LGBT Well-being and the below organisations and individuals are appalled that Ghana’s Parliament has voted to pass the oppressive Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill (Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill). This dire development is a stain on our continent’s commitment to progress and human rights.

If signed by President Nana Akufo-Addo, the law will jail LGBTQ+ (lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus) people for up to three years, not only for who they love but simply for identifying as LGBTQ+. It will also criminalise any person or group advocating for LGBTQ+ rights as well as journalists reporting on LGBTQ+ issues with imprisonment of up to five years.

The Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill is a gross violation of fundamental human rights and Ghana’s own constitution and is an attack on the core tenets of democracy. Its enactment will worsen the marginalisation of LGBTQ+ Ghanaians, impacting their right to freedom and basic services, including housing, education and healthcare.

OUT joins human rights groups around the world in expressing solidarity with LGBTQ+ Ghanaians and urging President Akufo-Addo to affirm that his country remains a constitutional democracy by rejecting the vile bill.

We also call on the South African government to denounce this gross human rights violation and condemn the passage of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.

For too long the government has stayed silent on the oppression of LGBTQ+ people in Africa. A new surge of homophobia and transphobia is spreading across our continent, and South Africa remains complicit through our silence.

If we aspire to be taken seriously and avoid accusations of selective morality, political posturing, and hypocrisy, we must, as a nation, be consistent in publicly affirming, championing, and supporting the rights of all people.

We appeal to the South African government to take decisive steps to condemn anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, policies, and human rights violations in Ghana, Uganda and elsewhere on the continent.

We can no longer turn a blind eye to the daily state-sanctioned suffering, fear, humiliation, violence and oppression experienced by our LGBTQ+ African siblings.

This Statement is Endorsed by the Following Organisations and Individuals:

• Access Chapter 2
• Action For Social Justice International
• Beyond the Margins
• Common Diversity
• Engage Men’s Health
• Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW)
• Frank Malaba, Artivist
• The Fruit Basket
• GALA Queer Archive
• Gay Umbrella
• Global Interfaith Network for People of All Sexes, Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities and Expressions
• Inclusive and Affirming Ministries (IAM)
• KwaZulu-Natal LGBT Recreation
• Lesbian and Gay Community Centre
• LGBT+ Health Division, Desmond Tutu Health Foundation
• Lower South Coast LGBTI
• Mambaonline.com
• The Queer & Trans Refugee Advisory Network
• Rainbow Refuge Africa
• Same Love Toti
• Shemah Koleinu
• Thami Dish Foundation
• Adv. Thando Gumede
• Trans Guardian Alliance
• Triangle Project
• Uthingo Network
• Wits Activate