PAN AFRICA ILGA WELCOMES GABON DECISION TO DECRIMINALISE SAME-SEX RELATIONS

(this is a statement issued by Pan Africa ILGA, regarding Gabon voting to decriminalise consensual same-sex relations. The original statement can be accessed here)

In 2019, Article 402(5) was enacted in Gabon and the function of that law was to prohibit consensual same-sex activity. The penalty for a guilty verdict was six months imprisonment and a fine. After the law was introduced, it had never fully been enforced. 48 members of the National Assembly voted to amend the criminal legislation by removing the paragraph prohibiting sexual relations between people of the same sexrefers to the classification of a person as male, female, or other - usually made at birth, written on a birth certificate, and usually based on the appearance of their external anatomy. A person’s sex, however, is actually a combination of bodily characteristics, including chromosomes, hormones, internal and external reproductive organs, and secondary sex characteristics. More. On Monday 29th of June, 59 Senators in the upper house voted for the law to be scrapped. The law will be formalized once the president ratifies it.

The reversal of this law is a positive move for the region and should serve as an example for African States that continue to criminalise consensual same-sex sexual activities.

“According to late President of South Africa Nelson Mandela ‘To deny people their Human Rights challenge their very humanity’. The Gabonese Government and people have shown by the removal of the homophobic laws that restricted and prohibited adults consensual same-sex relationships, that they truly understand that irrespective of our differences in the way we choose to love and live, LGBTQI+ persons humanity shouldn’t be challenged and restricted by laws.
All humans are born free and equal and therefore we are entitled to every right that others will claim for themselves. We hope that many more African countries emulate the Gabonese government and realize that these homophobic laws restricting and punishing consensual adult same sex relationships are not progressive. We say kudos to the Gabonese government and people. We remain in Solidarity with our sisters and brothers living in countries where their humanity has been stripped off of them.” – Juliet Ulanmo, Chairperson of the Board.

“Lawmakers in Gabon’s lower house of parliament on Tuesday voted to decriminalise homosexuality, becoming one of the few countries in sub-Saharan Africa to reverse a law that punishes sexual relations between people of the same sex. Human rights are rights inborn to all human beings regardless of who we are. We are equally entitled to our human rights without discriminationunequal or unfair treatment which can be based on a range of grounds - such as age, ethnic background, disability, and diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions or sex characteristics, amongst others. More. Across the continent, things are moving more in the right direction than in the wrong direction. I am envisaging to see a lot of change in the next 5-10 years. Aluta Continua!” – Nate Brown, Executive Director of Pan Africa ILGA.

Pan Africa ILGA Secretariat
Pan Africa ILGA is the African chapter of the International Lesbianadjective/noun to describe a woman whose enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction is to other women. Women and non-binary people may use this term to describe themselves. More, Gayadjective to describe people whose enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional
attractions are to people of the same gender. Men, women and non-binary people may use this
term to describe themselves. More, Bisexualadjective used to describe a person who has the capacity to form enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attractions to those of the same gender or to those of other genders. More, Transadjective/umbrella term to describe a person whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. More and Intersexan umbrella term for the spectrum of variations of sex characteristics that naturally occur within the human species. Intersex people are born with variations of sex characteristics (such as genitals, reproductive organs, hormonal and chromosomal patterns) that are more diverse than stereotypical definitions of male or female bodies. Up to 1.7% of the global population are born with such traits; yet, because their bodies are seen as different, intersex children and adults are often stigmatised and subject to harmful practices – including in medical settings - and discriminated against. More Association. PAI is dedicated to supporting LGBTIacronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people. Although this is not the acronym available to describe people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics, it is the most commonly used in United Nations spaces and advocacy. More organising in the promotion and protection of LGBT rights in Africa