Ghana’s parliament has voted to pass a controversial bill that will make it a criminal act to be openly gay in the West African nation, according to Al Jazeera.

The bill was presented to parliament in 2021 and received support from a coalition of religious and traditional leaders. It was sponsored by several lawmakers who passed the bill on February 28. 

The bill still has to be endorsed by Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, before entering into law. 

Parliament member Sam George, one of the most outspoken supporters of the bill, is calling for the president’s endorsement. 

“We want the president to walk his talk by appending his signature to the bill to enable it to come into force.” 

Activist groups are demanding that the President reject the “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values” bill, which is also referred to as the Anti-Gay Bill. Although the president hasn’t openly supported the bill, he has said that gay marriage will never be allowed while he is president. 

Under the provisions of the bill, people who engage in LGBTQ sexual acts may face six months to three years behind bars. People who participate in “wilful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities” may receive a sentence of three to five years.

The Big 18, a human rights coalition consisting of lawyers and activists, has condemned the bill.

“You cannot criminalize a person’s identity, and that’s what the bill is doing and it’s absolutely wrong,” Big 18 member Takyiwaa Manuh told DW News. 

“The passing of this bill will further marginalize and endanger LGBTQ individuals in Ghana.” LGBT+ Rights Ghana Alex Donkor said in an interview with Al Jazeera. 

Discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is already common in the West African nation, but Donker fears that, if passed, the bill “threatens the safety and wellbeing “ of the already vulnerable LGBTQ+ community.

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