LGBT rights in Africa
| LGBT rights in Africa | |
|---|---|
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Africa
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| Same-sex sexual activity legal? | Legal in 22 out of 56 countries Legal in all 4 territories |
| Gender identity/expression | Legal in 1 out of 56 countries Legal in all 4 territories |
| Military service | Allowed to serve openly in 1 out of 56 countries Legal in all 4 territories |
| Discrimination protections | Legal in 7 out of 56 countries Legal in all 4 territories |
| Family rights | |
| Recognition of relationships |
Legal in 1 out of 56 countries Legal in 3 out of 4 territories |
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Restrictions:
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Same-sex marriage constitutionally banned in 8 out of 56 states |
| Adoption | Legal in 1 out of 56 countries Legal in 3 out of 4 territories |
With the exception of South Africa, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Africa are very limited in comparison to many other areas of the world.
Homosexuality is found throughout the African continent. Out of the 55 states recognised by the United Nations or African Union or both, the International Gay and Lesbian Association stated in 2015 that homosexuality is outlawed in 34 African countries.Human Rights Watch notes that another two countries, Benin and the Central African Republic, do not outlaw homosexuality, but have certain laws which apply differently to heterosexual and homosexual individuals.
Homosexual activity between adults has never been criminalised in Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, and Rwanda.
Since 2011, some developed countries have been considering or implementing laws that limit or prohibit general budget support to countries that restrict the rights of homosexuals. In spite of this, many African countries have refused to consider increasing LGBT rights, and in some cases have drafted laws to increase sanctions against LGBT people. Many African leaders claim that it was brought into the continent from other parts of the world. Most scholars nevertheless believe that homosexuality has long been a part of various African cultures.
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Wikipedia