Tag: angola gay rights

Abolition of Angola’s anti-gay laws may pave the way for regional reform

Angola has decriminalised consensual same-sex acts between adults in private. An erstwhile Portuguese colony, Angola inherited an ancient colonial statute – dating back to 1886 – that criminalised “indecent acts” and persons habitually engaging in “acts against nature”. These formulations have widely been interpreted as a ban on homosexual conduct. Punishment upon conviction included confinement… Read more »

Angola decriminalizes homosexuality, bans anti-gay discrimination

Lawmakers in Angola last week approved a new penal code that decriminalizes consensual same-sex sexual relations in the African country. The Angolan Parliament on Jan. 23 scrapped the law that had been in place since Portugal colonized the country. Lawmakers also banned discrimination based on sexual orientation. Associação Íris Angola, an Angolan LGBTI advocacy group,… Read more »

Angola Has Decriminalized Gay Sex, Human Rights Watch Says

According to rights group Human Rights Watch, Angola has decriminalized gay sex. “Angola has finally shed the divisive ‘vices against nature’ provision in its law, widely interpreted to be a ban on homosexual conduct,” the group wrote. Human Rights Watch said that the provision prohibiting same-sex relations was a holdover from its Portuguese colonizers. On… Read more »

Angola Decriminalizes Same-Sex Conduct

Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation Banned Angola has finally shed the divisive “vices against nature” provision in its law, widely interpreted to be a ban on homosexual conduct. Taking things one step further, the government has also prohibited discrimination against people on the basis of sexual orientation. And so anyone refusing to employ or provide… Read more »

Angolan TV producers apologise over gays kissing

The producers of a popular television soap in Angola have apologised after an episode which showed a gay couple kissing caused outrage among viewers. State television said it had suspended broadcasts of Jikulumessu for “technical reasons”. Many viewers felt the programme went too far by showing two men kissing, although homosexuality is not illegal in… Read more »

Being gay not an issue in independent-minded Angola

Luanda | Angola: Unlike the situation in countries like Uganda, Nigeria and Zimbabwe, Angolans tolerate LGBT people and even applaud those with talent, provided they keep their sexual orientation private. Of course, there’s a significant difference between “tolerance” and “acceptance”, but still, what accounts for the relative open-minded of Angolans on this issue, and could… Read more »