The unforgivable crime of being queer in Africa
6/15/202654 min
Homosexuality is illegal in more than half of African countries — a crime punishable by prison sentences. Or in some cases: death. In the past few years, six African countries have made it illegal just to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. These laws bring up questions of foreign influence, neo-colonialism, and the role the international community could play in nudging human rights on the continent. *This episode originally aired on May 26, 2025.
Want another podcast? Ghana and Uganda have some of the harshest laws against LGBTQ+ people in the world. Despite the threats, listen to how podcasters in both these countries are fighting back and reclaiming sexuality.
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
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Speaker 30:29
[música suave] Welcome to Ideas. I'm Nahlah Ayed. Just a couple of weeks ago, Ghana's parliament passed a controversial bill targeting LGBTQ people and advocacy.
Speaker 4· Soundbite0:55
The proposed legislation makes it illegal to fund, sponsor, or even promote LGBTQ acts, with prison terms ranging from three to five years.
Speaker 5· Soundbite1:05
The legislation seeks to punish members of the LGBTQ community, as well as organizations accused of promoting or supporting such activities.
Speaker 31:15
Homosexuality is a crime in more than half of the countries across Africa. A crime punishable by prison sentences, or in some cases, death. In the past few years, sweeping