In a landmark moment for the country, Botswana's High Court decriminalized both male and female same-sex relationships in 2019. The new law overturned a ban on same-sex relationships that dates back to when the country was a Portuguese colony and states that discrimination based on sexual orientation can be punishable by imprisonment of up to two years. AngolaĪngola is the latest African country to decriminalize same-sex relationships, after passing a new law that came into effect in February 2021. Here are some of the countries in Africa that have legalized same-sex relationships in the last decade. Nevertheless, with a growing number of countries in Africa legalizing same-sex relationships, there has been a glimmer of hope on the continent in recent years. It's important to remember that legalizing same-sex relationships is only the first step, and that even once same-sex relationships are legalized, LGBTQ+ communities can still face oppression, discrimination, and violence. Countries that are LGBTQ+ friendly also tend to see a boost in tourism, with LGBT travellers reportedly accounting for around 5-10% of global tourists. The legalizing of same-sex relationships is vital for equality, and improves the psychological, physical, and social well-being of LGBTQ+ communities.
While these developments are a great step forward on paper, in reality the country does still have a long way to go, with hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community still prevalent. A bill was also introduced in 2018, to criminalize hate crimes and hate speech, and in 2020 South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa passed into law the Civil Union Amendment Act, which prohibits marriage officers from refusing to conduct same-sex marriages. In 2006, South Africa became the first and remains the only African country to legalize same-sex marriage, with a constitution that also protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation. For the majority of African nations, anti-LGBTQ+ laws date back to the colonial era, but the impact today is that LGBTQ+ communities face stigma, discrimination, and widespread threats and violence as a result of their sexual orientation and gender identities.