Category: West Africa
Ghana: ‘You criminalize them for what? For just being what they are?’
Peter Turkson, a cardinal of the Catholic Church, has distanced himself from a portion of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill that Parliament passed in February [...]
Liberia: Legislator pushes anti-LGBT bill that would jail gay 10-year-olds
A legislator in Liberia is seeking support for a harsh anti-homosexuality bill that he filed in the summer.
So far, he hasn't announced any suc [...]
Don’t flee from Ghana for fear of harsh anti-LGBTQ bill, human rights boss says
Ghana human rights Commissioner Joseph Whittal encourages LGBTQ Ghanaians not to flee the country, despite the possibility that Parliament's harsh [...]
Qtalk: Bisexual Nigerian man threatened by partner’s family
LGBTQ+ Nigerians benefit from the support provided by volunteer counselors via the Qtalk app, which is supported by this site and by the St. Paul’s Fo [...]
How a Nigerian man survived the harrowing experience of jail for being gay
Benjamin had a promising future. Dreaming of becoming a journalist and busy in a budding career as a dance instructor, the 23-year-old Nigerian ne [...]
Ivory Coast: Human rights defenders seek to block wave of anti-LGBT hatred
The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) in the West African nation of Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire) is appealing for an end to a recent wave of hom [...]
Yan Daudu: Traditional femme man confronts Nigeria’s modern homophobia
Living as a crossdresser and queer man for years, Adamu, who is a Yan Daudu — a group of recognised femme men in Northern Nigeria — prepares to accept [...]
Campus ‘Love House’ is a safe space for queer Nigerian students
In a country where supporting gay rights is a crime, a group of young queer university students in Ibadan, Nigeria, are defying societal norms, na [...]
Qtalk: Gay hookup threatened to become a death trap
LGBTQ+ Nigerians benefit from the support provided by volunteer counselors via the Qtalk app, which is supported by this site and by the St. Paul’s Fo [...]
QTalk: Nigerian pastor fights for identity after church rejection
LGBTQ+ Nigerians benefit from the support provided by volunteer counselors via the Qtalk app, which is supported by this site and by the St. Paul’s Fo [...]
Pope meets African activists, supports their struggle for LGBTIQ rights
Pope Francis this week made a point of supporting the work of African LGBTIQ rights activists, meeting in person with prominent leaders of the LGB [...]
Burkina Faso junta takes a step toward criminalizing homosexuality
The military government of Burkina Faso in West Africa has adopted a measure to ban homosexuality, if the country's transitional parliament approv [...]
Nigerian career coach exposes society’s hypocrisy toward effeminate men
An insightful commentary by a Nigerian coach has cast a spotlight on the inherent hypocrisy within Nigerian culture when it comes to embracing traits [...]
Homeless and depressed: The journey of a Nigerian gay man
LGBTQ+ Nigerians benefit from the support provided by volunteer counselors via the Qtalk app, which is supported by this site and by the St. Paul’s Fo [...]
New drama series highlights the realities of LGBT Nigerians
A new online drama series showcasing the lived experiences of LGBT individuals in Nigeria is now available on on YouTube.
By Mike Daemon
The [...]
How a queer Nigerian fought family homophobia
COMMENTARY
A queer Nigerian on X (Twitter) has shared his experience of resisting his stepbrother’s overbearing and homophobic behaviour.
By [...]
World Bank is undecided: Sanction Ghana if anti-LGBTQ bill takes effect?
Ghana needs help with $20 billion debt, but homophobia might stand in its way
As a supporter of human rights, the World Bank will have a [...]
A decade of failure at the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights
COMMENTARY
Back in 2014, it sounded so good: The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) passed a resolution opposing human rig [...]
Nigerian influencer Enioluwa Adeoluwa condemns anti-LGBT violence
Popular Nigerian influencer, writer, and public speaker Enioluwa Adeoluwa, also known as Eni, has spoken out against homophobia and anti-LGBT violence [...]
Good news for LGBTQ prisoners: You did it! Project Not Alone hits goal in a week.
Generous donors have contributed $9,447 in the seven days since Project Not Alone announced its 2024 fund drive on May 3. That surpassed the goal [...]
Bisexual risks death in Nigeria, seeks asylum in the U.K .
Chukwuebuka, a pseudonym for his safety, is a bisexual Nigerian student residing in the U.K. He finds himself at a critical juncture, torn between fea [...]
Bobrisky: Trans celeb appeals ‘naira abuse’ prison sentence for money-tossing
Internet celebrity Idris Okuneye, a Nigerian trans woman known online as Bobrisky, has appealed a six-month prison sentence for "sprayin [...]
Open letter: S. Africa must demand human rights in Uganda and Ghana, not just in Gaza
Seventeen social justice organizations have issued an open letter to South Africa's international relations minister, urging him to condemn violat [...]
What does Senegal’s new president have in store for LGBTQ people?
Bassirou Diomaye Faye was elected President of Senegal on Sunday, collecting 51% of the votes compared to his challenger, Amadou Ba, from the ruli [...]
Qtalk: Gay man navigates pressure to marry and dependence on family
LGBTQ+ Nigerians benefit from the support provided by volunteer counselors via the Qtalk app, which is supported by this site and by the St. Paul’s Fo [...]
Help for LGBT youths in Benin, where anti-gay lynchings are commonplace
Hirondelles Club provides support for homeless LGBT youth in Benin
For the past four years, the Hirondelles Club at the Rehoboth Friendship Centre in [...]
Qtalk: Trans woman seeks guidance after surviving sexual assault
LGBTQ+ Nigerians benefit from the support provided by volunteer counselors via the Qtalk app, which is supported by this site and by the St. Paul’s Fo [...]
Intersex Nigerian woman is telling her story through Facebook
By Mike Daemon
An intersex Nigerian known as Queen the Gbola Girl, has piqued the curiosity of many on social media following a recent identity [...]
Ghana Parliament OKs harsh anti-LGBTQ bill; it goes to the president next
Breaking news update:
A coalition of human rights advocates is urging the president of Ghana to reject an extreme anti-LGBTQ bill that Parlia [...]
Nigerian singer Aṣa celebrates the diversity of love in her latest song
By Mike Daemon
Paris-born Nigerian songstress Aṣa has just released her newest single, "Odo," accompanied by a captivating music video, much [...]
Gay-obsessed Nigerian pastor denounces ‘intriguing’ homosexuality
By NoStringsNG Contributor
A tech-savvy Nigerian pastor is spreading an ongoing stream of homophobia online, having developed almost a fixation on [...]
Nigerian Police threaten crackdown over viral LGBT TikTok trend
By NoStringsNG Contributor
Nigerian police spokesperson ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi has vowed to crack down on a group of LGBT individuals featured i [...]
Challenge to University of Ghana: Put an end to anti-gay attacks
Human rights groups are pushing the University of Ghana to take stronger action in response to a widely publicized anti-gay attack that occurr [...]
Nigerian trans woman seeks justice; magistrate warns perpetrator
By Mike Daemon
In a recent case at a Lagos magistrate court, a Nigerian trans woman sought justice against a man who assaulted and robbed her. [...]
Qtalk: My ex is blackmailing me. What can I do?
LGBTQ+ Nigerians benefit from the support provided by volunteer counselors via the Qtalk app, which is supported by this site and by the St. Paul’s Fo [...]
Qtalk: Gay Nigerian man seeks help with pain of family rejection
LGBTQ+ Nigerians benefit from the support provided by volunteer counselors via the Qtalk app, which is supported by this site and by the St. Paul’s Fo [...]
Nigerian celebrity Uti urges women to stop bullying gay men
COMMENTARY
Renowned Nigerian actor, TV presenter, model, and musician Uti Nwachukwu recently took to Instagram to shed light on the reasons beh [...]
Two Nigerian trans women find new hope after unjust prison sentences
In a remarkable turn of events, two Nigerian transgender women who endured a harrowing experience in Port Harcourt Prison after being accused of v [...]
New Niger regime worries about citizens visiting Europe, learning about LGBT rights
Officials in the West African nation of Niger are stirring up worries about citizens of Niger visiting Europe and learning about LGBT rights there [...]
New Nigerian song evokes the hidden LGBTIQ+ reality
REVIEW
In a world where many regions still criminalize homosexuality, such as Nigeria, the LGBTQ+ community often finds itself leading lives ma [...]
Legal challenges to anti-LGBTQ laws are under way in at least 10 nations
Legal challenges to anti-LGBTQ laws are under way in Africa and in the Caribbean. In the map above, which shows the 66 nations with anti-homosexua [...]
Qtalk: The mobile app transforming LGBT lives in Nigeria
Since 2019, the confidential LGBT counseling app Qtalk has helped Nigerians navigate a dangerous society where same-sex sexual activities are not only [...]
Nigerian gay and trans people speak their truth in heated debate
In a recent passionate debate, a Nigerian gay man and a transgender woman courageously shared their perspectives.
Issues pertaining to homosexu [...]
QTalk: A Nigerian gay man’s journey to acceptance post trauma
LGBTQ+ Nigerians benefit from the support provided by volunteer counselors via the Qtalk app, which is supported by this site and by the St. Paul’s Fo [...]
Effeminate character shines in Funke Akindele’s new series
By Mike Daemon
The trending new Nigerian drama TV series "SHE Must Be Obeyed", produced by Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, shines a spotlight [...]
Homosexuality has always been African, but the term LGBT is new and divisive
By Steeves Winner
Although homosexual practices exist everywhere on the African continent, many Africans reject the idea of a homosexual identi [...]
Qtalk: A Nigerian trans woman’s tale of heartache and hope
LGBTQ+ Nigerians benefit from the support provided by volunteer counselors via the Qtalk app, which is supported by this site and by the St. Paul’s Fo [...]
Nigerian police make mass arrests at alleged ‘gay wedding’
Nigeria police made mass arrests last weekend at an event they claimed was a "gay wedding".
News articles gave widely varied accounts of the nu [...]
Comment: Niger’s new leader might be better for gay rights, couldn’t be worse
In the wake of the July 26 coup that overthrew Niger's president, members of the nation's LGBTQ community see a possibility that the government's [...]
Nigerian group launches survey of survivors of ‘conversion therapy’
In a groundbreaking effort to shed light on the struggles faced by the LGBTIQ+ community in Nigeria, the Levites Initiative for Freedom & Enli [...]