The state of LGBT rights in Africa

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights are contested in Africa. On the one hand, there is a reluctance to accept LGBT rights as human rights. On the other, the focus on homosexuality and by extension LGBT means that sexual and gender diversities in Africa remain hidden. This chapter uses the human rights frame to understand responses to LGBT rights in African countries, paying particular attention to religion, law, family, popular culture, and health. Legal steps toward full rights of LGBT people are presented while also providing a synopsis of where each African country fits.