Angola has adopted a new penal code, dropping the “vices against nature” provision from its colonial era, and decriminalizing homosexuality.
Yesterday, Angola became the first country in 2019 to decriminalise gay sex. Making it a well-rounded win, lawmakers also passed a bill that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment. The bill passed with 155 votes in favor, one against and seven abstentions.
The country’s new law will see people who discriminate against members of the LGBT community be subject to up to 2 years in prison.
The country’s old penal code was put in place by its colonizers, Portugal, in 1975, allowing discrimination of LGBT people in terms of education, employment, and even healthcare.
Angola now joins other African countries like South Africa, Lesotho and Seychelles to become places where LGBT people can live without the fear of state-sanctioned discrimination and violence.
[…] this January Angola became the first country in 2019 to decriminalise homosexuality. Making it a well-rounded win, lawmakers also passed a bill that bans discrimination based on sexual […]