Bagbin directs Parliament to reconsider passed anti-LGBTQ Bill

Parliament has been asked to revisit the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, after renewed consultations among parliamentary leaders aimed at achieving broader consensus on the contentious legislation.

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Tuesday, June 2, called for additional discussions involving both the Majority and Minority leadership following concerns about the process through which the bill was passed.

The Speaker said he was surprised that the bill had been fully approved on Friday, May 29, explaining that he had expected Parliament to only begin the consideration stage before proceedings ended. He stressed that legislation of such national importance required wider consultation and agreement among stakeholders.

According to him, several development partners and organisations, including the United Nations, had submitted memoranda and recommendations before the bill’s passage, demonstrating the high level of local and international interest surrounding the legislation.

As a result, he summoned leaders from both sides of the House for urgent consultations to review the legislative process and decide on the best way forward. He emphasised that attention should not only be placed on passing the bill but also on ensuring that it can be effectively implemented and accepted by the public.

“This is such a critical matter that we believe there must be consensus. It’s not just about passing the bill; it’s about implementing it and ensuring it benefits the people,” he stated.

The latest development follows Parliament’s earlier approval of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025 — commonly known as the anti-LGBTQ bill — after lawmakers adopted several amendments.

The amended version of the legislation provides exemptions for lawyers offering legal services to persons identified as LGBTQ, as well as protections for journalists and media organisations reporting on LGBTQ-related matters in the course of their work. Healthcare professionals providing medical care and counselling services are also exempt from penalties under the bill.

Although the Minority Caucus opposed the bill and argued that the amendments exposed weaknesses in the earlier draft, Parliament proceeded to pass the legislation, subject to the remaining constitutional procedures.