Alexander Afenyo-Markin Halts Passage of Anti-LGBTQ Bill

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The anticipated third reading of the contentious Anti-LGBTQ bill was thwarted by Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, preventing its passage on this day.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin clarified that while he supports the principles of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill, he opposes a specific provision that could result in the imprisonment of individuals accused of involvement in or advocacy for LGBTQ activities.

Related To This: Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill Poses Risks to Fundamental Human Rights - CDD-Ghana

In his statement, he emphasized the need for thorough consideration of proposed amendments to the bill, suggesting the substitution of community service for incarceration as a more effective approach. He argued that punitive measures would not facilitate the rehabilitation of offenders.

Highlighting the behavioral nature of the issue, Mr. Afenyo-Markin expressed his belief that incarceration is not a suitable solution for addressing matters related to behavior. He cautioned against exacerbating the situation by resorting to imprisonment based on individuals' sexual orientation.

On the other hand, bill sponsor Sam George dismissed Mr. Afenyo-Markin's arguments as lacking merit.



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