The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has summoned the leadership of the House for discussions following the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, stressing the need for consensus to ensure effective implementation and public acceptance of the law.
Addressing journalists on Monday, June 1, Mr. Bagbin said he was surprised Parliament passed the bill on Friday, noting that he had expected lawmakers to only begin the consideration stage before his departure from the House.
According to him, several stakeholders, including development partners and the United Nations, had submitted memoranda and proposals on the legislation for consideration.
“In fact, when it was passed on Friday, it was even a surprise to me because I knew that they were going to start the consideration of the bill,” he stated.
The Speaker said he has therefore invited leaders of both the Majority and Minority caucuses to review the process and deliberate on the next steps.
He explained that building broad consensus around the legislation is critical to achieving its intended objectives.
“This is such a critical deal that we believe there must be consensus. It’s not about passing the bill; it’s about implementing it and making sure that it benefits the people,” he added.
Parliament on Friday passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, after adopting a number of amendments.
The revised legislation exempts lawyers who provide legal advice or representation to persons identified as LGBTQ+ from sanctions under the law.
Journalists and media organisations reporting on LGBTQ-related matters in the course of their professional duties are also exempt from punishment.
Additionally, medical professionals offering surgical, psychological, or counselling services to LGBTQ+ persons will not face sanctions under the legislation.
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