Kofi Asare calls for a re-look into anti-LGBTQI Bill
African Education Watch boss, Kofi Asare , has joined the LGBTQI+ debate requesting actors ‘for’ and ‘against’ legislation of the act to re-consider all sides of the coin before taking a stand.
Mr. Asare who took to Facebook to express his disposition about same-sex marriage and its related issues observed that “HIV transmission rate within Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) is around 18% compared to only 1.6% for the general population”.
An indication that the prevalence of HIV transmission among persons that engage in anal sex is high but due to stigmatization very few avail themselves for testing and anti-retroviral drugs.
“As a development practitioner who has worked with PLHIV such as MSM, my prime interest is how the LQBTQ bill promotes access to HIV services-testing, linkage to treatment and retention in care among MSMs, or gays. This is usually done by encouraging gays to form ‘underground’ associations through which health care is administered”, he stated.
The education policy think tank leader also fears an increase in HIV transmission among men who engage in the act if attempt to criminalize same sex marriage persist.
“There is already fear among the LGBTQ community due to the proposed criminalization of LGBT association by the proposed Law and high stigma. Even without this proposed double criminalizing law, HIV caregivers struggled to get gays to voluntarily accede to treatment”, Mr. Asare explained.
To halt further spread of HIV transmission, Mr. Asare called for a fair ground for dialogue instead of castigating persons who engaged in same sex marriage.
“If they apprehend such danger, including the danger of association, the more they hide, the more the transmission rises as they sleep with men and even women, and our society suffers”.
He added that “how we legislate not to threaten but rather encourage them to show up, and most importantly, how we differentiate practically (not on paper) between lawful and unlawful gay association, while providing the necessary safeguards is not a matter to be driven by emotions, false morality and religious extremism but tact”.
Once they are on anti-retroviral treatment, it reduces their ability to spread the disease even if they continue to have anal sex. The society then becomes significantly insulated from further spread”, Mr. Kofi Asare argued.
The LGBTQI+ Bill
The bill, which was laid on August 3, 2021, will criminalize the activities of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI), as well as individuals and organisations that advocate or promote the act in the country.
The 36-page Private Member’s Bill is to provide for proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values, proscribe LGBTQI+ and related activities, propaganda of, advocacy for or promotion of LGBTTQI+ and related activities.
It will prohibit a person from providing or participating in any form of surgical services to enable gender reassignment or create a sexual category other than the category of a person assigned at birth, except where the surgical procedure is to correct a biological anomaly, including intersex.
Those who contravene or undermine the provision are liable, on summary conviction, to a term of imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than five years or both.
Moreover, the bill proscribes the promotion and advocacy activities directed at children. Thus, any person who uses the media and other electronic channels to produce, procure, market, broadcast, publish or distribute materials or information directly or indirectly directed at children with intent to evoke the interest of children in an activity could face a jail term of not less than six years and not more than 10 years.
Besides, it seeks to provide accused persons access to medical help or treatment and prohibit extra-judicial or inhumane treatment of persons accused of offences under the bill.
The bill was initiated by eight Members of Parliament (MPs), seven of whom are from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with one being a New Patriotic Party (NPP) legislator.
The NDC MPs are for Ningo-Prampram, Mr Samuel Nartey George; Kpando, Mrs Dela Adjoa Sowah; Ho West, Mr Emmanuel Bedzrah; Tamale North, Mr Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini; Krachi West, Mrs Helen Adjoa Ntoso; La Dadekotopon, Mrs Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, and South Dayi, Mr Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, while the NPP MP is for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour.
Source: Richard Mensah Adonu
