Photo: Associação Íris Angola / Facebook The 134-year-old colonial-era ban on homosexuality in Angola is no more after the country’s revised penal code came into effect this week. The new Penal Code and Penal Procedure Code will no longer criminalise “vices against nature”, which is widely understood to refer to gay and lesbian sexuality.
Although the 1886 ban had not been used by the state to prosecute LGBTQ people in recent times, the development is a landmark statement against homophobia in Angola and the rest of Africa.
In addition, new legislation also provides more protection for LGBTQ people by outlawing discrimination and prosecution based on sexuality and gender identity.