Liberia’s House of Representatives to begin review of anti-homosexuality law

This comes after a request for the amendment to Chapter 14, Subchapter D of a bill titled “Anti-Homosexuality Law of Liberia 2024”.

The proposal was submitted by a representative of the House and lawmaker, Johnson S.N. Williams of River Gee County District number 3.

According to him, the draft bill will fulfill Article 5 (b) of the 1986 Constitution which states that “the Republic shall preserve, protect and promote positive Liberian culture, ensuring that traditional values which are compatible with public and national progress are adopted and developed as an integral part of the growing needs of the Liberian society.’’

Johnson further seeks to push for an amendment of Chapter 14 to create a New Section 14.8 which will make homosexuality a criminal offence.

This he says will state clearly the country’s position on gay issues.

“This bill seeks to lay to rest and to recuse this country the same way we wage war on drugs. It’s the same way we need to do for homosexuality in our country. As we speak, young people are contaminated by this act, and it’s about time for it to come to an end,” he was quoted.

The lawmaker’s proposal was read on the floor of the House on July 18 and subsequently forwarded to a joint committee to report within two weeks after the House returns.

This comes in the face of massive discrimination facing persons belonging to the Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) community in the country.

In 2012, two anti-LGBT bills were introduced in the Legislature, sparking controversy. One bill, proposed by Representative Clarence Massaquoi, aimed to increase the penalty for same-sex sexual activity. He wanted to change it from a first-degree misdemeanor, with a maximum one-year prison sentence, to a second-degree felony, carrying up to five years in prison.

Another bill was introduced by then-Senator Jewel Howard Taylor. This bill sought to make same-sex marriage a first-degree felony, with a maximum prison sentence of ten years.

Former President Ellen Johns-Sirleaf opposed both bills. She threatened to veto them but also defended the existing laws, which criminalised same-sex sexual activity as a misdemeanor. She said these laws reflected "traditional values in our society that we’d like to preserve."