During March 2023 I documented LGBTQ communities in Accra in order to create a nuanced picture of what it means to be queer in Ghana. Since 2021 the Ghanaian parliament has been processing an anti LGBTQ bill, intending to fight homosexuality. However the Ghanaian Parliament has approved the Bill of “Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values” in February 2024 and the bill will come into effect when signed by Ghana's President. The bill seeks to criminalise consensual same-sex conduct of up to three years on anyone identifying as LGBTQ+. Gay rights advocates could also face up to five years in jail. When I was there in 2023, the individuals could not imagine an everyday life unfolding in their home country. However, their daily life continues. The queer community continues to fall in love, get engaged, organise parties, find solace and resistance amongst chosen families, and form collectives fighting for their right to stand their ground and determine their futures. Now with the bill being approved by Ghana's national legislature, the body of work has a new weight and I intend to return to Ghana to continue this necessary story.
During March 2023 I documented LGBTQ communities in Accra in order to create a nuanced picture of what it means to be queer in Ghana. Since 2021 the Ghanaian parliament has been processing an anti LGBTQ bill, intending to fight homosexuality. However the Ghanaian Parliament has approved the Bill of “Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values” in February 2024 and the bill will come into effect when signed by Ghana's President. The bill seeks to criminalise consensual same-sex conduct of up to three years on anyone identifying as LGBTQ+. Gay rights advocates could also face up to five years in jail. When I was there in 2023, the individuals could not imagine an everyday life unfolding in their home country. However, their daily life continues. The queer community continues to fall in love, get engaged, organise parties, find solace and resistance amongst chosen families, and form collectives fighting for their right to stand their ground and determine their futures. Now with the bill being approved by Ghana's national legislature, the body of work has a new weight and I intend to return to Ghana to continue this necessary story.