LGBT rights in Angola

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in Angola have seen improvements in the early half of the twenty-first century. In November 2020 the National Assembly finally approved a new penal code, which legalised consenting same-sex sexual activity.[1][2] Additionally, since 2015, employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation has been banned,[3] making Angola one of the few African countries to have such protections for LGBT people.

LGBT rights in Angola
StatusLegal since 2021
Gender identityNo
Discrimination protectionsYes, for sexual orientation (employment only)
Family rights
Recognition of relationshipsNo
AdoptionNo

Some NGOs in Angola, that are involved in HIV/AIDS education, are beginning to work with the LGBT community, and there are no reports of LGBT people being specifically targeted for harassment in Angola by police or vigilante groups. Additionally, two specific LGBT groups operate in Angola. However, only one of these groups has received official and legal recognition.[4]

Laws regarding sexual activity

The region known today as Angola and the modern country has a somewhat complicated history with homosexuality. This is due to the long period of occupation by independent African tribes followed by the influence of Christianity brought to the region by the Portuguese Empire.

Pre-colonial attitudes among tribes

In the 1920s, a German anthropologist named Kurt Falk published his research on African tribes, which included some acceptance of homosexuality and bisexuality.[5] Falk reported that homosexual and cross-dressing practices were commonplace among the Ovimbundu people. Ovimbundu men who behave, act and dress as women are known as chibadi or chibanda, and historically would marry other men. Similar individuals exist in neighbouring ethnic groups; they are known as kimbanda among the Ambundu, quimbanda among the Kongo and jimbandaa among the Lovale people. Same-sex sexual acts were regarded as having medical effects in these societies. Indeed, such acts were viewed as a remedy for impotence, to improve soil fertility or as a transfer of knowledge. Sexual practices between men were also part of initiation rituals.[6][7]

In the 18th century, the Khoikhoi people recognised the terms koetsire, which refers to a man who is sexually receptive to another man, and soregus, which refers to same-sex masturbation usually among friends. Anal intercourse and sexual relations between women also occurred, though more rarely.[6]

Among the Herero people, erotic friendships (known as oupanga) between two people, regardless of sex, were common, and typically included anal intercourse (okutunduka vanena).[6]

Portuguese Angola

With the formation and expansion of Portuguese Angola came the expansion of Christianity into the region and therefore the Christian morality that strongly condemned homosexual acts. It was eventually decriminalized in 1852, but was re-criminalized in 1886 with Articles 70 and 71 of the Penal Code of 1886 that contained a vaguely worded prohibition against public immorality and acts considered "against nature".[8] This would remain the legal status for the rest of Portuguese Angola's existence and was not repealed upon Angolan independence in 1975.

Legalisation

In February 2017, the Angolan Parliament preliminarily approved a draft of a new penal code in a unanimous 125–0 vote with 36 abstentions. The new Penal Code does not contain provisions outlawing same-sex sexual activity in private.[8][9][10][11] A final vote on the bill was planned for 28 June 2017, but was postponed,[12] due to controversy surrounding abortion (the Penal Code would have legalised abortions in the case of rape).[13] Multiple public debates and consultations were held, though same-sex sexual activity was hardly, if ever, an issue. On 18 May 2018, the Parliament approved the draft in a second vote by a 186–3 vote with six abstentions.[14][15][16] It was approved in its final vote on 23 January 2019.[17][18][19][20][2] After the President João Lourenço vetoed some provisions of the new Code and demanded tougher anti-corruption measures,[21] the National Assembly approved a revised version of the new Penal Code (Law 38/20) on 4 November 2020. The president signed the reform into law on 6 November 2020 along with the new Code of Criminal Procedure (Law 39/20) which also replaced a 1929 Portuguese code and was approved by the Assembly on 22 July 2020. The laws were published on 11 November 2020 and are scheduled to take effect in ninety days, i.e. on 9 February 2021.[22][23]

Recognition of same-sex relationships

There is no legal recognition of same-sex couples in Angola.[24]

In general, significant social pressure is put on people to marry a suitable partner of the opposite sex and have children.[25]

In 2005, the unofficial commitment ceremony of a same-sex couple was treated as "shameless" and "abominable" in the national news magazines.[26]

Discrimination protections

The General Labour Law (7/15) (Portuguese: Lei Geral do Trabalho (Lei nº 7/2015)), which came into effect on 15 September 2015, prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, among other categories.[27][28]

Article 214 of the new Penal Code forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment and the provision of goods and services.[8][9] Additionally, multiple other articles, including articles 71, 172, 215, 216, 225, 382 and 384, outlaw incitement to hatred, hate speech, defamation and hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation with varying degrees of punishment. For instance, article 172 bans threats against someone or a group of people on account of their sexual orientation, among others, with 1-year imprisonment and a fine. The punishment for death threats is doubled. Article 384 lists persecution on the basis of sexual orientation as a crime against humanity, on par with slavery, wilful manslaughter, genocide, rape, forced mutilation and others.[29]

Constitutional rights

LGBT citizens were not expressly mentioned in the previous Constitution, ratified in 1992. The new Constitution of 2010 does make some general provisions concerning human rights, freedom, equality and tolerance that may apply to all citizens, irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity. For example, the Constitution stipulates that the State will work to secure equal rights and opportunities for all citizens, irrespective of, among other things, "any other form of discrimination".[30]

Gender identity and expression

One of the most popular musical artists in Angola is transgender woman Titica, a singer of a popular rap-techno fusion music style known as kuduro. Named the "best kuduro artist of 2011", she has performed at various music festivals around the world. However, she still suffers frequent harassment in Angola, most of which are carried out based on religion.[31]

There is no specific law which allows transgender people in Angola to change their gender marker on their official documents and passports. Section 78 of the Código do Registro Civil 2015 indicates that, in general, there should be no alteration of details entered into the registration records. However, section 87 gives the Civil Registrar general authority to make changes, including changes of name and when there is a change of facts which alter the legal identity and status of the person. Transgender people could possibly use this section to change their legal gender.[32]

Living conditions

Prevailing social attitudes about sexual orientation tend to reflect traditional Catholic and Protestant values concerning human sexuality and gender roles. These values and mores do shape public policy.

Some LGBT people in Angola have reported being harassed by people who believe that they are immoral, and the Angola Government allegedly refused to accept the Israeli ambassador because he was gay. Yet, signs of more liberal attitudes do exist.[25]

Political parties and non-governmental organizations

The three major political parties have not formally addressed LGBT in their respective party platforms. On the rare occasion that politicians and other government officials have dealt with LGBT people or rights, their policies have reflected prevailing attitudes.

In 2010, the Angolan Government refused to receive openly gay Isi Yanouka as the new Israeli ambassador, allegedly due to his sexual orientation.[33]

The Government does allow for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to exist in Angola, and some charities have begun to work with members of the LGBT community with regards to HIV/AIDS education.

Two specific LGBT groups work in Angola. One of these groups, Iris Angola, received official and legal recognition by the Angolan Justice Ministry in June 2018. At the time, Iris Angola had about 200 members.[4] It is based in Luanda and has offices in Benguela and Lubango.[34]

HIV/AIDS

Legally, people living with HIV/AIDS in Angola are entitled to health care services and protection from employment discrimination.

Efforts to develop educational programs specifically for LGBT people have struggled to receive funding from NGOs. The first association, Acção Humana (Human Action), was launched in 2006 but has been unable to receive funding. In 2007, a study on HIV/AIDS estimated that roughly five percent of HIV infections are from men who have sex with other men.[25]

A HIV/AIDS educational program for LGBT in Angola is just beginning to develop, through the work of NGOs, such as the Population Services International.

Public opinion

Despite prevailing conservative attitudes, Angola is regarded as one of Africa's least homophobic countries.

According to a 2017 poll carried out by ILGA, 61% of Angolans agreed that gay, lesbian and bisexual people should enjoy the same rights as straight people, while 20% disagreed. Additionally, 65% agreed that they should be protected from workplace discrimination. 27% of Angolans, however, said that people who are in same-sex relationships should be charged as criminals, while a plurality of 48% disagreed. As for transgender people, 63% agreed that they should have the same rights, 72% believed they should be protected from employment discrimination and 49% believed they should be allowed to change their legal gender.[35]

Summary table
Same-sex sexual activity legal (Since 2021)
Equal age of consent (Since 2021)
Anti-discrimination laws in employment only (Since 2015)
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services (Since 2021)
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (Incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) (Since 2021)
Hate crime laws include sexual orientation (Since 2021)
Same-sex marriages
Recognition of same-sex couples
Adoption by single people regardless of sexual orientation
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples
Joint adoption by same-sex couples
LGBT people allowed to serve openly in the military
Right to change legal gender (May possibly change gender under the Código do Registro Civil 2015)[36]
Access to IVF for lesbians
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples
MSMs allowed to donate blood

See also

References
  1. Reid, Graeme (23 January 2019). "Angola Decriminalizes Same-Sex Conduct". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  2. Desmond, Vincent (28 October 2019). "LGBTQ+ Rights Are Changing Across Africa. But It's a Thorny Process". Vice. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  3. "UN welcomes Angola's repeal of anti-gay law, and ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation". UN News. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  4. "Angola legalises gay rights group in national first". eNCA. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  5. ANGOLA - STATUS OF SEXUAL MINORITIES, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, at the Asylum Documentation Program /SF website
  6. "Boy-Wives and Female Husbands". www.willsworld.org. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  7. "Homosexuality in Perspective: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the International Debate on Homosexuality in Uganda" (PDF). Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  8. STATE-SPONSORED HOMOPHOBIA, A WORLD SURVEY OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION LAWS: CRIMINALISATION, PROTECTION AND RECOGNITION
  9. "PRELIMINARY DRAFT OF THE PENAL CODE" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 April 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  10. "Aprovada em Angola nova lei que penaliza aborto com prisão". www.dn.pt. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  11. "Aprovado Código Penal que penaliza aborto".
  12. "Votação do novo Código Penal angolano novamente adiada". www.dn.pt. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  13. "Angola: Debate on Repatriation of Financial Assets Extended to Civil Society". 10 April 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019 – via AllAfrica.
  14. "Ministro angolano diz que é equívoco pensar que Código Penal encoraja o aborto - DN". www.dn.pt.
  15. "CÓDIGO PENAL COM EXCEPÇÕES À DESCRIMINALIZAÇÃO DO ABORTO - III Legislatura - Assembleia Nacional". www.parlamento.ao.
  16. News, E. I. N. (18 May 2018). "MPs pass Bill on Penal Code". EIN News. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  17. "Angola becomes first country to decriminalize gay sex in 2019". Gay Star News. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  18. Bunga, Gabriel (23 January 2019). "Parlamento aprova Lei do novo Código Penal". Jornal de Angola (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  19. "Angola tem novo Código Penal". RFI (in Portuguese). 23 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  20. Reid, Graeme (23 January 2019). "Angola Decriminalizes Same-Sex Conduct". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  21. "New Penal Code Makes History in João Lourenço's Era". Agencia Angola Press. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  22. "State Sponsored Homophobia" (PDF). ilga.org. p. 90. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  23. "Diario da Republica" (PDF) (in Portuguese).
  24. "Código de Família" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  25. "AfricaFiles | Angola: Gays and lesbians: Invisible and vulnerable". www.africafiles.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  26. "Angola News & Reports". Globalgayz.com. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  27. STATE-SPONSORED HOMOPHOBIA A WORLD SURVEY OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION LAWS: CRIMINALISATION, PROTECTION AND RECOGNITION
  28. "Employment & labour law in Angola". Lexology. 15 September 2015.
  29. "LEI QUE APROVA O CÓDIGO PENAL ANGOLANO".
  30. Constitution of the Republic of Angola (WIPO Lex)
  31. Redvers, Louise (12 April 2012). "BBC News - Transsexual artist Titica takes Angola by storm". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  32. "Transgender Rights in Angola" (PDF). Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  33. Hartman, Ben (30 April 2010). "Was diplomat denied post in Angola because he is openly gay?". Jpost.com. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  34. "Angola legaliza por primera vez en la historia del país a un colectivo LGTB". dosmanzanas - La web de noticias LGTB.
  35. ILGA-RIWI Global Attitudes Survey ILGA, October 2017
  36. "Transgender Rights in Angola" (PDF).
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