Senegal’s parliament has approved legislation doubling the maximum prison sentence for same-sex conduct to 10 years and levies fines up to $17,600, while also criminalizing the “promotion” of homosexuality. The bill, a campaign pledge of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, passed 135 votes to zero and now awaits presidential signature. While this move will help solidify Faye’s domestic political base, rights groups argue that it will worsen discrimination and violence against the country’s LGBTQ+ community, potentially leading to an exodus of sexual minorities. Still others warn that the law will drive gay men underground and away from HIV services—threatening Senegal’s celebrated 0.3% adult HIV prevalence rate and undermining public health gains of the past three to four decades.
BBC
