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Liberian Government Votes to Ban Gay Marriage, Considers Outlawing Gay Sex

Posted by on Jul 23, 2012 in Politics | 0 comments

While many governments consider bills on whether or not to allow gay marriage, the Liberian Senate took the question in the opposite direction, voting last week to ban marriage between people of the same sex.

And for further proof that humanity is doomed or that the world is ending, depending on your preferred apocalyptic theory, the Liberian House of Representatives will next consider a bill that would make “sexual relations” a first-degree felony.

It’s bad enough two people in love can’t get married… but they can’t even have sex? Ridiculous, prejudiced, and rude!

Thankfully, Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, gets the last word on the new law, and she said she’d indiscriminately veto any bill regarding homosexuality, either benefiting or harming the country’s LGBT community.

I say “thankfully” now, but when it comes time for the country to vote on legalizing gay marriage, I’ll likely be saying something different.

The AFP quotes a letter from the Liberian government:

“The reality is that the status quo in Liberia has been one of tolerance and no one has ever been prosecuted under that law.

“The president also thinks that, with the unprecedented freedom of speech and expression Liberia enjoys today, our budding democracy will be strong enough to accommodate new ideas and debate both their value and Liberia’s laws with openness, respect and independence.”

Sigh…

Fingers crossed none of these bills become actual law in Liberia. Double fingers crossed that LGBT Liberians see better protection and legal recognition sometime soon.

(Photo via BET)