-
Obama Invokes ‘Lose Yourself’ at Harris-Walz Campaign Rally - 4 mins ago
-
Meghan Markle Slammed By Tina Brown In Scathing Interview - 5 mins ago
-
Call of the Wilde: Canadiens’ rebuild a long road ahead after 7-2 loss to Rangers – Montreal - 7 mins ago
-
Zelenskyy calls on allies ‘not to hide,’ respond to North Korean involvement in war - 8 mins ago
-
NBA 2024-25 opening night – Experts’ picks for East, West and NBA champs - 10 mins ago
-
‘Respectful’ debate plea over Galloway national park plan - 13 mins ago
-
Tulsi Gabbard Turning Republican Is ‘Surprise’ to Donald Trump - 24 mins ago
-
Nikkei Down 0.2%, Dragged by Heavy Machinery, Shipping Stocks - 25 mins ago
-
“Why Not Try…”: Ex-India Cricketer Manoj Tiwary Bats For Abhimanyu Easwaran In Place Of KL Rahul In India Test Team - 26 mins ago
-
How do the figures add up for the Commonwealth Games? - 30 mins ago
Gay sex laws ruled unconstitutional by high court
In a landmark ruling for gay rights campaigners, laws banning same-sex acts between men have been ruled unconstitutional in Namibia.
Convictions for the colonial-era offences of “sodomy” and “unnatural sexual offences” were rare but fuelled discrimination against gay men who lived in fear of arrest.
No laws exist prohibiting sex between between women in Namibia.
Same-sex marriage remains illegal in the southern African nation.
After Friday’s judgement was read out at a high court in the capital, Windhoek, campaigners for the LGBTQ group Equal Namibia shared photos of people hugging in court.
“Welcome to a new Namibia. A born-free Namibia,” the group said on social media.
The term “born-free” was most famously used in neighbouring South Africa to describe the first generation of children growing up in the dawn of democracy after white-minority rule ended in 1994.
The court case was brought by a Namibian activist called Friedel Dausab, with backing from the British charity Human Dignity Trust.
“It won’t be a crime to love anymore,” Mr Dausab said reacting to the verdict.
Summing up his emotions, he told the Reuters news agency he was “just happy”.
The UN has also applauded the ruling, calling it a “powerful step” towards a more inclusive nation that would also improve access to health services and HIV treatment.
Fearing a backlash to the ruling, the rights group Amnesty International is urging the Namibian government to ensure the safety and dignity of LGBTQ people.
It said it had already documented instances of “alarming” and “threatening” speech in the country during the run-up to the court case.
Namibia, first colonised by Germany, gained independence from South Africa in 1990 after a protracted bush war.
Source link