Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has asked Parliament to take another look at the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, also known as the anti-LGBTQ bill.
On Tuesday, June 2, Mr. Bagbin said he was surprised that Parliament fully passed the bill on Friday, May 29. According to him, he expected Parliament to only begin discussing and considering the bill, not complete the entire process.
He said the bill is very important and should have the support of both the Majority and Minority sides of Parliament. Because of this, he has called for further discussions with leaders from both sides of the House.
Mr. Bagbin explained that several organizations and development partners, including the United Nations, had sent recommendations and concerns about the bill before it was passed. He believes these views should be carefully considered.
He stressed that Parliament should focus not only on passing the bill but also on making sure it can be properly implemented and accepted by the public.
“This is a very important matter. We need consensus. It is not just about passing the bill, but ensuring that it works for the benefit of the people,” he said.
The bill was passed after Parliament approved several amendments. The new changes protect lawyers who provide legal services to LGBTQ persons, journalists and media organizations reporting on LGBTQ-related issues, and healthcare workers offering medical care and counselling.
Although the Minority Caucus opposed the bill and argued that the amendments exposed weaknesses in the original version, Parliament went ahead and passed it. The bill must still go through the remaining constitutional processes before it can become law.