Liberia

Same-sex sexual activity is prohibited under the Penal Law 1976, which criminalises acts of ‘sodomy’, broadly defined. This provision carries a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment. Both men and women are criminalised under this law.

Liberia is one of two countries in Africa (along with Ethiopia) that was never formally colonised. As such, its criminal law is of domestic origin. Attempts to strengthen the law against same-sex sexual activity have failed to materialise.

There is some limited evidence of the law being enforced in recent years, with LGBT people being occasionally subject to arrest, often after reporting incidents in which they were victims of assaults. There have been consistent reports of discrimination and violence being committed against LGBT people in recent years, including assault, harassment, intimidation, and social exclusion.

2024

It was reported that on 18 July a Bill entitled ‘Anti-Homosexuality Law of Liberia 2024’ was read on the floor of the House of Representatives. On 19 July, the House of Representatives reportedly instructed a joint committee on Gender, Health and Judiciary to review the Bill, which would explicitly criminalise ‘homosexuality’ and ‘aggravated homosexuality’. The Bill was said to be a ‘copycat bill’ based on similar laws passed in Uganda and Ghana. As of October it appeared that the law had not been passed.

2018

In November, a bill was introduced that would amend the Penal Code to criminalise ‘same-sex practices’. It was not discussed before the legislature went on recess in December.

2012

A bill that would further criminalise ‘homosexual behaviour’ was passed by the Liberian Senate and roundly criticised by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Then President Sirleaf said that while she would not oversee the decriminalisation of same-sex sexual activity, she would also veto any new ‘anti-homosexuality’ law. The bill was not adopted.

2023

The US Department of State reported that the law was enforced, and documented a case in January in which national police charged two assault victims of ‘sodomy’ instead of investigating allegations against them.

2020

All US Department of State reports from 2016 to 2020 did not report any instances of the law being enforced.

2017

A civil society submission to the UN Human Rights Committee reported a number of cases of arrest of LGBT people under the voluntary sodomy law in the preceding years, including five instances from September-October 2016.

2016

The US Department of State report recorded that a victim of assault was arrested due to his sexual orientation after seeking police assistance. Furthermore, in October an LGBT organisation reported that several individuals were arrested and accused of sodomy, one of whom had been arrested after reporting to the police that he had been robbed.

2023

The US Department of State report noted that the law did not prohibit discrimination against LGBT people, who faced discrimination in access to education, employment, and services. There were reports of harassment based on LGBT status, and hate speech was a persistent problem perpetuated by government and religious figures, including in that year’s election campaign. LGBT people were reluctant to report incidents to police due to fear of reprisal. While there were no legal restrictions on LGBT advocacy, but few people engaged in these activities due to fear of abuse.

A young gay man was lured by a fake social media account posing as a senator offering him a job, then ambushed by a group of homophobic assailants who robbed and beat him.

2022

The US Department of State cites the NGO, Lesbian and Gay Association of Liberia, which reported 14 cases of abuse, including mob violence and assault in 2022. Furthermore, in July local radio reported that residents of Sinoe County threatened to kill “anyone involved with homosexuality.” However, the report also cited activists as noting improvements in police treatment and protection of LGBT people following training.

In August, a journalists’ home was attacked allegedly due to his reporting on LGBT issues. After reporting the incident, the journalist was arrested for allegedly ‘sodomising’ the attacker. He was released following intervention of lawyers and human rights activists.

2021

The US Department of State reported that three people were attacked in Karloken City during the year on account of being suspected of being transgender.

In May, three men were beaten on suspicion they were gay in the Gobachop community of Paynesville. Three days later police arrested two suspects, but a local NGO reported that they were released upon order of an unnamed influential person.

In June, a teen student at the St. Matthew United Methodist School in New Kru Town was expelled for “cross-dressing”.

2020

The US Department of State report found that LGBT people were subjected to assaults, harassment, and hate speech. The community was reluctant to report incidents to police due to stigma and faced difficulty accessing justice, though in October two members of a group known for anti-LGBT assaults were arrested.

In April, a report was released by the UNOHCHR and UNDP which documented the widespread negative public attitudes, violent attacks, intimidation, and social exclusion of the LGBT community in Liberia.

2019

In November an HIV testing centre was stormed and a number of LGBT people were attacked. Approximately 10 people were injured and five hospitalised, including one being stabbed.

2018

In January, a group harassed and assaulted five LGBT people, tearing off their clothes and stealing their money and belongings.

2016

In November, an NGO promoting LGBT rights was denied registration by the Liberia Business Registry for “activity which is not allowed in Liberia.” The registration request continued to be denied.

2014

In August, the Liberia Council of Churches ministers reportedly signed a statement warning individuals that the recent Ebola outbreak in the country has been caused by immoral acts such as homosexuality. The statement was signed by over 100 ministers, including the leading Catholic official in the country, Archbishop Lewis Zeiglier. 

2013

A December report by Human Rights Watch point to many instances of discrimination and violence against individuals who are perceived to be gay. As in Uganda following the passage of the (now quashed) Anti-Homosexuality Act, individuals living in Liberia reported an increase in discrimination and violence since the introduction of two bills to further criminalise LGBT individuals in 2012. As one individual reported: “Before these laws, LGBT persons had few problems, they were able to come and go freely, even had gay parties without interference from the public. There was public harassment here and there but hardly ever anything to the degree that it is experienced today. Since the [proposed] laws were introduced, SAIL has had more and more cases of public harassment, violent attacks, families disowning their children, and even evictions from rented spaces”.

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