Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill: We Received 200 Memos - Chairman of anti-LGBTQ+ Bill Discloses
Chairman of Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Kwame Anyimadu Antwi has explained how the anti-LGBTQ+ bill came about before being laid at Parliament for it to be passed into law.
The anti-LGBTQ+ bill was laid before Parliament on Wednesday, July 5 for debate with the aim of streamlining it before it comes into effect.
All the 275 Members of Parliament have adopted the bill which has gone through first and second readings and awaits the final stage of the process.
In an interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Hon. Kwame Anyimadu Antwi, Chairman of the framers of the bill, revealed that there were thorough stakeholder consultations on the bill before it was taken to Parliament.
According to him, the proponents of the bill had various meetings with religious leaders, psychologists, media and a section of the general public to look at the pros and cons of it; take out the parts that would infringe on the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and also look at ways to offer help to any member of this community who genuinely wants to stop.
"Some said the Bill is good and should be passed; others also disagreed and they gave their reasons," he said, disclosing that the Committee responsible for the Bill received 200 memos for consideration.
Hon. Anyimadu-Antwi, who doubles as Member of Parliament for Asante Akim Central constituency, further revealed that the Committee made trips abroad to do a detailed research before putting the Bill together.
"We had public hearing nine times. We sit in the morning and end in the evening. After all this, the Committee had to meet. Leadership of the Committee had the time to study from other countries. Due to resources, we went to only two countries; France and Hungary. For France, they have legalized it but Hungary has restrictions" against the LGBTQ+ community, he stated.
This, he said, to prove the bill encapsulates all the concerns raised by interested parties to prevent its abuse as well as the abuse of homosexuals in the country.
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