Parliament has passed the reintroduced Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, also known as the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, following amendments to its earlier version.
The Bill was passed on Friday, May 29, 2026, after lawmakers reviewed and adjusted key clauses of the legislation, which the House had previously approved under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Announcing the decision, First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor, who chaired proceedings, declared the Bill duly passed, stating: “Honourable members, the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025 is duly read for the third time and passed.”
Among the major revisions made to the legislation is a change to Clause Nine, which now exempts certain professional services from criminal liability.
Under the amended Bill, individuals offering legal services to persons identifying as LGBTQ+ will not be penalised. The revised provisions also protect journalists and media organisations reporting on LGBTQ+ issues in the normal course of their work.
In addition, medical professionals, including doctors, surgeons, psychologists, and counsellors, are exempt when providing treatment or support services to the individuals concerned.
The amendments, however, were strongly opposed by the Minority Caucus, which argued that the changes undermine the original intent of the Bill.
According to the Minority, the revisions suggest that the initial version of the legislation previously submitted for presidential assent was fundamentally flawed and not suitable for its intended purpose.
Despite their objections, the Majority prevailed, and the Bill was passed by the House.
The Minority insisted that the amended provisions weaken the overall framework of the legislation, but the House proceeded with approval after deliberations.
