LGBTQI+ Regulation and Implications for Transgender Rights in Africa: A Feminist Queer Inquiry

Abstract

With the negative connotations associated with queer or LGBTI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex) discourse in many parts of Africa—where cultural and political contexts have perpetuated anti-homosexuality bills and transphobia—this study aims to document the consequences of transphobia in a way that contributes to broader discussions about community identity and support. By adopting an African feminist lens and employing a mixed-method approach, the paper commenced with a scoping review of 20 existing pieces of literature on LGBTI+ legislation, particularly focusing on discourses surrounding criminalisation and decriminalisation, to contextualise discussions on queer progress in Africa. In addition, a qualitative voice was provided through in-depth interviews with 16 purposively sampled young, educated adults, who shared their knowledge and perceptions of transgender people, the factors that influence such understanding, and the related discriminatory narratives. The findings point to transness as a significant yet often misunderstood aspect of minority discourse, helping to more accurately situate and challenge conventional knowledge about LGBTI+ experiences and how these intersect with gender and sexuality in Ghana, and the need to rethink broader discussions around demographic transformations in Africa to incorporate the community. The communityan important need to collect data for demographic analysis which will be useful for big data and datasets which are currently missing.