“We don’t want your straight children to be gay but your gay children must be safe” – US ambassador fights anti-LGBTQ again

Virginia Evelyn Palmer, the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, has expressed concerns over the anti-LGBTQ+ bill currently under consideration in Ghana’s parliament, cautioning that its passage could have detrimental effects on the country’s international trade relations. Speaking during an interview on TV Africa’s Breakfast Live show hosted by Dennis Osei Gyamfi, Ambassador Palmer emphasized that the bill’s potential enactment could lead to adverse economic and public order consequences.

Ambassador Palmer highlighted the apprehensions of U.S.-based businesses, noting that the bill’s passage might dissuade international consumers from purchasing Ghanaian products, such as cocoa, due to concerns about repression and discrimination. She stressed the importance of considering the economic repercussions, adding that the mere discussion of the bill has already led to an increase in violence against the LGBTQ+ community in Ghana.

“I have talked to a lot of USA-based businesses who are very concerned about it (the bill). And concerns are that consumers internationally would not want to buy products made in Ghana – give you cocoa for example- because it is made where there is repression if the bill passes,” she said.

“So I am raising the sort of economic consequences of that. I also think that there are public order consequences because even the discussion of the bill has already resulted in more violence against the LGBTQ+ community.”

The anti-gay bill, known as the 2021 Promotion of Appropriate Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, was passed by Ghana’s Parliament on July 5, 2023. The bill aims to strengthen existing laws against LGBTQ+ activities and advocates, introducing stricter penalties for those involved in such actions. Under the proposed legislation, advocacy, promotion, funding, and acts of homosexuality would be criminalized. Advocates of LGBTQ+ rights could face up to ten years in prison, while individuals identifying as LGBTQ+ could be sentenced to three years in jail.

Ambassador Palmer criticized the bill as discriminatory and inconsistent with Ghana’s constitution. She expressed concern about its potential negative impact on innocent lives and emphasized that it encroaches upon various human rights. The Ambassador also clarified that her stance was not about advocating for gay marriage or special rights, but rather about respecting Ghana’s constitution and its commitment to human rights.

She further underscored the need for respectful dialogue among Ghanaians about the bill and its implications. Ambassador Palmer concluded by emphasizing that the aim is to ensure the safety of LGBTQ+ individuals and to uphold Ghana’s reputation while respecting its constitutional principles.

“I want to really be careful and humble as a foreigner in approaching this, there are Ghanaian conversations that need to happen about this. So I am not talking about the morality of this, I am absolutely not advocating gay marriage as people have alleged. I am not advocating for special rights for anybody. I want to ensure that the Ghanaian constitution is respected and Ghana is well respected.”

“I commented before that we don’t want your straight children to be gay, we want your gay children to be safe and I think it is very important,” she concluded.