Parts of Africa can be some of the most dangerous places in the world to live if you are LGBTQ+ with intimidation, incarceration and murder commonplace. 

In the southern African nation of Namibia however, things are looking more positive. A decades old law banning anal sex is on track to be overturned by the end of the year with the country’s Law Reform and Development Commission recommending it be overturned.

Being gay in Namibia isn’t illegal but ‘sodomy ‘ is and despite only being enforced a relatively small amount of times, it still presents an obstacle for LGBTQ+ people. 

Justice minister Yvonne Dausa said: “No Namibian should be comfortable with any part of our society feeling either they are second class citizens, that they are being excluded, or stigmatised and discriminated against either on the basis of their sexual orientation, or the basis of their disability, or status in a particular society.”

We can only hope that such enlightenment in the highest echelons of government reaches some of Namibia’s neighbouring countries where life can be a lot more difficult for LGBTQ+ people.