Vice president of the United States of America, Kamala Harris has reiterated the USA’s commitment to push for the recognition of LGBTQ rights across the world.
Speaking at a joint news conferences as part of her visit to Ghana, Kamala Harris said the USA and its government view issues of LGBTQ as human rights issues and thus, will not relent in their push to ensure that rights of LGBQ persons and their activities are respected.
She said this while responding to a question about whether she has had discussions with president Akufo-Addo regarding the country’s attempt to crack down on LGBTQ activities.
In response, Kamala Harris stated, “Let me be clear about where we stand. First of all, the American press who are here you know a great deal of my work in my career has been to address human rights issues, equality issues across the board including as relates to the LGBTQ community and feel very strongly about the importance of supporting the freedom and supporting and fighting for equality among all people and that all people be treated equally”.
“I will also say that it’s an issue that we consider and I consider to be a human rights issue and that will not change,” she added.
The USA and other western countries have legalised LGBTQ activities and are pushing for other countries to do same.
However, African countries like Ghana are taking steps including passing legislations to crack down on such activities.
Ghana’s Parliament is currently considering an anti-LGBTQ bill dubbed ‘Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values’, which seeks to criminalize activities related to the practice and promotion of LGBTQ.
In response to these actions, the USA vowed to call out governments of countries that have passed laws against LGBTQ activities.
It was on the basis of this that an American journalist sought to find out from Kamala Harris, at the joint news conferences held at the seat of Ghana’s Government, whether the USA and its government have or plan to condemn Ghana and the other African countries she will be visiting that have taken action against LGBTQ activities.
But Kamala Harris, in response, stated that the USA position on the matter will not change.
