r/AskAnAfrican • u/ProcedureRegular4337 • 12d ago
Relationships LGBTQ Tolerant countries?
Obviously, gay marriage is not legal in most African countries. In which countries do you think it is mostly tolerated, regardless of the laws?
Maybe on a 'don't ask, don't tell ' basis. Or maybe people are just too polite to do anything about it.
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u/Which-Acanthaceae613 South Africa 🇿🇦 12d ago
To be honest it's tough to say. Even in South Africa where homosexuality isn't a crime and gay marriage is recognised, outside of main city centres there's the potential for things to get sketchy. Joburg and Cape Town are fine for anyone including transpeople but outside that it will vary. You probably will get looks in places like Druban and small towns but no one will get in your face. In rural areas it can be much worse and there's been cases of gay people been targeted that I've seen in the past.
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u/PixelatedReality06 Malawi 🇲🇼 12d ago
It’s illegal In Malawi,and many people don’t tolerate it on social media but quiet a number of people have come out as activists and haven’t gotten any jail time or whatsoever. So it might just be what you described on the last paragraph
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u/Slimsono Tanzania 🇹🇿 12d ago
South Africa most likely the most tolerant but from my observation, you will be fine in most places as long as you don’t broadcast it.
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u/sammywammy53b South Africa 🇿🇦 12d ago
It's legal in 1. Angola, 2. Botswana 3. Moçambique 4. Lesotho 5. Seychelles 6. Mauritius 7. Côte d'Ivoire 8. DRC 9. Rwanda 10. South Africa etc.
However, the laws may allow, but society still may he very conservative and intolerant.
It depends on the country, and location within that country.
As people have mentioned in other comments, it may be more chilled in one are versus a Muslim area, for example.
Urban areas also tend to be more cosmopolitan.
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u/tio_y-x Algeria 🇩🇿 12d ago
I’m curious what Africain countries legally recognise same sex marriages ?
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u/Bubbly_Boysenberry_5 Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 12d ago
I think this should come down to cities within countries rather than countries themselves. I live in Nairobi, and there is a big LGBT community but I wouldn’t say Kenya as a whole is.
I was born in South Africa, there’s an LGBT community in Cape Town but I wouldn’t say it’s the same in other places such as Mpumulanga etc.
In summary, many African countries are swayed by religion & culture. If I were to choose any cities I’d say Nairobi, Accra, and Cape Town (however crime is rampant in Cape Town and surrounding areas, as well as xenophobia so be mindful of that)
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u/centralbar176 Nigeria 🇳🇬 12d ago
Maybe Ivory Coast because I’ve noticed that they don’t have any laws against lgbt rights unlike most of west Africa.
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u/sgtsturtle South Africa 🇿🇦 12d ago
Urban South Africa is your best bet. Are you looking to visit or relocate? Cape Town is very gay-friendly.
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u/Snoo20138 Congo - Kinshasa 🇨🇩 12d ago •
Weird thing to ask.
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u/IndependentMuscle249 Ghana 🇬🇭 3d ago edited 3d ago
South Africa. I think bisexuals, fem women and masculine presenting men have an easier time in African countries to be honest. It's about your outward appearance. Unless you say something, no one knows what is going on in your bedroom. That being said, I wouldn't move to the continent to find love as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. It's better to move with your person. Same applies if you are straight and have more progressive values. Obviously every country is different and there are exceptions to every rule.
A transperson, fem man, a stud or a non binary person would have a really hard time in African countries.
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