Africa is a continent in which millions of LGBTQ people are forced into secrecy to avoid discrimination and violence on a scale not seen almost anywhere else in the world. Unlike many countries, people cannot be arbitrarily arrested in the Republic of the Congo, Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger, Ivory Coast, and Madagascar, simply because of their sexuality. 

     However, much like the Americas, Europe, and Oceania decades ago as well as today, much progress remains to be made, for, in these nations, the age of consent for same-sex sexual activity is 21, while straight couples can legally have sex at 18. This means that sex between two consenting adults could be seen as a crime simply because they happen to be same-sex.

     These laws are often enforced and can result in prison time for both parties. Aside from being a gross miscarriage of basic justice and human rights, these codes merely exist to perpetuate misguided notions that one's sexual orientation or identity is a "choice," or, even more bizarrely, something one can be "recruited" into. We have seen how the repeal of archaic laws like this can lead to even greater progress for LGBT2SQIA+ rights across the world.

     As such, we, the undersigned, humbly but ardently seek that the age of consent be lowered from 21 to 18 for same-sex couples in the Republic of the Congo, Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger, Ivory Coast, and Madagascar!!!