According to reports, the new law overturned a colonial-era ban on homos.e.xual relations which described it as "vice against nature”.
Activist Jean-Luc Romero-Michel tweeted, "The law decriminalising homos.e.x.uality adopted in Angola in 2019 took effect today. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is now reprehensible and even punishable by prison."
He said it was “a great step forward” in the fight against state-sponsored discrimination against the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer and inters.e.x) community.
Reacting to this development, Nigerian novelist, Elnathan John, predicts that Nigeria would likely adopt the law decriminalising homosexuality.
He wrote on his twitter handle, "So apparently the law decriminalising homosexuality in Angola goes into effect today. For those who think Nigeria is not ready, there are African countries doing this. It is possible. No decent society should have laws punishing people for their s.e.x.u.a.l.i.t.y."
The changes were passed in January 2019 by Angola’s parliament, but was not signed into law by the country’s president until November 2020.
The new law also prohibits discrimination based upon a person’s s.e.x.u.a.l orientation.