African Countries Are Enforcing Streaming Platforms To No Longer Stream LGBTQIA+ Content 

After several months of consideration, Netflix Africa and the Kenya government have agreed that Netflix will no longer allow users in Kenya to stream LGBTQIA+ content from their devices. The Kenya Film Classification Board is the authority overseeing the country’s legal compliances within the industry and Kenya’s recent uproar of anti-LGBTQIA sentiments have been considered since October 2021, according to Washington Blade.http://(https://www.washingtonblade.com/2023/06/21/netflix-stops-streaming-lgbtq-specific-movies-in-kenya/#:~:text=Kenya%20and%20Netflix%20Africa%20have,compliance%20with%20the%20country%27s%20laws.)

Kenya does not recognize consensual same-sex relations and they are criminalized under Section 165 of the Penal Code. 

Kenya isn’t the only country in Africa enforcing anti-LGBTQIA laws in society and in media. Uganda and Egypt have also entered the chat. Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni signed into parliament an aggressive bill that criminalizes homosexuality amongst citizens which bans the act from media content. 

Ghana is also enforcing anti-LGBTQIA laws that will imprison, fine and potentially physically harm anyone suspected of identifying as LGBTQIA+ which is still awaiting approval from the current presidency, John D. Mahama.

In 2022, Egypt has made agreements with Netflix and Disney+ to no longer stream content that is labelled LGBTQIA specific. This assumes any content that showcases consensual same sex relationships and/or content that showcases educational information as well. Uganda’s anti-homosexuality laws have the language of ‘death penalty’ associated with the severity of consequences for people of the LGBTQIA+ community which led to companies including DSTV to also suspend content that do not align with the country’s laws on sexuality.

LGBTQ African citizens across the continent expressed their sentiments on social media as well as artistic approaches to discuss the effects of homosexuality bans in Africa. The unfortunate consequences of homosexuality in many African countries can result in justified death, loss of employment, community attacks, inaccessibility of sexually transmitted diseases medicine and imprisonment.