Visitors to the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara (SDKJ) International Conference Centre in Bijilo were left stunned this week after spotting roll-up banners promoting LGBTIQ+ rights at the venue’s entrance.
The bold banners, seen by many at the main hall, carried messages such as: “Criminalising LGBTIQ+ people in Africa has wide-ranging social, economic, health, and political impact.”
Sources said the materials are part of a side event linked to the 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), which kicked off yesterday at the same venue.
A meeting is expected to take place at 1:30 p.m. today to discuss discrimination faced by intersex, transgender, gay, and lesbian communities across Africa.
The display marks the first time in Gambian history that LGBTIQ+ banners and brochures have been openly showcased in a public space – a move that has sparked surprise and debate among visitors.