Parliament has rescinded its earlier passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, popularly known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, paving the way for the House to reconsider the legislation and correct inconsistencies identified in its provisions.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin announced the decision on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, after MPs voted to rescind the House’s earlier resolution on the bill, which was adopted on May 29, 2026.
According to the Speaker, the decision followed a review by Parliament’s Legislation Drafting Department, which identified inconsistencies between decisions taken by MPs during deliberations and the provisions reflected in the final draft.
Mr Bagbin explained that although the drafting department had identified errors during its review, it could not independently correct them because doing so would amount to altering decisions already taken by Parliament.
“After the third reading, there is a department here we refer to as the Legislation Drafting Department. They are the drafters who draft all what we do here, the decisions we take,” he told the House.
He further explained that the identified inconsistencies had to be referred back to Parliament for the necessary corrections and decisions.
“The draft people could put them right. But once there are decisions, they cannot tamper with the decision of the House. It has to be brought back for the House to do the proper thing,” he said.
The Speaker subsequently put the motion to a vote, with the majority of MPs supporting the decision to rescind the earlier passage.
“Honourable members, the ayes have it. The House has accordingly rescinded its earlier decision, which was taken on Friday, May 29, 2026, in respect of the third reading of the Human, Sexual Rights, and Family Values Bill 2025,” Mr Bagbin declared.
The decision means the bill will return for further consideration, giving MPs another opportunity to address the identified inconsistencies and propose amendments, particularly to its sentencing provisions and other areas requiring clarification.
