A viral claim on social media alleges that The Gambia is hosting an LGBTQ+ conference — sparking outrage among citizens who say it goes against national laws and values. Malagen’s verification shows the claim is false. The event in question is not an LGBTQ+ gathering, but rather the 85th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) — a legitimate African Union (AU)-backed meeting on continental human rights issues.

What Is The Gambia Actually Hosting?

The ACHPR session, scheduled from 7–17 October 2025 (Private–Virtual) and 21–30 October 2025 (Public–Physical), is taking place in Banjul, The Gambia, the permanent headquarters of the Commission.

The ACHPR has been hosted in The Gambia since its establishment in 1987, reflecting the country’s historic role in supporting the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights — one of Africa’s most important legal instruments for protecting human dignity, justice, and equality.

As the host nation, The Gambia regularly welcomes delegates from across Africa, including representatives of AU member states, civil society groups, and international organizations. These gatherings often feature side events on a wide range of human rights topics — from freedom of expression and women’s rights to governance and access to justice.

The Source of the Confusion

Malagen’s verification traced the false claim to a banner circulating on social media that read:

“Criminalising LGBTIQ+ people in Africa has wide-ranging social, economic, health, and political impacts.”

This banner promoted a side event organized by an international human rights group — not by the Gambian government or the ACHPR itself. Such events are a normal part of every ACHPR session, allowing different organizations to discuss human rights themes of concern.

However, the post was misrepresented online as evidence that The Gambia was hosting an LGBTQ+ conference — a claim entirely inconsistent with both fact and law.

LGBTQ+ Remains Criminalized in The Gambia

It is important to note that homosexuality remains illegal in The Gambia. The Criminal Code (Amendment) Act of 2014 criminalizes same-sex relations for both men and women, with penalties ranging from 14 years to life imprisonment for what the law calls “aggravated homosexuality” — a term that includes “serial offenders” and persons living with HIV accused of same-sex acts.

Verdict: False

The Gambia is not hosting an LGBTQ+ conference. The ongoing event is the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ 85th Ordinary Session — a continental human rights meeting held annually in Banjul. The misleading claim originated from a misinterpreted side event banner shared on social media.