Parliament has been directed to reconsider the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, following renewed discussions among parliamentary leadership aimed at building broader consensus on the legislation.

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin on Tuesday, June 2, called for further engagement with both the Majority and Minority leadership after concerns were raised about the process that led to the bill's passage.

The move follows comments by the Speaker expressing surprise that the bill was fully passed on Friday, May 29. He said he had expected Parliament to begin the consideration stage and not conclude proceedings on the legislation.

Mr. Bagbin stressed that the bill is a significant piece of legislation that requires wider agreement among stakeholders.

According to him, several development partners and institutions, including the United Nations, submitted memoranda and recommendations on the bill before its passage, reflecting both local and international interest in the legislation.

He subsequently invited leadership from both sides of the House for consultations to review the legislative process and discuss the way forward.

Mr. Bagbin said attention should be focused not only on passing the bill but also on its implementation and public acceptance.

“This is such a critical matter that we believe there must be consensus. It’s not just about passing the bill; it’s about implementing it and ensuring it benefits the people,” he said.

The development comes after Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, commonly referred to as the anti-LGBTQ bill, following the adoption of several amendments.

The amended bill includes exemptions for legal practitioners providing advice or representation to persons identified as LGBTQ, as well as protections for journalists and media organisations reporting on related issues in the course of their work. Medical professionals providing healthcare and counselling services are also exempt from sanctions.

Despite objections from the Minority Caucus, which argued that the amendments exposed shortcomings in the earlier version of the bill, Parliament proceeded to pass the legislation, subject to the remaining constitutional processes.