Senegal lawmakers approve new bill toughening punishment for homosexual acts

Senegal’s parliament has approved a law that toughens punishment for homosexuality in the largely conservative West African nation. The new law was introduced to parliament last month by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. It doubles the punishment from prison sentences of one to five years to between five and 10 years. In another change, the law will now punish what it calls the “promotion” or “financing” of homosexuality, an attempt to crack down on organizations that support sexual and gender minorities. Government ministers argued ahead of the vote on Thursday that the country's previous 1966 law was too lenient.