By Michael Bruce
Executive Director, The International PRIDE Centre
On 1 September 2025, Burkina Faso’s military regime passed a law that criminalises the “promotion of homosexuality” and forces parents to assign a binary sex to intersex infants before birth registration. It’s a law that is vague, dangerous, and deeply discriminatory. And it’s part of a broader, global war on inclusion.
The PRIDE Centre’s Legal and Policy Advisor, Clare Brown, has been poring over the legal text, media reports, and community testimonies. As Clare’s detailed analysis shows, the law is riddled with ambiguity—terms like “promotion,” “homosexual practices,” and “related conduct” are undefined, leaving LGBTQIA+ people vulnerable to arbitrary arrest, extortion, and abuse. Aid agencies, too, are at risk. The law threatens to criminalise inclusive programming, even when it’s lifesaving.
[Téléchargez la version française de cette analyse ici.]
This isn’t just about Burkina Faso. It’s about a pattern we’ve seen across the continent—and the world. From Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act to Burundi’s “promotion of debauchery” charges, governments are weaponising division to silence civil society and dismantle inclusion. They’re using culture wars to distract from corruption, abuse of power, and rights violations.
Tragically, some international agencies are responding by self-censoring or retreating.
This is not the time to retreat.
LGBTQIA+ people are among the most vulnerable in humanitarian crises. In Burkina Faso alone, we estimate that nearly 300,000 LGBTQIA+ people are in urgent need of assistance. Yet humanitarian response plans make no mention of them.
We must do better.
We must support local LGBTQIA+ civil society organisations who, despite being the most vulnerable, continue to innovate and adapt. We must train our staff, assess risks wisely—not fearfully—and ensure our programming reaches those who need it most. We must stand tall, even when others choose to bow.
This law is a setback. But it’s also a call to action.
Let’s not allow vague laws and hateful rhetoric to define our work. Let’s define it ourselves—with courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to inclusion.
If you’re an aid agency working in Burkina Faso or elsewhere and want to talk about how to navigate these challenges, reach out. We’re here to help.
I would like to thank the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Crisis and Support Centre, the High Commission of Australia to Kenya, Centre for Disaster Philanthropy, and Lush Cosmetics for their support of The International PRIDE Centre.
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Michael Bruce
Executive Director, The International PRIDE Centre
InternationalPrideCentre@pridecentre.org