It's important to remember that legalizing same-sex relationships is only the first step, and that even once same-sex relationships are legalized, LGBTQ+ communities can still face oppression, discrimination, and violence. Countries that are LGBTQ+ friendly also tend to see a boost in tourism, with LGBT travellers reportedly accounting for around 5-10% of global tourists. The legalizing of same-sex relationships is vital for equality, and improves the psychological, physical, and social well-being of LGBTQ+ communities. While these developments are a great step forward on paper, in reality the country does still have a long way to go, with hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community still prevalent. A bill was also introduced in 2018, to criminalize hate crimes and hate speech, and in 2020 South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa passed into law the Civil Union Amendment Act, which prohibits marriage officers from refusing to conduct same-sex marriages. In 2006, South Africa became the first and remains the only African country to legalize same-sex marriage, with a constitution that also protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation. For the majority of African nations, anti-LGBTQ+ laws date back to the colonial era, but the impact today is that LGBTQ+ communities face stigma, discrimination, and widespread threats and violence as a result of their sexual orientation and gender identities.
