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Penal Law, Volume IV, Title 26, Liberian Code of Laws Revised Approved in 1976 and Published in 1978

Section 14.74 - Voluntary sodomy

A person who engages in deviate sexual intercourse under circumstance not stated in Section 14.72 (aggravated involuntary sodomy) or 14.73 (involuntary sodomy) and has committed a first degree misdemeanor.

Sections 14.74, 14.79 and 50.7 consider "voluntary sodomy" as a first degree misdemeanor, with a penalty of up to one year imprisonment, with sodomy being defined as "deviate sexual intercourse" between human beings who are not (living as) husband and wife, that consists of contact between penis and anus, mouth and penis, or mouth and vulva [R1.4], [R1.3].

In August 2012, proposed legislation would penalize any person who "seduces, encourages, or promotes another person of the same gender to engage into sexual activities." The proposed law also prohibits same-sex marriage [R1.2].

On 10 April 2012, the President of Liberia, Nobel-laureate Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, vowed to veto any legislation that would criminalise homosexual behaviour in the country, despite having defended the law during a joint interview with Tony Blair [R1.1].

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On 20 July 2012, the Senate voted unanimously to approve an amendment to Section 2.3 of the constitutional prohibiting marriage between gay couples by adding the words “or persons of the same sex”. The amendment is subject to approval by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (see R1.4 below) [R1.5].

On 10 April 2012, the President of Liberia, Nobel-laureate Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, vowed to veto any legislation that would criminalise homosexual behaviour in the country, despite having defended the law during a joint interview with Tony Blair [R1.4].

On 27 February 2012, it was reported that lawmakers were to consider a bill that would outlaw and criminalize same-sex marriage [L1.3], [R1.2].

On 15 February 2012, a proposed amendment to Section 2 of the Domestic Relations Law laws reads: "No two persons of the same sex shall have sexual relations. A violation of this prohibition will be considered a first degree felony" [R1.1].