Ghanaian media personality and mental health advocate, Abena Korkor, recently disclosed on her Twitter account that she identifies as bisexual, emphasizing that there is no shame in being one.
This revelation, made on October 11, 2023, followed a tweet by Nigerian news blog YabaLeftOnline regarding allegations made by Will Smith’s former assistant, Brother Bilaal, about an incident involving Will Smith and Duane Martin.
In her tweet, Abena Korkor stated, “There is no shame in being a bisexual. I am one.”
Abena Korkor, formerly a co-host of TV3’s Ladies Circle, known for providing a platform for women to discuss their challenges, faced dismissal from the media organization in June 2023 after sharing a video of herself in lingerie on social media.
As a mental health advocate diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Abena Korkor has been outspoken about her condition and its impact on her life. She has also been involved in various controversies, including leaking a list of men she allegedly had encounters with and sharing explicit content online.
Abena Korkor’s announcement of her bisexuality coincides with Ghana’s consideration of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, commonly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
Proposed by eight MPs in June 2023 and garnering unanimous support in Parliament, the bill aims to impose restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights, criminalizing advocacy, promotion, funding, and acts of homosexuality, with penalties ranging from six months to ten years of imprisonment.
The bill also seeks to prohibit trans healthcare, the formation of LGBTQ+ groups, sponsorship of LGBTQ+ activities, teaching LGBTQ+ issues in schools, and adoption and fostering by LGBTQ+ individuals. Additionally, it grants the government the authority to extradite individuals convicted under the bill.
This proposed legislation has faced widespread criticism from human rights groups, civil society organizations, religious bodies, celebrities, and foreign diplomats, who argue that it is discriminatory, unconstitutional, and violates international law. Concerns have also been raised about its potential to fuel violence, stigma, and discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals and undermine efforts against HIV and AIDS.
Abena Korkor has not yet addressed the implications of her revelation considering the anti-lqbtq bill. Her disclosure has elicited mixed reactions from followers and fans.