Liberian President Pledges To Vet ‘Extremist’ Anti-Gay Legislation

Last month, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf — a Noble prize winner — made headlines when she refused to speak out against laws criminalizing the lives of gay people and predicted that legislation that would place additional restrictions on gay people would likely fail to advance in the legislature. On Tuesday, responding to international condemnation of her dismissive attitude, the president has released a statement clarifying her remarks. ‘”I will never condone discrimination against any group,’’ she said, adding that she reserved her constitutional right to block what she called “extremist legislation” intended to marginalise a particular group on account of their sexual orientation or practices.’”