‘We Are Young, We Have a Lot of Strength’: LGBT Activism and Resilience in Angola

In this article, I present aspects of the history of the LGBT + movement in Angola. This movement emerged amidst the political protests in Angola in the 2010s, although it does not characterise itself as a protest movement. Class and generational characteristics shape the Angolan LGBT + movement, which lies between human rights activism and advocacy policies and the typical actions of non-governmental organisations focused on health and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Angola’s political setback also poses significant challenges to the movement, common to other Angolan political mobilisations. From a legal standpoint, though same-sex relationships were recently decriminalised, Angola’s legal framework maintains obstacles to the recognition of LGBT + rights. This article draws on fieldwork conducted in 2023 and 2025, when I accompanied leaders of the Angolan LGBT + activism movement in Luanda and other provinces of Angola during their mobilisation activities, courses, meetings, and parties.