Ivory Coast jails 2 men accused of same-sex sexual acts

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Activists say a court in Ivory Coast has imprisoned two men for public indecency after they were accused of engaging in same-sex sexual acts.

Espace Confiance, a group that provides health services to sexual minorities in the West African country, said Wednesday the men were sentenced to three months in prison by a court in Sassandra, a town more than 250 kilometers (155 miles) west of Abidjan, the commercial capital.

Franklyn Koffi, advocacy director for Espace Confiance, said it was the first case of its kind in a country known for its relative tolerance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Ivory Coast does not criminalize same-sex sexual acts between consenting adults, but the penal code does criminalize public indecency.

Justice officials in Sassandra could not be reached Wednesday.

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The Gayly - 11/16/2016 @ 1:03 p.m. CST.