A Ghanaian Associate Professor at the University of South Florida has likened sexual orientation to immutable characteristics such as race or gender.

Dr. Edward Kissi argues that sexual orientation is no more considered a lifestyle choice, adding that homosexuals are today seen as legitimate groups whose inalienable human rights are to be accorded.

Dr. Kissi made these remarks at a seminar on the topic: Human Rights and the Debate over Dignity and Social Order in Africa at the University of Ghana on Wednesday June 5, 2013.

He said human rights issues have expanded since the later part of the 20th century and called on Africans to adapt to the changing global trend.

Drawing an analogy between sexual orientation and certain immutable circumstances of human existence, Dr. Kissi said: “I did not choose my physical appearance-short, black-I will live in this body till thy kingdom come. It’s an immutable characteristic. So that if you decide that all short people who are dark and who are Kwahu should be sent to a concentration camp and then killed, I’m going to be very upset because that constitutes genocide”.

“...If you say that all people with specific sexual orientation are to be discriminated against, not given equal access to the law, therefore, equality before the law and access to economic resources in Ghana should be based on sexual orientation, that is a crime under international law and I think we should be loud about that,” Dr. Kissi asserted.