Leaders of the community in Waterloo, where the marriage between two same-sex couples took place, have threatened to teach Cartina Allen a bitter lesson for her role in the marriage events in their community. Carltina, who is a leading member of the LGBTQ organization in Sierra Leone, played an active role in the same-sex couple marriage on Friday, September 12th, 2025.
Her organization has been pushing hard to allow lesbians and gays the rights to enjoy love and marriage with those they desire. They have faced beatings by mobs, arrests by the Sierra Leone Police, and naming and shaming by the media.
Carltina was at the wedding ceremony when information leaked about the marriage between two women. Members of the Sierra Leone Police arrested the couples, religious leader, and some attendees and took them to the Police Station. Carltina managed to escape after being slapped by some youths of the community before the Police arrived.
This is not the first time that Carltina has been attacked and sustained serious beatings in similar events. Following the unsuccessful marriage between the two LGBTQ members, there were massive condemnations across Sierra Leone against this marriage.
The Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL) condemns the act of same-sex marriage in Waterloo. The Council stated, “The incident undermines the moral standards and religious teachings that guide the peace and harmony of our nation. Sierra Leone is a nation founded on strong cultural, religious, and moral values. Both Christianity and Islam, the dominant faiths in the country, uphold marriage as a sacred union between a man and a woman; therefore, this recent incident stands in direct contradiction to the spiritual, moral, and cultural fabric of our society.” The Council confirmed that no recognized Imam within its membership was involved in the ceremony and urged the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and take appropriate action in accordance with the laws of Sierra Leone.
Some advocated for the beheading of the members. Phone-in programs were held on radio stations, where callers expressed their intolerance toward such acts in their communities. Some argued that these LGBTQ members must be taught a bitter lesson so they will not attempt such things again.
Sierra Leone’s Parliament had previously condemned same-sex marriage, stating that there is no room for it in the country. Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, declared: “Anyone caught in a same-sex marriage will be dealt with according to the law. Sierra Leone, a country with Christians and Muslims as the main faiths, abhors same-sex marriage. Sierra Leone, as a religious nation, believes that same-sex marriage is irreligious, unholy, and unacceptable.” He emphasized that although Sierra Leoneans may be poor, they have faith in God, and the country cannot tolerate same-sex marriage.
Another similar incident occurred in a different community where community and religious leaders held a meeting and took several actions, including banishing the couple from the town.
The pastor who attempted to bless the wedding was suspended from his church. Local authorities shut down the bar where the ceremony took place. A task force was established to ensure all measures are enforced. The LGBTQ community has gone underground since this incident. Carltina’s whereabouts are still unknown, causing concern for her safety among family members.
