NIGERIANS SPEAK OUT ON ANTI-GAY BILL
Nigerian activists have told lawmakers that a proposed anti-gay bill would lead to widespread human rights abuses.
The activists spoke out against the bill to a public committee of the National Assembly, reports the BBC.
Even though homosexuality is already illegal in Nigeria – the most populous country in Africa – the proposed bill aims to criminalise same-sex marriage.
“This bill is not necessary; we see no reason why people should be criminalised. I did not choose to be gay. It is trial enough to live in this country, we should not create more laws to make us suffer” Rashidi Williams, 23, of the Queer Alliance of Nigeria told the committee.
Under the bill, anyone who enters “into a same gender marriage contract” could be jailed for three years while anyone who “witnesses, abet and aids the solemnisation” of such a union could be jailed for five years.
This new law could be used to punish anyone who gives any help or advice to a suspected “same gender” couple; anyone who rents them an apartment, tells them their rights, or approves of their relationships.
The bill also criminalises anyone “living together as husband and wife” which means that mere cohabitation or any suspected “intimate relationship” between members of the same sex could be grounds for prosecution under the country’s anti-gay laws.
Church groups have supported the proposed law, with Rev Patrick Alumake from the Catholic church telling the committee: “There are wild, weird, ways of life that are affecting our own culture very negatively, we have people who either by way of the media or travelling around the world have allowed new ideas which are harmful to our nation and our belief.”
Because Catholicism is a native religion. Yes Rev Patrick Alumake, Nigerians are only gay because they aspire to a life-style of being explictly or implicitly rejected by large segements of society, like the foreign gays are. There should be a return to the English speaking and Christian roots in Nigerian society!
….. Um, Nigerians are gay because they are BORN that way. Do you or the reverend really believe that the media or travelling is the cause of homosexuality in Nigeria? Do you have proof? Studies? Surveys? I didn’t think so.
I think both of you are clearly living under a rock on another planet. In a country like Nigeria, which is rife with human rights abuses, corruption, disease, famine, poverty, crime, etc. you’d think the reverend (and government) would have their hands full already dealing with REAL issues that are affecting the country. I’m not saying that fighting for gay rights is not important, it’s just not a threat to society or any way of life as these religious zealots make it out to be.
But as with any African country, the ignorant (and scared) always turn to religion for misguidance, lessons in intolerance, and reasons to keep the poor poorer and make the rich richer.
And unless my history is a bit distorted, Catholicism is not native to Nigeria. Portugese, Italian and Spanish missionaries were the first to introduce the religion to Nigeria between the 15th & 18th Century.
Uh…. You clearly didn’t get that guy’s sarcasm. LOL He’s on your (our) side…
….. If that was sarcasm then hit me over the head with a tuna. If the original message was sarcastic then my apologies, but it sure didn’t come across as sarcastic to me when I first read it. Oh well, what’s done is done.
I’m the guy and it was meant to be sarcastic. Sorry, next time I’ll hold up a sign.
…… No signage necessary. It just goes to show the damage sarcasm can do when used incorrectly …. *wink*