Nigeria moves closer to legislating gays out of existence as a draconian new measure is set for a vote in the parliament.
The new bill is the most comprehensive homophobic legislation ever proposed in any country. As reported previously, the measure would effectively strip gays and lesbians of all civil rights and "its extremism is rivaled only by the death penalty that exists for homosexuality in several Islamic fundamentalist states."
In addition to banning contact with or between any LGBT person, social or civil rights groups, it would also be illegal to sell or rent property to same-sex couples, watch a gay-themed film or video, or even visit an LGBT web site such as Rod 2.0. Even more ominous: The legislation would make it a criminal offense to impart any information on HIV/AIDS to gays.
The hateful legislation is supported by Archbishop Peter Akinola—head of the Anglican Church in Africa—who is the leading anti-gay voice on the continent. Conservative Episcopal churches in the US have have aligned themselves with Akinola. Unfortunately.
Some Background:
Nigeria to Ban Gays Meeting (Rod 2.0) Who is Archbishop Peter Akinola? (Rod 2.0) Harsh New Nigerian Laws (Rod 2.0) Nigeria's Anglican Archbishop (Rod 2.0) Nigeria's Islamic Sharia Law (Rod 2.0) Nigerian Author Jude Dibia (Rod 2.0) UK Deports Gay Nigerian (Rod 2.0) Director Plans Film Adaptation of Gay-Themed Nigerian Novel (Rod 2.0)
this is beyond scary. just last friday in the wall street journal, there was an article about a young nigerian gay man who has started a church. he comes from one of the most prominent families in the country and his father a pastor. i wonder how he is going to deal with this one? the mother was open to her son, the father not so much. and the other scary thing about this is that the same hateful guy behind it, akinola is the same one that these usa churches want to lead them.
Posted by: jared | 19 January 2007 at 14:34
This is sickening and I wish I could do something about the situation.
Posted by: Mel Smith | 19 January 2007 at 15:08
its getting harder and harder for me to see religion as a net good, even with the liberal branches.
Posted by: DFS | 19 January 2007 at 17:41