There is an unfortunate update to Nigeria's ambitious proposal to legislate gays out of existence.
The Joint House Committee on Women Affairs and Youth Development Committee of the House of Representatives has approved a bill that may be the world's most comprehensive anti-gay legislation. The Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act bans same-sex marriage, as well as gays from meeting, dancing and eating together, watching gay-themed movies, or reading any gay-themed book or website, such as Rod 2.0.
The committee vote was applauded by many within the Nigerian press. "This is one victory many Nigerians have been waiting for," reads an op-ed entitled 'The Defeat of the Homosexuals' in This Day, the well-read Nigerian journal. The writer described the bill as "a victory for Nigerian values and culture" over an alleged United Nations program that "threatened that any country that outlawed same-sex marriage would lose all financial assistance." The hateful diatribe ended with this suggestion to gays and lesbians:
Instead of campaigning for the legalization of “same-sex marriage”, they should channel their energies and resources to the development of our country. We have many problems in Nigeria; no electricity supply, no good roads, no pipe-borne water supply; no gainful employment. So, legalization of homosexuality is not our priority in Nigeria.
That's excellent advice. Why not try it yourself?
Nigeria Moves to Tighten Gay Laws (African Echo)
The Defeat of the Homosexuals (This Day)
Some Background ...
Gay Nigerians Speak Out (Rod 2.0) Nigeria Prepares to Outlaw Gays (Rod 2.0) 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)
Shame, shame, shame...I don't get it. Of all the problems that Nigeria as a nation faces, men sleeping with each other is the most urging issue for real? What is happening to Africa?
Posted by: Shabaka | 21 February 2007 at 22:18
This is getting out of hand, didn't think they will go this far considering SOO MANY HOMOS IN NIGERIA and the USA including some IN HIGH POSITIONS.
Posted by: Toots | 22 February 2007 at 01:35
Something fundamental has to give with the way Nigerians react to gay issues. I listened to one of the debates in the Nigerian Senate and the only dissenting comment on the proposed bill merely said that the senate has more important things to talk about. We are in deep trouble here and thats for such!
Posted by: Kritzmoritz | 18 July 2007 at 11:56