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 Nigeria Moves Forward On Bill To Outlaw
Virtually All Forms Of Gay Expression
by The Associated Press
Posted: February 14, 2007 - 1:00 pm ET
(Abuja) The National Assembly held public
hearings Wednesday on a bill to ban gay marriage and criminalize virtually all
forms of gay expression in Nigeria.
The bill lays down penalties of up to five years
for anyone watching or reading material deemed to be pro-gay either in public or
in their own homes, and even would forbids meetings between two gay people.
In part, the proposed bill reads:
``Any person who is involved in the registration
of gay clubs, societies and organizations, sustenance, procession or meetings,
publicity and public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or
indirectly in public and in private is guilty of an offence and liable on
conviction to a term of five years imprisonment.''
Backers of the legislation said gay acts, which
are already illegal in Nigeria, run counter to cultural and religious mores in
the deeply traditional West African country.
Human rights officials said the law, which would
hand prison sentences to anyone participating in gay marriages, would curtail
Nigerians' rights.
``We are here to express our deep concern about
the same sex marriage provision act,'' said Rev. Rowland Jide Macauley, a pastor
and member of the Coalition For the Defence of Sexual Rights in Nigeria.
``We as members of the human rights community
belief that the provision of the bill will, in fact, undermine the democratic
life in Nigeria.''
An adviser on health care issues to President
Olusegun Obasanjo, whose government is sponsoring the bill, said gay relations
led to social and health ills.
``Same sex relationships are characterized by
unhealthy behaviour including instability, promiscuity and risky sexual
practices,'' said Friday Okonofua.
``That means effort to reduce the consequences of
same sex marriage is an important public health initiative.''
Opponents say the legislation is loosely worded
and could be used to persecute virtually anyone. Gay sex is already illegal in
Nigeria, punishable by imprisonment in the south and death in the Muslim north.
Abdul Oroh, a legislator, said assembly leaders
hoped to schedule a vote before April elections, where the act could be used as
a campaign tool.
The bill must pass with two-thirds support in
both the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together constitute the
National Assembly. If passed, Obasanjo is expected to sign the bill into law.
©365Gay.com 2007
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