Gay Rights vs. Anti-Gay Law, The Giant of Africa trapped In the Middle

By Henry, Ugwu __________My voice on the hate bill

The Western world has always been an integral part of the Nigerian development no doubt. They brought the Christian and Islamic religion to our seemingly pagan society. They came to Nigeria where men were free to marry as many women as they wished, to have more children so as to have many hands working   in the farm for a higher yield. They told us it is against the institution of God. They said it should be one man to one wife, anything contrary is barbaric and unjustifiable. We accepted.  They said wearing animal skin was archaic and asked us to dress like them, we obeyed. Few years after, they said it was okay to abandon your spouse and marry someone else if you feel uncomfortable in the union. We are beginning to accept that too. Recently, they said it was cool to have amorous relationships, justifying it as our “human rights”. We said no, it is barbaric! They got angry and called us monsters.

Our lawmakers took it upon themselves to wipe out this particular western style amidst threats by world powers, the United Nations and co. As it is their duty to preserve and protect our values and culture, they quickly made a bill to prohibit same sex relationship and on 7th January, 2014 the giant of Africa was in the spotlight again. This time, not for corruption, bombing or plane crashes but for something controversial, Our president signed into law the bill that prohibits same sex marriage as a new gift to the LGBT community in Nigeria, making Nigeria the 38th nation to make illegal, same sex unions .In this law, if you are caught as a gay/lesbian then you will die by stoning under the sharia law but 14years imprisonment if you are not a Muslim. This made Nigeria a nation with a two fan base; those who applauded her bravery and those who condemned it.

                

Speaking on the law, the spokesman to the President, Ruben Abati said “this is a law that is in line with the people’s cultural and religious inclination. More than 90% of us oppose same sex marriage so it is a law that is a reflection of the beliefs and orientation of Nigerian people. Nigerians are pleased with it".

Also a Nigerian Reverend Father in the Diaspora who wished to remain anonymous said he is relieved that Nigeria is taking her stand on this issue although he believes that the death penalty and imprisonment is a bit extreme. He also believes that the people who claimed to have a different sexual orientation were that way either because of their environment or mindset.

 He said “out of the 100% of people that claim to be gay only 10% are truly that way. The other 90% use it as an excuse to do what they do. Perhaps, a woman suffers heartbreaks countless times not wanting to go through that again turns to her same sex for company while a man who finds it difficult to talk to a woman tilts to fellow men that are willing for sexual company". He also stressed that this anti-gay law will give rise to more promiscuity among genders of the opposite “previously when a girl brings her female friend home probably for a sleep over, nobody complains, it is assumed that they are discussing in the room. Three boys can rent an apartment and be flat mates without any eyebrows raised; nobody gave a thought as to what was happening behind closed doors. Now a group of female friends are looked upon with suspicion and parents are visibly relieved when they see their children with the opposite sex and could care less about the nature of the relationship comforting themselves with the thought that “at least my child is not gay”

Now that the law has been passed and is even being enforced, what does this spell for Nigeria? Is this going to last or is it going to make the LGBT victorious in the end?  What plans have we made incase our foreign aids like the anti-retroviral drugs, polio vaccines are withdrawn? Will we bow to the pressure? Is the prohibition of same marriage really the best solution for all concerned?

 Yes! Our President has done well, we applaud him. But are we blind to the loopholes of the law? What arrangements have we made for gay prisoners? Do we put all sentenced gays in the same prison or mix them up with straight inmates? How will the straight inmate guard herself to avoid being converted by lesbian inmates when it is obvious that they are sex starved? Do we run a prison filled with gays/lesbiens? Have we thought about sexually transmitted diseases that will sweep into the prison as a result of gay prisoners?

Now, our lawmakers must take into cognizance that some of our citizens are barbaric in nature, so the new law must be well defined, unambiguous and incontrovertible. Does banning same sex marriage translate to a ban on cohabitation? Does that also mean that two same sex adults cannot do what they do in the confines and comfort of their homes as long as they do not go into legal marriage? Can two men be amorous towards each other and luxuriate in each other's company in public without being lynched? Can a man that looks effeminate or a woman with some epicene characteristics be allowed to walk around in peace without being tagged or looked at as a monster from outer space and be discriminated against.

This law if not well defined has failed and fallen flat on arrival. We live in a nation where laws are abused and things are done arbitrarily. Has it been properly defined that this is about two women or two men of marriageable age not getting married  and showing affection in the open and not about them being extricated from our community and be lynched, neutered or butchered because they are not what the society says they should be? Some Nigerians are barbaric and the ALUU four incidents comes to mind and so many abuses of people’s liberties.

In Warri, a beggar with both female and male sexual organs sitting by the roadside was lynched and called a wizard. This man had no say how he turned out into this world and the law did not protect him. We practice jungle justice in Nigeria, some of our law enforcement agents are even the best abusers and violators of our rights. Justice delayed is justice denied.

Has the law also enshrined in its content that it is wrong to harass LGBT people when they have not been caught in the act or breached the peace of nation? Has it also been enshrined in the Constitution that a gay/lesbian person if harassed, mobbed, lynched, that the perpetrators of such heinous crimes would face the full wrath of the law?

This law is flawed ab initio if all these provisions have not been enshrined into that law. But we must not forget we are Africans, we believe in the "we existence" and like a REV.Fr. once said "the best way to stop the act of homosexuality is not by killing them or imprisoning them, it will only make them more determined, instead show them love, understand their ways but do not conform to it.

If we can send hard drug users to the medical rehabilitation center and they get better, the gays and lesbians too can be rehabilitated. All Nigerians should always tender this prayer "Dear Lord, please let my daughter find a man to love, blind the eye of any man that gets attracted to my son. I shall carry my grandchildren"