¨GREAT EVIL¨ -- ANTI-LGBT HATE PROMOTED IN NIGERIA: “...insidious bill that appears to be limited to same-gender marriage, but is actually an attack on basic rights”

The Primate, Church of Nigeria, the Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas D. Okoh, has described the practice of homosexuality, lesbianism and gay marriage as great evils that must neither be condoned nor allowed to further exist in our society. HERE

Anglican Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, Nigeria

“The church has zero tolerance for homosexuality. The only time they will accept someone being homosexual is if they come to ‘confess’ and ‘repent’ of it, to say they are cured so they can be forgiven.”  Damian Ugwu, Social Justice Advocacy Initiative.

¨Homosexual and lesbian practices are considered offensive to public morality in Nigeria.¨

¨Rights groups in Nigeria fear a same-sex marriage bill being discussed in parliament could boost already prevalent discrimination against homosexuals. The bill goes much further than banning same-sex marriage; it threatens to ban the formation of groups supporting homosexuality, with imprisonment for anyone who “witnesses, abet[s] or aids” same-gender relationships, and could lead to any discussion or activities related to gay rights being banned.

Under a colonial-era law, sodomy is punishable by a 14-year jail sentence; and in the country’s mainly Muslim northern states, where a version of Shar’ia law applies, the penalty is death by stoning, although this has never officially been carried out.

The National Assembly began debating the latest version of the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill in November. Most high-ranking officials have voiced their approval of the bill, signalling it is likely to pass....¨ HERE

·  Thanks to Damian Ugwu
·  Thanks to Social Justice Advocacy Initiative
·  Thanks to Paul Canning
·  Thanks to LGBT Asylum News, sidebar
·  Thanks to Human Rights Watch
·  Thanks to Graeme Reid
·  Thanks to Changing Attitude, Nigeria

NOTE: Changing Attitude, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, will campaign against the prohibition of marriage between persons of the same sex bill recently introduced in the Senate of Nigeria. HERE

¨Changing Attitude Nigeria (CAN) deplores the introduction of “A bill for an act to prohibition marriage between persons of same sex, solemnisation of same and for other matters related therewith” in the Nigerian Parliament.

The Bill will have an immediate negative effect, raising prejudice against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Nigeria and further demonizing us. Tens of thousands of LGBT will feel more vulnerable as a result. It is likely to lead to outbreaks of persecution and violence against people identified as lesbian and gay and will incite people to hate crimes. It will destroy the self esteem of LGBT people making many of us think less of ourselves and will lead to rejection in our homes, churches, schools and place of work...¨ read it all, HERE