Many Nigerians were angry (justifiably so) when President Goodluck Jonathan deployed soldiers to disperse peaceful protesters across the country. The right to organise peaceful protests was violated by a civilian government; many called it a breach of constitutional rights, with emphasis on the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression.

This violation and highhandedness must be thoroughly condemned, however, while condemning the government; honestly ask yourself the following questions-

•   Do you in any way encourage the breach of the rights of others?

•  Do you advocate for the violation of the rights of fellow Nigerians because you oppose the subject of their protest?

•  Do you oppress other Nigerians simply because you are in a position of power and the game of numbers favours you?

• Do you encourage the censorship of other Nigerians whose views go against your religious, cultural or personal views?

• Do you threaten the right of minorities to organise legitimate protests because you are part of a powerful majority who disagrees with the non harmful lifestyle of a minority?

It is said that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. I am aghast at the sheer volume of violent comments and threatening messages that advocates of LGBT rights receive daily. [Read more…]

On October 31, 2011, at the senate house in Abuja, many religious groups mostly Christians from the Catholics and Anglican denominations were mobilized to support the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition bill titled “An Act To Prohibit Marriage Between Persons Of Same Gender, Solemnization Of Same And For Other Matters Related Therewith”. The majority, religious homophobic groups showed up with placards and t-shirts emblazoned with hate words. It was a macabre dance of the majority and rich oppressors against the few voiceless minorities.  Children that were supposed to be in school were dragged to the public hearing as part of the homophobic crowd. The hate is already been fed to the next generation and yes, some of these children wearing these t-shirts today would grow up to discover that they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or Trans. I cannot even begin to imagine the trauma this would cause them in future. 

 The angry, religious, homophobic mob and the not so bright selected senators at the public hearing rained abuses on the few Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transsexuals and human rights activists at the hearing. These activists had come to defend their human rights and point out how the bill violates their rights as Nigerian citizens, they were hardly given the opportunity to speak as they were constantly booed and shouted down.

Senators asked the few activists who presented papers inappropriate questions like:

“What is your religion?”

“Can you openly stand up right now and identify yourself as gay or lesbian?”

The few that stood up were further booed and humiliated by the senators and the homophobic majority in the house. The senators violated the rights of the protesters by asking them to stand up and identify their sexual orientation or religious affiliation. It was supposed to be a parliamentary room not a guillotine room. 

Homophobes want sexual minorities to identify themselves publicly, and when they don’t , they claim LGBTs are ashamed because they know they are perverts. This discriminatory action of Nigerian lawmakers could be likened to Hitler asking Jews to stand up and identify themselves during the holocaust.  Homosexuals are now the target of hate and ignorance. Once upon a time, not so long ago, blacks were called niggers and considered only fit to be slaves,  Jews were considered sub-human, women were classified as property, now homosexuals are called faggots and considered only fit to be thrown in jail or stoned.  [Read more…]