Same Sex Marriage Bill

Those who think that this bill is all about morality should read what a legislator said about the bill in the second to the last paragraph. It is going to be used for election and to haunt political opponents. Forumites should feel free to comment




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.