Gay groups lobby National Assembly on same sex marriage
By Festus Owete
March 16, 2009 10:52AMT
It was almost like tempting fate. Speaking at a recent Human rights meeting in Europe, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe pointedly said Nigeria had no gay groups, adding that government 'sefforts to locate them had been unsuccessful.
It appeared he spoke too soon. Last week, a group of gay activists stormed the National Assembly complex in Abuja to demand legislation to protect their interests.
They spoke at a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives' joint committee on Human Rights, Women Affairs and Justice on the bill entitled "Act to prohibit marriage between persons of same gender, solemnisation of same and for other matters related therewith."
Although present at the hearing, the gay activitists, who made their presentation through some non-governmental organisations, opposed the bill on the strength that same sex marriage or satisfaction of sexual desire "is a private decision that does not in any way infringe on the right of others."
Rashidi Williams of Queer Alliance, one of the groups, said the move to abolish all forms of homosexuality in the country is wrong. "We are law abiding citizens and have not fallen into any problems with the laws," he said.
"None of us would want to be discriminated against because of our sexuality that we have no control nor have we chosen. It is already a trial to survive the hardship of our nation let alone the discrimination we face as sexual minorities."
Another group, Global Alliance, the Human Rights Watch, in collaboration with Global Rights, both of which have their headquarters in the USA, also opposed the criminalisation of same sex marriage in Nigeria.
In a joint presentation, the groups likened the bill to one proposed by former Minister of Justice, Bayo Ojo, which according to them would have punished with imprisonment not only "the registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations, sustenance, procession or meetings," but any "public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly in public and private."
They noted that the proposed bill "appears to have a more limited purpose, but in fact perpetuates the same potential for serious human rights abuse."
Sexual Minorities Against Aids in Nigeria, BAOBAB for Women's Human Right, Amnesty International and Changing Attitude Nigeria also spoke against the passage of the bill.
In its submission, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) said that "same sex marriage is out to foist on the world a false sense of the family, which will bring disastrous consequences to mankind."
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the NA should concentrate on serious issues that has
direct impact on the common man, while nigerians are
so impoverished to the extent of the likes of gogannaka
are yet to get married despite the availability of young
and beautiful ladies, the NA is wasting huge resources
in committee work - wai same sex marriage.
Allah wadaran naka ya lalace. MST!
The western nonsense about human right would soon requests for women right to have more than one husband! Just watch out and observe!
Fortunately, that will never happen, Jibo, for the simple fact that the western world doesnt condone polygamy, so it wont advocate for polyandry.