I’m writing to condemn the recent anti-gay bill signed into law by our President Jonathan Goodluck. This law – which contains penalties of up to 14 years in prison for anyone in a same-sex marriage or civil union, 10 years for anyone who attends a same-sex wedding, 10 years for anyone involved with an LGBT organization, and even 10 years for anyone who shows affection for someone of the same sex – should be cast out. Since the law was passed, police across Nigeria have begun arresting and torturing dozens of our fellow citizens suspected of being gay. Don’t forget that in some of our states, if you are found guilty of being gay, you could be stoned to death.
First of all, this law was unnecessary. There is not space in the existing constitution for gay marriage. Our constitution is very definitive of marriage as a union between man and woman. I see the signing in of this law for what it was: a cheap shot by an under-achieving government to discriminate against people because they are different.
The president of Nigeria has a PhD, so he should understand better than most the implications of the law. Even if he couldn’t stop the senate from passing the bill, he had the power to delay signing it as a way of protecting the gay community. The President has had the Petroleum Industry Bill in front of him for years, and he and our senators have stalled on the bill calling for harsher punishment for corruption. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s senate has just sanctioned pedophilia in our constitution (girls that are as young as 9 years old can continue to be married in if they are “physically developed enough” according to their parents or prospective husbands) – so this the ban on homosexuality can hardly be a so-called “moral” issue. This is simply a move for cheap political points. Meanwhile, people’s lives hang in the balance.
Today I am writing this not as a fight for “gay rights”, I am fighting for all rights. People should be allowed to express themselves freely and this includes their sexuality. I believe all gay people should come out and organize openly. I expect that society should allow them live their lives as they please.
It’s not a cultural thing – it’s a sexual thing. I have even heard people say it’s Western culture imposed on us and if the West doesn’t recognize polygamy we should not accept homosexuality. This is the kind of scary ignorance that this kind of law will foster. (I can say for a fact that the constitution of Nigeria does not recognize polygamy. We have customary laws that are non-binding, but our secular courts and national constitution does not allow polygamy even though it’s “our culture.”)
I believe in education as the answer to any problem and I know this law does not educate positively. It just criminalizes and institutionalizes hate towards the gay community.
Here’s a call to action: I believe the gay community should come out! They need to put love above fear. I also believe that gay people in Africa not just Nigeria who are being targeted like this should put pressure on the West by claiming asylum in their countries. I think we are about to see a new wave of sexual refugees!
Love over fear should be the way forward.
-Seun Kuti
208 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 208 of 208Brilliant comment!
Nigerians who support this law but who's only comment about the rampant corruption is 'God Dey are incredibly Stupid!
Someones sexuality is no ones business as long as it's safe discreet and consensual.
God help una when they start to prosecute adulterers and fornicators
I support seun kuti,how the Nigerian government be so grotesque as to sign a bill that subjects people to 14yrs imprisonment.Judgment is for the lord,and it is nobody business to tell another person how to live his or her life.Nigeria is hole filled with ignorant,selfish brutes who have their priorities misplaced.The country needs help with her infrastructure and is suffering from poverty and all those idiots can do is to tell people how to run their personal.Let God be the judge of our sexuality not ignoramus fools.No wonder Nigeria is not moving forward.
The other day i saw the picture of a man being burned to death for his sexuality and i wonder is that part of the bill our under qualified president signed.I tell you this will not last ,Nigeria is going to lose face in the outside world .
A message to the idiot that seats on the presidential seat:"Sir,we did put you in your position to tell us how to run our lives but to improve our country,pls do as you are expected before your term runs out".
You are ignorant fool,so quotes fool bible justifies the people and imprisonment to you shey?.You are one if the reasons why Nigeria is not moving forward.I feel sorry for your ignorant ass
Lmao, am still confused on ppl's ignorance. Educated illectz. Pls GEJ review ur judgement.
I thought i could take you as a serious person b4 now but who knows you too might be sick you need a psychiatric quickly
They are all stupid idiots, am a guy and I have slept with 2 former and 4 sitting governors, a senator, a couple of house of representatives members and many other influential men and even top military shots, I cant call names cuz am discreet but its just lame, men who I bang with to be part of such decision making
And who is this? Alive or dead? Mtschewww. Lindi love, lets hear from the living, not the DEAD!!! RIP to the gay law. UP ANTI-GAY LAW FOREVER!!!!
Who doesn't know homosexuality is a sin in our religions? But what about under age marriages? Fornication? Corruption all sorts? You're diverting from the argument. He's simply telling the so called ignorant leaders to amend the bill passed. 14yrs is too much for a Gay, will he change when released from prison? Those are the things we got educated for. You think well before judging others and he is also pointing out that, we can't tell people what is right and wrong and impose it. It's what they want and what they are. So far they don't grab me on the street and fuck me, I don't have a problem with them. I haven't even met a Gay in my life so I wonder what dis bill is passed for. Gays ain't coming out cos they're ashamed already. Just make a law that Gay marriage is not supported and they are not allowed to practice dere palaver in the public. Simple.
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