Africlegend:
*Nigeria @58: My Concern is the Persecuted Gays and Lesbians*
Homosexuals are prone to Suicide, mental health disorder, heavy smoking, unsafe drug use and self-harm; courtesy of the several pharisaical legislations across the world, and the high-hat attitude of the heterosexual majority. One of such laws is Nigeria's own same sex marriage prohibition act, secretly signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014.
Dated Jan. 7, the law partly reads: "4 (1) The registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations, their sustenance, processions and meetings is prohibited. (2) The public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly is prohibited." And, for the penalty, " 5(2) A person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organization, or directly or indirectly makes public show of same sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment."
Therefore, anyone who finds himself an homophile, either by biology or choice (social mechanism) is simply a criminal. This is too inhuman, partial and unfair, especially to a people who by reasons they just can't explain found themselves gay or lesbian. Sexual orientation, homosexual and heterosexual alike, could be natural and, as such, not always the making of men who love men and women who love women, thesame way it is not to the credit of those born straight.
Contrary to the view that same sex sexual preference is ever a lifestyle choice, there have been compelling evidences that it could be linked to a series of genetic facrors, one of which scientists call the fraternal birth order effect whereby a male has greater chance of being gay should he have quite a number of biological older brothers. In molecular genetics also, research revealed that a region located at the tip of the X chromosome, Xq28, is likely involved in the expression of androphila — same sex attraction in men.
Published in the Quarterly Review of Biology on December 12, 2012, studies in epigenetics revealed that same sex attraction could be a result of sex specific epi-marks —chemical modifications to DNA — transferred from parents to their offsprings. The particular genes responsible for gay and lesbian tendencies have not been identified though, the fact remains that: either through genes, hormones or antibodies, same sex orientation could be in-born.
How then can Nigeria explain that her law which threatens the very survival and/or normal life gay men and lesbians deserve, is not unjust? The constant pressure of having to deal with this kind of marginalisation and discriminatory legislation against the LGBT communities opens door to health issues, many a time mental.
Homosexuals feel unwelcomed, abnormal, rejected and unfortunate in the midst of numerous judgmental individuals and as a result, have higher rates of mental health disorder than the rest of the population.They also have higher rate of obesity, smoking, alcohol and drug abuse in response to rejection by family members and friends, in-school bullying and taunting by school mates, street bashing, guilt and shame in the face of negative messages, fear of being rejected, and now, in Nigeria, the fear of being arrested and imprisoned. This is unfair, to say the least.
Criminalisation of the very existence of homophiles in Nigeria by the Christians and muslims dominated National assembly negates the country's profession of secularism. Any form of domination based on religion is in violation of the rights that a democratic society guarantees to each and every citizen irrespective of their religion, colour or tribe.
The Church teaches that homosexuality is immoral, but, just like adultery, fornication, drunkenness, corruption and idolatry. The Bible calls the act a sin, but contains no grounds for singling gay men and lesbians out for special condemnation. If I may ask, how exclusive is homosexuality among other sins? Why single homophiles out for a harsh legislation?
While I do not disagree with the Church's position, that the Original plan of the Creator was intercourse only between a man and a woman; nor encourage the act in anyway, I think Nigeria as a nation needs show homophiles more understanding, more care, more love and more acceptance. The heterosexual majority needs be less homophobic and perceive gay men and lesbians as normal humans with just a different sexual orientation.
It is not beyond the church and the mosque to tell us what sex should look like, but they should stay away from imposing their teachings on individuals, who neither believes nor share such views, through the legislative back-door. If the christians and the muslims so care, let them treat homophiles with utmost affection and love, teach them what they think is right and be there to guide them through.
One of the recent assaults was the arrest of about 57 suspected gay guys by the Nigerian police. At 58, parading suspected homosexuals shouldn't be a priority project for Nigeria. Corruption is there to tackle. Poverty is there to alleviate. We have nothings of infrastructure and, life is generally so hard here.
Before throwing stones at helpless homophiles in the street, I think Pope Francis has something for us. When quized on alleged gay lobby in the vatican, the holy father responded "who are mine to Judge?" It is not the responsibility of Nigeria as a secular state to take sides on this issue, but for the church and mosque to convince homosexuals as individuals. Happy independence.
Ayeni Faith Damilola is a writer, public speaker and eulogist
faitthdamilolaayeni@yahoo.com
. OP seem your behind has been over-poked thereby corrupted your sense of reasoning. Faags are demon possessed twisted minds who want to justify and establish demonic behaviours in our land. You have no idea of what God would do to such mindless wicked individuals who indulge in homosexual activities. I ask you OP if your father was a faag or your mother a lesbie how would you have been born? Keep deceiving yourself and comparing sins from the bible. Awon omo ale akoiigba abiiko oloriburuku akotileta omo ale gbogbo |
