The United States on Monday criticized Nigeria for approving a law that punishes same-s*x marriage with prison, saying the move would curtail basic human rights.
According to the Secretary of State, John Kerry in a statement:
In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni has said that he will not rush into signing a law under which gays would be jailed after criticism from Obama, Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu and other global figures. (AFP)
Outside the US statement of disapproval, the gay community are rallying themselves for a series of actions against Nigeria.
Blogger, Melanie Nathan has listed the 10 steps gays are going to take against Nigeria in the coming days:
1. Write polite letters to the President of Nigeria expressing your thoughts and explain what being gay really means – and send a copy of your letter to protectlgbt@gmail.com for publication in this BLOG. (no more than 600 words).
2. Organize protests at Nigerian Consulates and Embassies.
3. Write to the Nigerian Ambassador/ consuls/ President in Nigeria/ in their countries that the World is shocked at the passage of Nigeria’s inhumane and horrific ‘Jail The Gays’ law that President Jonathan just signed into law. Cos the laws against LGBT Nigerians and visitors are based on lies and myths about homosexuality.
4. Start to Boycott all things Nigerian – to include travel, tourism, industry, exports and imports. Call companies that conduct safaris in Nigeria expressing the danger and your anger (politely) at the support of Nigeria.
5. Call upon their employers to speak out against the Jail the Gays Bill, especially if they work for a large Hotel, Airline, Bank etc. Chain that operates in or does business with Nigeria.
6. Write a letter to President Obama.
7. Call their local or national LGBT organizations and ask them what they are doing to help protest this Bill.
8. State Department: Call the U.S. State Department and ask them if they are willing to make special humanitarian considerations for Nigeria’s LGBT community. Tell the State Department and their member of Congress that they want Nigerian lawmakers banned from entering the U.S.A.
Also they are sure that the State department will soon update their Travel Advisory to a severe WARNING for LGBT people traveling to Nigeria.
9. Call their Mayors' office/ City Councils / Human Rights Commissions and ask for a Proclamation to Condemn the Nigerian law and request that all City dealings exclude business with Nigeria.
10. Join LGBT Protection Coalition, Worldwide, by sending their name and email address to protectlgbt@gmail.com so as to get updates about protests and actions.
“The United States is deeply concerned by Nigeria’s enactment of the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act. Beyond even prohibiting same-sex marriage, this law dangerously restricts freedom of assembly, association, and expression of Nigerians. Moreover, it is inconsistent with Nigeria’s international legal obligations and undermines the democratic reforms and human rights protections enshrined in its 1999 Constitution.
People everywhere deserve to live in freedom and equality. No one should face violence or discrimination for who they are or who they love. We join with those in Nigeria who appeal for the protection of their fellow citizens’ fundamental freedoms and universal human rights.”
In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni has said that he will not rush into signing a law under which gays would be jailed after criticism from Obama, Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu and other global figures. (AFP)
Outside the US statement of disapproval, the gay community are rallying themselves for a series of actions against Nigeria.
Blogger, Melanie Nathan has listed the 10 steps gays are going to take against Nigeria in the coming days:
1. Write polite letters to the President of Nigeria expressing your thoughts and explain what being gay really means – and send a copy of your letter to protectlgbt@gmail.com for publication in this BLOG. (no more than 600 words).
2. Organize protests at Nigerian Consulates and Embassies.
3. Write to the Nigerian Ambassador/ consuls/ President in Nigeria/ in their countries that the World is shocked at the passage of Nigeria’s inhumane and horrific ‘Jail The Gays’ law that President Jonathan just signed into law. Cos the laws against LGBT Nigerians and visitors are based on lies and myths about homosexuality.
4. Start to Boycott all things Nigerian – to include travel, tourism, industry, exports and imports. Call companies that conduct safaris in Nigeria expressing the danger and your anger (politely) at the support of Nigeria.
5. Call upon their employers to speak out against the Jail the Gays Bill, especially if they work for a large Hotel, Airline, Bank etc. Chain that operates in or does business with Nigeria.
6. Write a letter to President Obama.
7. Call their local or national LGBT organizations and ask them what they are doing to help protest this Bill.
8. State Department: Call the U.S. State Department and ask them if they are willing to make special humanitarian considerations for Nigeria’s LGBT community. Tell the State Department and their member of Congress that they want Nigerian lawmakers banned from entering the U.S.A.
Also they are sure that the State department will soon update their Travel Advisory to a severe WARNING for LGBT people traveling to Nigeria.
9. Call their Mayors' office/ City Councils / Human Rights Commissions and ask for a Proclamation to Condemn the Nigerian law and request that all City dealings exclude business with Nigeria.
10. Join LGBT Protection Coalition, Worldwide, by sending their name and email address to protectlgbt@gmail.com so as to get updates about protests and actions.
Biko Jesus should come back
ReplyDeleteThe US should go and sit down joor.
ReplyDeleteWe cannot bury our culture and values just to accommodate some perverts because of pressure from USA. They should leave us in peace.
ReplyDeleteNonsense. . .very soon pedeophiles will also want to protest. How can one justify a man touching another man's P. . . Or digging into his A. . .S are we low level animals. Anyways Law makers were elected to make laws, good or bad we must accept unless its not popular but particular is very popular and acceptable by Nigerians. QED
ReplyDeleteNot everyone shud conform to U S moral decadence.we Nigerians frown against it.its not normal.period.very soon they will say sleeping wt animals eg dogs is also natural.freedom freedom..they shud give us d freedom to choose our culture above theirs for CSake.
ReplyDeleteIt's well!!!! Hopefully our leaders would put this much effort into other pressing wahala that concerns this country!
ReplyDeleteRubbish,USA should go and rest. They are taking this human rights issue to far. Obama himself succumbed under pressure,so many US citizens that are against homos and lesbians.
ReplyDeleteWhat is this? Gay people should be shunned!!
ReplyDeleteCan u imagine? Something that is normally done in hiding. Soemthing people are ashamed of cos they know its wrong is now celebrated. Father lord take control.
ReplyDeleteGod forbid that I'll witness gay people freely making out in my lifetime. The world should just end if that happens.
ReplyDeleteGod forbid! This is Nigeria not USA,they should leave us with our culture. They've done enough damage.
ReplyDeleteUS shud mind their business a beg! And leave us alone.its time they faced their own problems.we don't want unnecessary laws in he name of human rights.Nigeria has more important issues to deal with than gay rights.
ReplyDelete