A gay lobby in the United States, All Out, has started a global campaign
to collect 100,000 signatures of sympathisers to mount pressure on
Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan not to sign the impending law
against homosexuals.
As at saturday evening, the group has collected close to 70,000
signatures. But how these efforts will persuade President Jonathan not
to sign the bill into law, remains to be seen.
The group claims to be working with partner organisations in Nigeria,
such as Changing Attitude Nigeria, Improve Your Health Initiative,
Initiative for Advancement of Humanity, International Centre for
Advocacy on Right to Health, Sexual Minorities Against AIDS in Nigeria,
the Initiative for Equal Rights, Nigerian LGBTI’s in the Diaspora
against Anti-Same Sex Laws.
The anti-gay bill, was first passed by the Senate on 29 November 2011.
The bill criminalises gay marriage and any same-sex “amorous
relationship”, a major step in putting in place a law that has drawn
widespread criticism in Western countries.
The Senate increased the punishment for gay marriage from the five
years’ imprisonment originally proposed in the draft bill, to 14 years.
The legislation must be passed by the House of Representatives and
signed by President Goodluck Jonathan before it becomes law.
“Persons who entered into a same-sex marriage contract, or civil
union commit an offence and are each liable on conviction to a term of
14 years in prison,” the bill says.
“Any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs,
societies and organisations or directly or indirectly makes public show
of same-sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offence and shall
each be liable on conviction to a term of 10 years in prison.”
The bill passed through the second reading at the House of
Representatives last week, unanimously, drawing worldwide outrage by gay
sympathisers.
A top US human rights official said he has not discussed with Nigerian politicians an anti-gay bill poised to pass Parliament.
Michael H. Posner, the Assistant of State for Democracy, Human Rights
and Labour, declined to comment directly on the pending legislation
during a press conference at the US consulate in Lagos.
But, he says human rights issues must be addressed within societies
and “it is very difficult, if not impossible, for (foreign) governments
to force that change”.
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