Nigeria Poses Sweeping Anti-Gay Laws

Nigeria, the 9th most populous nation in the world, is about to criminalize "virtually all forms of gay expression." Legislation being considering by the Nigerian National Assembly reads:

"Any person who is involved in the registration of gay clubs, societies and organizations, sustenance, procession or meetings, publicity and public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly in public and in private is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a term of five years imprisonment.''

Gay sex is already illegal in Nigeria, punishable by imprisonment in the south and death in the Muslim north. In addition to the above listed restrictions, this bill will make it illegal to possess gay reading material and for two gay people to meet in public or private. Nigeria is a "democracy", a federal republic modeled after the United States with a bicameral legislature. It will be very interesting to see how or if the United Nations attempts to address this outrage, and whether our own government will choose to confront Nigeria. I'm guessing, it won't. Which of our gay rights groups will step up and challenge our government to stand up for the gays of Nigeria?

UPDATE: The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria is John Campbell. Contact info here. I'm sending Mr. Campbell an email today: Consularabuja@state.gov.

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