Activists Ask EU To Suspend Funding To Nigeria Over Anti-Gay Marriage Vote

Important note: The following story has been published on several Christianist sites I follow, but I can't yet find confirmation in the secular press. From the Christianist site One News Now:

A division of the European Union that deals with "gay" rights has demanded that all foreign aid to Nigeria be suspended after the government voted not to recognize homosexual "marriage." The Nigerian vote to protect traditional marriage was unanimous. Matt Barber of Liberty Counsel says it is unfortunate the European Union adopted its stance. "The European Union has certainly been infiltrated by homo-fascists. There's just no doubt about it," he contends. "They are using that body to essentially try to push the international homosexual agenda down the throats of countries that respect traditional values relative to sexual morality."

Barber believes Nigeria and any other country ought to be free to express its own culture without outside interference. [JMG: Except, of course, Christian missionary work.] "We have the Defense of Marriage Act on the books [in the United States]; why aren't they coming after the U.S.? Well, because what bullies do is they pick on someone that is weaker than they are," he notes. "So the European Union is trying to make an example out of Nigeria because they are in a position of influence and power, yet they will not pick the same fight with the United States because they know it would be to no avail." It is against the religious beliefs of Christians and Muslims in Nigeria to commit homosexual acts.

In 2007, Abuju, Nigeria had been a leading contender to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games until gay activists lead by Peter Tatchell presented Games organizers with an 11-page report detailed Nigerian abuses against LGBT citizens. (The Games were awarded to Glascow, Scotland.) Homosexuality is punishable by imprisonment for 14 years in the south of Nigeria and by stoning to death in the Muslim-dominated north.

If the above story is true, are activists making a mistake by focusing on marriage rights before simple legalization of homosexuality? Or will their ploy focus international attention on the more critical issue? Nigeria is the ninth-most populous country in the world and arguably more LGBT people live in misery and fear there than any place on Earth.