Nigeria Moves To Ban Gay PDAs

Yesterday Nigeria's House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill making any public display of affection by homosexuals punishable by up to ten years in prison. The bill also calls for a 14 year sentence for gay couples that marry.

“It is alien to our society and culture and it must not be imported,” House majority leader Mulikat Adeola-Akande said during debate, referring to same-sex marriage. “Religion abhors it and our culture has no place for it,” she added. House minority leader Femi Gbajabiamila said the bill represents “convergence of both law and morality.” He said that same-sex marriage “is both illegal and immoral.” Nigeria’s senate in November 2011 approved the bill that would make same-sex marriages punishable by up to 14 years for the couple and 10 for anyone abetting such unions. It also set out a 10-year sentence for “any person who … directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationships”. Gay organisations would also be made illegal, leading some to raise concerns over whether funding channeled through non-governmental organisations in Nigeria for AIDS treatment would be put in jeopardy.

The bill has already been approved by the Senate and will go to the president after a final House review. Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation.