found this topic on Naij and decides to share here.



- I am no longer going to stay in the dark, like
most of my countrymen and women do; rather, I
am going to share with you, faithful readers of
my column, the exact and unbiased opinion on
gay rights in Nigeria.
For the sake of not being called gay, or a gay
rights activists, we tend to go into a
psychological discomfort known as cognitive
dissonance. If you are quick to judge, one of
those who condemn gay rights movements just at
the mention of it, then I urge you not to be
disappointed in me. For once, I am going to stand
a bit outside of the norms that are “acceptable” to
Nigerians.
Most African countries have placed stiff penalties
on those who are prone to such practices. But I
want us to answer this question with a strong
level of honesty: “Does it mean that there are no
gays in Africa?” Yes, there are. They obviously fall
in the minority, but yes, there are gays in
Zimbabwe whose President, or should I say,
“President For Life,” Robert Mugabe strongly
critiques the Western world and their “gay
agenda”.
Now another question: what is the fate of these
people, where should they find their solace, who
will listen to their pleas for equal rights on a
continent where they are seen as plague, and
their only crime is who they chooses to love?
“I get you, but I am not like you”
We Nigerians are very quick to judge a book by
its cover. We tend to condemn any act or topic
relating to same-sex lifestyle without considering
logical reasons.
I know that a great number of people reading this
article have had, willingly or unwillingly,
encountered a homosexual individual, a man or a
woman. I myself have once been subjected to a
sexual assault by a neighbour, back when I was
still in school. I slept off in his room while
watching a movie. Instead of him waking me up,
he left me right there in his bed, and, in ungodly
hours, he started making sex moves on me. When
I woke, I nearly had my pants down. With the
little strength left in me, I ran to my room.
Early the next morning, my assaulter called and
apologized for his actions which I did not
reciprocate. He thought I was going to expose
him to the lodge. Shortly after that, he had to
travel, and when he returned two weeks after the
incident, he discovered that I have not exposed
him. He came to my room and said: “Thank you,
Arinze, God bless you for keeping my reputation in
this lodge intact.”
I talked to him and explained I understood how
he felt, but I told him I am not like him. I told
him I do not condemn him for his sexual
orientation, nor do I condemn anyone who is gay.
My reason is quite simple: the Earth is indeed a
terrible place to be gay. Even in developed
countries, with gay rights movements, such
persons are still subjected to inhumane
treatment. That is why I don’t see America having
a homosexual president even in 30 years from
now.
Food for thought
We Africans hate to hear about individuals
engaging in same-sex activities. But how would
you feel if you discovered your best friend, who
has weathered every stormy weather with you,
who has always been there for you, who
supported you with cash when you thought you
would miss out of a ground breaking project
because of lack of funds — “oh such a friend” —
and you just discovered he or she is a
homosexual? What would your immediate
response be?
Would you dial the police, for your friend to be
locked up for 14 years because of who he
chooses to love? Would you immediately cut off
all ties with your friend? Or would you neglect
your friend’s sexual orientation and move on,
since it has not affected your friendship? Or
maybe you would seek for someone who could
help for your friend through personal advice or
professional counsel?
Now, if your response falls into the first two
scenarios, then I have strong pity for you, for you
are not fit to be called a friend.
On the governmental level
We all know that President Buhari frowns greatly
on the issue of homosexuality in Nigeria, and his
refusal to participate in the discussion about
same-sex marriage even with the American
Senate shows his stand on the topic.
In Nigeria, all the citizens are equal, thanks to the
amended 1999 constitution that is still very much
in use. But there are the first-class citizens, those
that have distinguished themselves in service to
their fatherland, use their personal money to tar
roads, build schools for free, contest with the
government on granting scholarships to citizens,
employ thousands. Definitely, we have loads of
them in Nigeria, noble citizens like Dangote, Mike
Adenuga, Ifeanyi Ubah, Arthur Eze, Orji Uzor Kalu,
and loads of them.
Now let’s assume that one of theses individuals
decided to break the norm and do the
“unthinkable,” by saying: “I can’t take it anymore,
I have to give in to my true self, I am gay, can’t
run from it anymore. I am sorry for whoever
loses faith in me based on my sexuality.”
How would the current administration handle
such a situation?
I fault the present government’s approach to gay
rights. There are gays in Nigeria, and these
people are noble citizens that pay taxes, adhere
to traffic laws, help the needy and carry out their
duties as prescribed by the constitution. Yet, the
government has turned its back towards them
and places a 14-year jail sanction on them. This,
to me, is wrong.
There are two ways. First, the government
recognizes that there are homosexual individuals
among Nigerians and accepts them instead of
imposing the 14-year-long prison sentence, so at
least these people have a level playing field with
their “straight” counterparts, and the issue of gay
rape is brought down to the minimum. Or the
current administration, while maintaining its
strong stance on gay practices, finds a way of
reaching out to the gay community and tell them
of the needs to have a change in heart, and
probably set up rehabilitation centers nationwide
tasked with rehabilitation and reintegration of our
friends, brothers and sisters.
You can’t just turn your back to an existing issue
and think it would disappear, and that’s exactly
what Nigeria and most African nations are doing
regarding gay rights, and it is indeed a wrong
approach.
My last shout out to the African leaders:
rehabilitate and reintegrate them into the society.
For in as much as you hate to acknowledge it,
they are present in our countries, and you can’t
keep turning your back on them (for goodness’
sake, they are your citizens!)

contact Author on : arinzeesomnofu@gmail.com

source: https://www.naij.com/524672-nigerian-dont-approve-governments-approach-gay-rights.html

I will come back when i finish reading this epistle...

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This is exactly what Paul usually send to the Romans & Corrinthians way back then, but unfortunately I'm a Nigerian. We don't read epistle

Heresy

To each their own. Everyone has their own way of thinking. However, this belongs in politics and not in culture.

There needs to be an unlike button for articles like this. Let the west keep their monopoly on the homo deathstyle.

When the sex market is in short supply of diicks, and we have puusy gluts. That will be total destruction in the "sex economy"