godunia: u re right my friend.these people exist amongs us but how do u prosecute them without a law?if u arrest a homosexual today with what wld u charge him? For adultery?mmmm.well its a crime to rob yet there are still armed robbers but if they re caught,they no what wld happen to them.same goes for homo/gay stuff.trust naija police,de wont fail to interpret d law beyond what is lawful.gays or whatever u call yrself STAY clear,if u re caught mmmmmmm

I don't think adultery is a crime in Nigeria, but it may be the next law proposed by the geniuses in Abuja.

Though I don't agree with it there are sodomy laws in Nigeria's penal code that actually criminalize same sex relations. So they would be able to charge the arrested homosexual if they have the proper evidence.

This bill is not about that. Open your eyes. The bill is a distraction. It is taking advantage of the blindness Nigerians have when the issue of same sex relations come up.

I'm surprised you are not even more petrified than the gays by your comments in bold. In a country where the rule of law prevailed, this law would be entirely moot because to be caught would require the police to establish probably cause and then get a warrant from a judge to install secret cameras in your bedroom etc and in one year of its execution they would realize how stupid it was. But in Nigeria, this law gives the police another reason to mess with civilians. If I don't like you I would simply accuse you of being gay. This law will give them something to charge you with.

When you let government into someone else's bedroom, you are leaving the door and window of yours open as well. THINK!!!!!

novicali:
These are the contradictions in life that should be avoided. Gay and lesbianism are contrary to the natural ways of having intimacy. The practice is wickedness to humanity.

Let's say this is scientifically accurate (though no evidence has been brought forward to support the claim) can you comment on adultery and fornication. Are those less or more wicked ways of having intimacy?

Ozichim:
You forgot that many drug dealers are happily doing their drug. They are adults and many are leaving normal live. So why are the world stopping people from using drug?
Just like drug dealers the gays can also kill you or sack you if you try to stop or correct them. Two mature brothers and sisters, mother and daughter, mother and son, father and son can also decide to share things amongst themselves since they are all adult. They should be allowed to continue since they are happily doing their thing, and they are enjoying it; infact they are not harming anybody. Immorality is evil and it is still evil. We know that iniquity shall abound but to make us begin to see evil as good and even good as evil is so much wickedness against those that want righteousness to be maintained. You must wait until Jesus take his children away then you and the devil (Satan) can turn the world to anything you like.

Drugs kill people and make them sick. Being gay alone is not known to be the cause of death or illness (please lets leave the HIV debate out of this. Straight people get STDs too).

Incest has been known to lead to genetic mutation in off springs. Bestiality may be illegal because animals can't give consent, I'm not sure. Murder is illegal because someone is robbed of his fundamental right to live and so on and so on.

This is the knowledge available for us to make decisions today. It may not always be the case and that is why laws get reviewed.

I must state clearly that I don't think this is a moral argument. Homosexuality can definitely be wrong and evil but this depends on what you believe and you are free to believe this because the law supports you in your freedoms and liberties.

The irony is that you have somehow decided this freedom and liberty can only be extended to you and people who think like you. That is the crux of the matter.

You don't have to like gay people or accept them personally. You can disown your child if he is gay or excommunicate your friends. That is your right. But as a matter of law it is dangerous for a nation to trample on the rights of others simply to please the majority. Please tell me you understand and appreciate this distinction.

If this is about Jesus coming to take his children then you better start drafting legislature to ban Islam, Guru Maraji and the host of other christian sects that don't agree with your pastor. Nigeria is not a religious state.

Ozichim:
This is one of the greatest lie and manipulation ever told against humanity. Devil succeeded in manipulating man to lie against themselves. There is no born lesbian or homosexual. Ask and you will be told that any man any day can become a homosexual if he chooses to be one or even if he or she did not choose to be one. For example since you believe this lie (Man are born gays), if you are not a gay already you will likely easily become one. Been a gay is like becoming a drug addict. Live and have gays as friend and or try to join them in their devilish sexual life then the devil will possess you. Homosexual and lesbianism is a devilish act. Any person or any of the gays that have little moral life in Him or her will acknowledge this as the truth. So trying to manipulate the world will not work. The people that have experienced this will testify to this. Have you ever asked yourself why such fellows are always common amongst the witches and the secret societies and amongst men of dubious character?

Bros, do you know how hard it is to be gay in this life? The stigma, the lying, the pain. Trust me if anyone could choose to be gay no body would be gay.

In addition, I hope you know that homophobia is more recent in human history than homosexuality. In ancient Rome, it was perfectly acceptable for men to take male lovers. it was seen as a show of power. Rich African women of days past have been known to marry other women. People were gay before there was a devil and they will be gay no matter how illegal it is or how closed minded and near sighted majority of their country men are.

novicali:
You talk about moral issues and you are declining such much in support good morals. Is it moral for a man to sleep with another man and having sex? Don't you think that naturally anus is not made fro sex? Is it not natural that Virgina of a woman is made for sex? Can't you understand that the Anus is for excretion of shit! I mean Shit! is not for sex! Don't understand that Sex through the Virgina is for the procreation and extension of humanity on the face of this earth. Don't you think that the homosexuals are committing crimes against humanity. Why would homosexuals like to adopt babies that they didn't give birth to? Don't you think that even animals cannot commit such heinous crime that the so-called homosexuals are committing against nature. Can't you get...

Your views are perfectly understood however I will like you to elaborate more on why all these other "crimes against humanity" you quoted from nep2ra are not being singled out for jail terms.

Is it that they are less of crimes against humanity because you can understand and perhaps even commit a few yourself? if so then why is your understanding or disposition to commit these said crimes superior to that of others who understand why a woman would want to sleep with another woman.

Klinee: live let armed rubber,boko haram,canibalism,murderer live too.mumu. U ar a fool

Can I ask you what the difference is between you and Boko haram? Terrorism is terrorism.

Boko Haram holds certain beliefs that you do not subscribe to. They have decided that as a result of these beliefs you are to be punished and slaughtered on earth while you proceed to reap more suffering in the here after. We call that terrorism and condemn it harshly.

A group of people have decided to live their lives in a manner that does not agree with beliefs that you feel strongly about so you think they should be deprived of freedom and maybe killed even though their lives do not affect yours adversely in anyway.

Sounds like terrorism lite at the very best.

You may continue to hold this stance but I ask you to also be understanding of the next bomb that goes off in the North because they are doing exactly what you want. Imposing their personal beliefs and standards on the rest of the world.

The question is what gives you the right to do it and not them? You are no more or less justified to pursue the zeal of your morality than they are. That is why we have laws. Laws level the playing ground and ensure we can co exist in spite of our differences. the intent of law is to preserve the entity from disintegration and protect all members of society not just the many or the loud voiced because the majority in one case might be part of another minority class. Unfortunately our lawmakers have decided to turn their offices into their own personal shrine to hypocrisy. While they loot the treasury and continue to cheat Nigerians they take a popular (and seemingly moral) stance on an issue they know will incense the polity. And it is sad to see us playing right into their hands.


You may ask, where does one draw the line bestiality, incest? well you are forgetting another line. today it is a jail sentence for gay marriage, tomorrow it might be inter ethnic marriage then inter faith marriage and the downward spiral continues. Do you find this ridiculous? well that's just as ridiculous as the arbitrary moral lines people draw in the sand rather than face the genesis of their prejudice.

I don't know when humanity will finally learn that no good comes from discrimination. Hitler did it and failed, there was slavery and racism in America and that collapsed. Homophobia was the order of the day in these western countries and that did not hold up to the scrutiny of an objective conscience. This too will not hold up and I ask you to mark my words. Many people may suffer and many people may die but the human spirit will keep moving forward and in a few years we will look back at these days with shame.

Why don't we break the cycle for once. Learn from the past and get over yourselves. Don't like this take too long.

I will also just like to comment on the idea that tolerance of same sex relationships is a western invention. As I pointed our earlier, these countries were plenty homophobic, in fact, homophobia was also a western invention but as time went on and research revealed sexuality to be a disposition rather than a choice, as people began to realize the millions of well adjusted gays that contributed positively to society, their cousins, their brothers, their classmates it became very clear that even though individuals may hold whatever beliefs they want, the state cannot continue to marginalize a sub set of its people. There is no invention there it is simply evolution of ideas based on science and experience.

thanks guys for your responses. the responses so far have been very helpful.

please help me share the link with others.

@oyejohn, I would like to read your work. I will send you a mail.

Hi all, I am working on my MSc Thesis in Sociology with the University of Manchester. I chose to explore the Nigerian Perspective on Western Cultures with a focus on same sex relations and the gay lifestyle.

This is a purely academic exercise. Please help me by providing your honest thoughts in this survey.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M3XCRPX

Thanks a lot.