By Olufemi Ajasa
Now that the US has demonstrated its commitment to equality before the law, by ensuring same-sex couples can now marry in all 50 states of the confederate following its historic Supreme Court’s ruling which gave marriage equality as a constitutional right throughout the country one will wonder if this trend will find its way to Nigeria.
In Nigeria, Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons are still facing legal and social challenges. Here, same-sex sexual relationship is not only illegal, it is a punishable offence.
According to the stipulations of Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act in Nigeria, offenders are to face 14 years’ imprisonment , and the punishment is death by stoning in the twelve northern states that have adopted Sharia law , which applies to all Muslims and to those who have voluntarily consented to application of the Sharia courts in the region.
Nigeria has been criticized severely by civil rights organizations, as well as the United Nations, for failing to uphold, and violating, the rights of LGBT people but this has not changed the cultural disposition of its people to the topic.
However, the golden question is, can you ever imagine same-sex relationship and/ or marriage becoming a way of life in Nigeria?
Credit : Vanguard
