Nigeria takes steps to protect it's citizens; anti-gay law

[darin]

wow...far-reaching laws planned. It's nice to see a country taking steps to protect it's citizens; much like our country has anti-drug laws, because living a life of a drug user (like a homosexual lifestyle) HURT people...sometimes people need to be corrected for their own good.

One of the most sweeping anti-gay bills ever introduced in any parliament in the world is in danger of rapid passage in Nigeria in the coming weeks. Although billed as a ban on same-sex marriage, the proposed law includes provisions that would make any expression of homosexuality -- not only sexual conduct but any homosexual inclination or reference -- in public or in private, a crime.



This draconian, far-reaching piece of homophobic legislation provoked a full-throated outcry from the globe's entire human rights community when it was introduced last year, and for a while it had been dormant. But now the bill has been fast-tracked for speedy passage in advance of Nigeria's national elections in April, and the BBC's correspondent in the country's capital of Abuja reported last week that "it is likely to be passed by both chambers of the Nigerian National Assembly by the end of March."



Homosexual conduct among consenting persons in Nigeria is already a crime punishable by 14 years in prison, a 19th century penal provision that is a legacy of British colonial rule. But the new legislation goes much, much further in terms of curbing fundamental rights of expression, association, and communication. Among the proposed new law's many noxious provisions, it would, under penalty of a stiff prison term of five years:



-- outlaw membership in a gay group, attending a gay meeting or protest, donating money to a gay organization; or even advocating gay equality in any way, shape, or form;

More:

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarti...2&ItemID=12180

[5stringJeff]

Even though homosexual behavior is immoral, I'm not sure I'd want it outlawed.