Keep gays out of Africa.

[Crube]

Nigeria is about to become much less fabulous.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6362505.stm

Nigeria moves to outlaw gay sex

Nigeria's House of Representatives has held a public hearing on a new bill seeking to outlaw gay relations.

The bill, which could become law before April's elections, proposes a five-year sentence for anyone convicted of being openly gay or practising gay sex.

Critics say the bill is anti-freedom, but religious leaders say it will help "protect society's morals and values".

Homosexuality is taboo across most of Africa, although South Africa recently legalised gay marriages.

The committee conducting the public hearing say they have received over 100 petitions from rights groups asking that the proposed bill be withdrawn.

"The bill is going to seriously violate the rights of people. This bill is evil and should not be allowed to see that light of the day," says Alimi Ademola who heads Independent Project Nigeria, a gay rights organisation.

Debate

But the bill will prove popular in a country where homosexuality is taboo and elections are looming, says the BBC's Senan Murray in Abuja.

Parliamentary insiders say the bill is likely to be passed by both chambers of the Nigerian National Assembly by the end of March, he says.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (Can), the umbrella body for Nigerian Christians, called for speedy passage of the law, describing same sex unions as "barbaric and shameful".

The National Muslim Centre also condemned gay relations as "immoral, and runs contrary to our cultural and religious values".

The deputy chairman of the house committee on Human Rights Abdul Oroh says it was hypocritical of proponents of the bill to use morality and religion as basis for their arguments.

"We should not be hypocritical here. I think we should deal with this subject dispassionately. While we are trying to protect morals and values, we must also remember to protect people's rights even if they are a minority," Mr Oreh said at the public hearing.

The United Nations has warned that the bill would promote the spread of HIV/Aids.

"Failing to acknowledge that sex between men will only increase the vulnerability of men - and women - to HIV infection, since men who cannot talk about their sexual orientation are less likely to seek appropriate support services," said Dr Pierre Mpele, the UNAids country co-ordinator in Nigeria.

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I'm sorry, how exactly are they planning on enforcing this? Is there some sort of a huge public gay sex culture in Nigeria?

"Excuse me sir, I heard you had your dick in a mans ass last night."

"Oh dear, you've caught me."

[Poophy]

Haha and here I thought crazy christians were only in this country!

[Nega-Brent]

Haha and here I thought crazy christians were only in this country!

Somebody has never heard of missionaries.

[Harrison Ford]

Oh man, that's great. :hardgay:

[ROCKSTEADY]

i dont care if you hate gays or love them... i just don't see what this law will do.

[Samurai Drifter]

Hmm, religious bullshit.

On the one hand, outlawing all forms of unproductive sex would be one way to slow down the AIDS problem... on the other hand, as they said, it's going to happen either way and one who can't talk about being gay for fear of being arrested is less likely to seek help and/or the appropriate services.

[FaultyClockwork]

I can rest easy knowing the country will be consumed by AIDS and all those jackasses will die.

[James_xeno]

I can rest easy knowing the country will be consumed by AIDS and all those jackasses will die.

ah.. win-win?

[margot]

ahh good to know those Nigerian officals are focusing on what's really importnant.

[TheBigC]

damn me and gummy bear cant go there for our honey moon

[FaultyClockwork]

ah.. win-win?

Word.

[The Lone Magician]

My girlfriend will be pissed if I tell her.

[Galkar]

Because then you won't be able to have any more gay sex... in Africa...?

[JeremyGEE]

Haha and here I thought crazy christians were only in this country!

Obviously you know nothing lol. Christianity is as much of a plague as AIDS! So who really cares about gays?

[James_xeno]

Obviously you know nothing lol. Religion is as much of a plague as AIDS! So who really cares about gays?

*Edited for factuality.

But still, I wouldn't really go that far in comparing though.