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Nigerian LGBTIs in Diaspora against Anti Same Sex Laws commemorated IDAHO with a protest rally! Special thanks to everyone who joined us to stand up against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. A very special thank you to Peter Tatchell for his solidarity and our very special comrades from Uganda who showed their massive support! Together We Can!
NIGERIAN LGBTIs IN DIASPORA AGAINST ANTI-SAME SEX LAWS
International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
We Are Family- Freedom to Love for all Nigerians
Date- Thursday 17 May, 2012
Time- 3:00pm-6:00pm
Venue- Nigeria House, 9 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5BX
Theme- “We Are Family- Freedom to Love for all Nigerians”
Nigerian LGBTIs in Diaspora Against Anti Same Sex Laws will hold a rally outside Nigerian Embassy in London to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (May 17th).
We will be sharing our personal stories and experiences of Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Nigerian LGBTIs in Diaspora, LGBTIs of other nationals and our straight allies are most welcome!
We will also deliver to the Nigerian High Commissioner, our position paper on the Anti Same Sex Marriage bill currently pending before the Nigerian Legislatures.
Join us in solidarity to commemorate IDAHO!
Venue Map link
KINDLY SIGN OUR PETITION AGAINST THE ANTI SAME SEX MARRIAGE BILL HERE-
Link here to our event on Facebook.
Contacts- Yemisi Ilesanmi (nanfs2001@yahoo.com)
Davis Mac-Iyalla – dmaciyalla@gmail.com
Homosexuality has existed from time immemorial, as far back as when same sex persons ever came in contact. Africa is said to be the cradle of human race, it therefore can be logically inferred that homosexuality started in Africa, before human race started migrating to other places to spread its branches in different colours, shapes and sizes. Many African cultures and religions viewed Homosexuals and Transgender as gods, they were revered before intolerant religion and culture started flourishing. It was the advent of colonisation and the import of foreign laws like Sodomy laws that brought Homophobia and intolerance into African societies.
Many Nigerians are occupying the streets to protest against fuel subsidy removal, what if President Goodluck Jonathan signed a law that prohibits every adult Nigerian from marrying consenting adults, would you occupy the streets to protest the law? What if Nigerian lawmakers passed into law a bill that stipulates a 14 year jail term for any adult Nigerian who engaged in a consenting sexual relationship with another adult, would you Occupy Nigeria?
Millions of Nigerians would take to the streets if their right to found a family or engage in mutual relationship with another adult was infringed upon by the government, why justify the Anti Same Sex Marriage bill? Why support this draconian bill against Nigerian Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transsexuals? Why take away another person’s right when you do not want your right trampled upon?
LGBT RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS!Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transsexuals are HUMANS and an injury to one is an injury to all! Remember, when you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have taken the side of the oppressors!
SAY NO TO ANTI SAME SEX MARRIAGE BILL! OCCUPY NIGERIA FOR LGBT RIGHTS, OCCUPY EARTH FOR EQUALITY! and STAND UP FOR HUMAN RIGHTS!
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Nigerian LGBTIs in Diaspora Against Anti Same Sex Laws USA branch on Monday Dec 5, 2011 staged a protest rally at the Nigerian house in New York to protest the Anti same-sex marriage bill (Read the bill here http://www.scribd.com/doc/74807203/Nigeria-Same-Sex-Marriage-Bill-final) and demand for the repeal of all Anti same-sex laws. Nigerian LGBTI and straight supporters came out to join the protest; international supporters including the notable campaign group, AllOut also participated.
The protesters carried placards with different slogans; some of the banners’ slogans were “Proudly Gay, Proudly Nigerian!” “Some Nigerians are Gay, Get over it!” “Sodomy law is a colonial relic, repeal it now!” “Kiss Anti Same Sex marriage bill and Sodomy laws Goodbye!” and “Stop turning us into refugees, Repeal Sodomy laws Now!”.
The organizers had initially written to the embassy in DC for audience but got no response or acknowledgment of their letter from the ambassador. The protesters stood in front of Nigerian House at Kudirat Abiola’s corner, on the northeast corner of 2nd Avenue and 44th St. The rally attracted Nigerian Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and allies.
The Campaign group’s position paper on the bill http://wp.me/P1YdPM-I , report of the public hearing http://wp.me/p1YdPM-3 and 57 thousand petition signatures condemning the bill (Petition- http://www.allout.org/nigeria) were submitted by John Adewoye and Ifeanyi Orazulike, coordinators of the protest, to the delegated representative of the Nigerian high commissioner. The organizers made attempts to enter the consulate building but they were not allowed in to have an audience with the High commissioner. The group condemned the decision of the high commissioner not to grant the group an audience to officially submit the position paper and signatures.
The protesters spoke on the ill effects of the bill and how it violates human rights of Nigerian LGBTs. They emphasized the danger the bill poses to security of Nigerian gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals, families and friends. The protesters also spoke on the negative effects the bill would have on the human right records of Nigeria.
A letter addressed to the Nigerian Senate president jointly written by Ifeanyi Orazulike and John Adewoye was read by Ifeanyi Orazulike on behalf of Nigerian LGBTIs in Diaspora Against Anti Same Sex Laws. Full text of the letter reads-
Fellow Nigerians and allies,
The same-sex marriage prohibition bill, recently passed by the Nigerian Senate, puts Nigeria at odds with the numerous Human Rights Conventions it is a signatory to. For this and many other reasons, we the Nigerian LGBTQI in Diaspora demand that our President don’t sign this bill to law.
Under the bill, “same-sex marriage” IS DEFINED AS INCLUDING ALL SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS, AND TARGETS PEOPLE WHO “WITNESS”’ “AID” OR “ABET” SUCH RELATIONSHIPS. The bill imposes up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine on anyone who “witnesses”, “aids” or “abets” same-sex relationships and 14 years for those in such relationship. The bill also carries similar sentences for the establishment of gay clubs, and for any activity seen as supporting gay rights.
If passed this bill will further damage the troubled human rights image of the Nigerian government. It will adversely affect the foreign missions working to support underserved Nigerians, and it will become a blue print for persecution of innocent Nigerians on the ground of their suspected sexual orientation, as well as their families and allies.
Laws are made to bring about progress for a community, and not to exterminate a part of that community simply because they are different. The measure of every great democracy is how it treats its minority citizens. ALL Nigerians deserve the same rights and privileges guaranteed by the constitution. We the undersigned urge the Nigerian president to show respect for the diversity in our great democracy, and refuse to sign this bill.
Signed: Nigerian LGBTI in Diaspora Against Anti Same Sex Laws (USA Branch)
Protesters were given black T-shirts with the slogan ‘I am Not Illegal’ produced for the Nigerian LGBTIs Diaspora by AllOut. To dispel any doubt about nationality, Ifeanyi Orazulike displayed his Nigerian International passport before the press, and John Adewoye’s held up a placard that says “I am Nigerian, I am Gay and Real.” Other Nigerians present there had placards with their preferred messages.
John Adewoye sang some solo and led the group in chanting the popular LGBT protest slogan, “E he O ho Homophobia has got to go.” There were young student/professional Nigerian lesbians and a transgender person. One of them came with a Nigeria flag to add a nice home flavor to the gathering. There is a plan to follow up on future collaborations.
John Adewoye and Ifeanyi Orazulike thanked everyone present including allies, police and the press. The Nigerian citizens present waited for further deliberations on future collaboration. The gathering was a success.
John Adewoye couragenigeria@gmail.com
Ifeanyi Orazuike alliance.ifeanyi@gmail.com
NIGERIAN LGBTI IN DIASPORA AGAINST ANTI SAME-SEX LAWS
Date- 5 DECEMBER, 2011
Time- 11:30am-4:30pm
Venue-Nigeria Permanent Mission , United States
828 Second Ave.
10017
New York, USA
The Nigerian Senate with a full majority on Tuesday Dec 29, 2011 voted in support of the bill entitled “An Act To Prohibit Marriage Between Persons Of Same Gender, Solemnization Of Same And For Other Matters Related Therewith” . This was inspite of the disturbing report from the October 31, 2011 public hearing in Abuja of the bill. The independent campaign group, Nigerian LGBTI in Diaspora Against Anti Same Sex Laws will hold a protest in front of the Nigerian embassy against the passage of the bill and condemn the homophobic atmosphere under which the public hearing was conducted. Enough is Enough, we want our human rights!
The theme of the protest is ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Kiss Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia goodbye! The group intends to officially submit our position paper that was read at the public hearing in Abuja to the Nigerian Ambassador to USA and use the opportunity to express our concerns on the bill as Nigerian Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transsexuals and Intersex (LGBTI) living in United States of America.
Also, outside the embassy, Nigerian LGBTI and allies will hold hands, hug and kiss as a gesture of kissing Sodomy laws goodbye. Come and join us, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Let us together kiss Sodomy laws and other anti same-sex laws goodbye. International solidarity knows no borders, come one, come all! Solidarity forever!
Link to protest details:-
Facebook event link-
Blog link
Venue Map link here
SIGN OUR PETITION AGAINST THE BILL HERE
Contacts-
John Adewoye- couragenigeria@gmail.com
Ifeanyi Orazulike- alliance.ifeanyi@gmail.com
Nigerian LGBTI in Diaspora against Anti Same Sex Laws
http://yemmynisting.blogspot.com/
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