Warren Throckmorton reports on the progress of the anti-gay law in Nigeria:
On July 25, a bill was tabled* in the Nigerian legislature to criminalize same-sex unions. The bill forbids any marriage contracts civil or religious between members of the same sex. It even removes the freedom to conduct such ceremonies in a church if such unions were permitted within the theology of that church. Here are the penalties:
Same Gender Marriage (Prohibition)
4. (1) Persons that entered into a same gender marriage contract commit an offence and are jointly liable on conviction to a term of 3 years imprisonment each
(2) Any persons or group of persons that witnesses, abet and aids the solemnization of a same gender marriage contract commits an offence and liable on conviction to –
(a) if an individual to a term of 5 years imprisonment or a group of persons to a fine of N2000 or both,
(b) if a group of persons to a fine of N50,000 only.
According to an AP article out today, the bill has now gone through two readings and has had public hearings.
…
The definition of same-sex marriage is:
“Same Gender Marriage” means the coming together of persons of the same sex with the purpose of leaving (sic) together as husband and wife or for other purposes of same sexual relationship.
*tabled means the bill is set to be voted – (not set aside as the term is used in the U.S.)