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| Banned in Nigeria |
The leading gay nation on earth, the USA has already voiced its concern.
Secretary of State, John Kerry, who as a senator in 1996, was one of just 14 U.S. senators to vote against the U.S. Defense of Marriage Act — anti-gay legislation that was partially overturned by the Supreme Court last June, has kicked against the new Nigerian law.
“The United States is deeply concerned by Nigeria’s enactment of the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition
Act. Beyond even prohibiting same-sex marriage, this law dangerously restricts freedom of assembly, association, and expression for all Nigerians,”he said in a statement.
“Moreover, it is inconsistent with Nigeria’s international legal obligations and undermines the democratic reforms and human rights protections enshrined in its 1999 Constitution.
“People everywhere deserve to live in freedom and equality. No one should face violence or discrimination for who they are or who they love. We join with those in Nigeria who appeal for the protection of their fellow citizens’ fundamental freedoms and universal human rights.”
Outside the US statement of disapproval, the gay community are rallying themselves for a series of actions against Nigeria.
Blogger, Melanie Nathan has listed the 10 steps gays are going to take against Nigeria in the coming days. She calls them ’10 imperative actions we must undertake as a world community”:
1. Write polite letters to the President of Nigeria expressing your thoughts and explain what being gay really means – and send a copy of your letter to protectlgbt@gmail.com for publication in this BLOG. (no more than 600 words).
2. Organize protests at Nigerian Consulates and Embassies.
3. Write to the Nigerian Ambassador/ consuls/ President in Nigeria/ in your country – here is an example: http://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/index.php?page=contact-us
Dear Consul / Ambassador/ President
The World is shocked at the passage of Nigeria’s inhumane and horrific ‘Jail The Gays’ law that your President just signed into law.
It is important to note that the laws you have passed against LGBT Nigerians and visitors are based on lies and myths about homosexuality, are unconstitutional and contrary to the International Declaration of Human Rights.
You cannot criminalize a human being’s sexuality.
We will be protesting your embassies and calling for widespread boycotts against Nigerian tourism, exports, imports and all business.
If Nigeria justifies this bad law proclaiming its sovereignty, then it will choose isolation. However Nigeria cannot participate in a global context if it cannot respect one of the most basic fundamental human rights and that is the right to love any person of one’s choice, whether that person is of the same or a different gender.
Anti-Homosexuality laws condemn love that is naturally felt to the people you seek to criminalize. The issues you purport to base your law upon are separate issues and ought to fall under the laws already in place which protect all people from sex without consent.
Melanie Nathan.
LGBT Protection Coalitions, Worldwide.
Note: Nigeria maintains an embassy in the United States at 3519 International Place, NW, Washington, DC 20008, (tel: 202-986-8400). AND
http://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/index.php?page=contact-us
AND
http://www.statehouse.gov.ng/index.php/the-administration/presidency/president-goodluck-jonathan
4. Start to Boycott all things Nigerian – to include travel, tourism, industry, exports and imports. Call companies that conduct safaris in Nigeria expressing the danger and your anger (politely) at the support of Nigeria.
5. Call upon your employer to speak out against the Jail the Gays Bill, especially if you work for a large Hotel, Airline, Bank etc. Chain that operates in or does business with Nigeria.
6. Write a letter to President Obama, or copy him on the Letter you sent in Number 1., above. Also Copy and call your member of Congress/ Senators or your political representatives and ask if they are aware of this and what they plan to do about it? Suggest that they take note of the Asylum laws for LGBT people and that they participate in reform that will be advocated for by PCI Justice (www.pcijustice.com)
7. Call your local or national LGBT organizations (the ones that send you requests for donations) and ask them what they are doing to help protest this Bill? Ask if they would be willing to join a coalition of International LGBT groups to ensure a massive outcry and if so to write to protectlgbt@gmail.com
8. STATE DEPARTMENT: Call the U.S. State Department and ask them if they are willing to make special humanitarian considerations for Nigeria’s LGBT community? Ask them what Secretary Kerry is planning to do beyond mere words? Contact the U.S. Ambassador in Niger, James F. Entwistle, and ask what his Embassy is doing to help Nigerian gays get out of Nigeria? Tell the State Department and your member of Congress that we want Nigerian lawmakers banned from entering the U.S.A. Also I am sure that the State department will soon update their TRavel Advisory to a severe WARNING for LGBT people traveling to Nigeria.
Also note: Assistant Secretary Linda Thomas-Greenfield leads the Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, the division in the Department focused on the development and management of U.S. policy concerning the continent.
FYI – Ambassador Samantha Power Urges Nigeria Civil Society to Remain Steadfast for Democracy The United States’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations and member of President Obama’s cabinet, Ambassador Samantha Power, visited Nigeria on Wednesday, December 18, 2013. She met with President Goodluck Jonathan and other government officials, as well as civil society leaders.
9. Call your Mayors office/ City Councils / Human Rights Commissions and ask for a Proclamation to Condemn the Nigerian law and request that all City dealings exclude business with Nigeria.
10. Join LGBT Protection Coalition, Worldwide, by sending your name and email address to protectlgbt@gmail.com – you will be given updates about protests and actions;
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