President Jonathan Signs Bill Banning Same Sex Marriage

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has
approved a bill banning gay marriage and same-sex
partnerships that sparked international
condemnation, his spokesman said on Monday.
Quoting Reuben Abati (President Goodluck
Jonathan’s spokesman )

Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesman Reuben Abati told
AFP, without specifying a date but adding that it
happened earlier this month.
Abati said Jonathan signed off on the Same Sex
Marriage (Prohibition) Bill 2013 because it was
consistent with the attitudes of most people
towards homosexuality in the west African nation.

Quoting Reuben Abati (President Goodluck
Jonathan’s spokesman )
“More than 90 percent of Nigerians are opposed to
same sex marriage. So, the law is in line with our
cultural and religious beliefs as a people,” ~ Abati

Amnesty International urged Jonathan to reject
the bill, calling it “discriminatory” and warning of
“catastrophic” consequences for Nigeria’s lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Under the terms of the law, anyone who enters into
a same-sex marriage or civil union can be
sentenced to 14 years in prison while any such
partnerships entered into abroad are deemed
“void”.

It also warns that anyone who registers, operates
or participates in gay clubs, societies and
organisations or who directly or indirectly makes a
public show of a same-sex relationship will break
the law.

Nigeria is a highly religious society, with its 170
million people roughly divided in half between
Christians and Muslims, though a significant number
are also believed to follow regional religions.

The anti-gay law follows similar legislation in
Uganda that was condemned by the US president,
Barack Obama, as “odious”. South Africa’s
Archbishop Desmond Tutu compared it to apartheid.