Nigerian leader signs anti-gay law, drawing U.S. fire

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill on Monday that criminalizes same-sex relationships, defying Western pressure over gay rights and provoking criticism from the United States.

The bill, which contains penalties of up to 14 years in prison and bans gay marriage, same-sex "amorous relationships" and membership of gay rights groups, was passed by the national assembly last May but Jonathan had delayed signing it into law.

Presidency spokesman Reuben Abati told Reuters he had now done so.

As in much of sub-Saharan Africa, anti-gay sentiment and persecution of homosexuals is rife in Nigeria, so the new legislation is likely to be popular. Jonathan is expected to seek re-election in 2015 but is under pressure after several dozen lawmakers and a handful of regional governors defected to the opposition in the past two months.

more

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/13/us-nigeria-gay-idUSBREA0C10820140113

[shenmue]

1. The hell is wrong with people?

Are we living in the Dark Ages?

[Deep13]

2. There was no deliberate and concerted effort to persecute gays...

...in the so-called dark ages. No one cared about it all that much until the 13th c., and even then enforcement was extremely unreliable. The scape-goating of homosexuals is really a modern phenomenon.

[msongs]

6. religion nt

[awoke_in_2003]

12. Yep...

US fundie groups have spread a lot of hate over there.

[KamaAina]

3. "As in much of sub-Saharan Africa, anti-gay sentiment and persecution of homosexuals is rife"

You mean like in Uganda, where the anti-gay sentiment was whipped up by U.S. fundies?

[dbackjon]

5. Yup! Boycott Nigeria

[Berlin Expat]

7. The U.S. fundies

are turning to sub-Saharan Africa because they recognize that it's becoming increasingly difficult in most of the Western world to advance and achieve their legislative ambitions.

[blkmusclmachine]

10. "The Family," the secretive Washington DC Cult, has been involved in authoring this legislation,

yes?

[KamaAina]

13. If it has, then Family member Hillary

will have to answer to that in the primaries, yes?

[EC]

4. at the very least I hope

tourism stops going to Nigeria and maybe some other pressures like we did with South Africa...boycott business that do business with them etc.

[SpankMe]

8. Nigeria's looking good for the 2024 Olympics, then? (Sarcasm, n/t)

[blkmusclmachine]

9. The US won't do SQUAT about any of these countries, except send them more taxpayer-funded aid.

The US' sternly-worded memos are for show only.

[blkmusclmachine]

11. First they came for the Ugandans, but I did notinhg.

Then they came for the Nigerians, but I did nothing.

And then they came for the Russians, but I did nothing...