City of West Hollywood Adopts Resolution Denouncing Nigerian Anti-Gay Bill

The following is an announcement from the City of West Hollywood:

The West Hollywood City Council passed a resolution denouncing the Nigerian Anti-Gay Bill at its regularly scheduled Council meeting Monday.

The Nigerian Senate recently approved the Anti-Gay Bill that would prohibit marriage between persons of the same gender. The bill defines “same gender marriage” as “the coming together of persons of the same sex with the purpose of living together of husband and wife or for other purposes of same sexual relationships.” 

The bill would punish people who live together as a couple with up to three years in prison, as well as anyone who “witnesses, abet[s] and aids" same sex relationships with the threat of imprisonment for up to five years.

“It is important that people worldwide speak out against violations of human rights,” said West Hollywood Councilman John Heilman. “The proposed Nigerian Anti-Gay Bill is an unacceptable step in the wrong direction and further marginalizes LGBT people in that country."

Nigeria has the world’s third-largest population of people living with AIDS. The bill would further hinder HIV/AIDS education and prevention efforts by forcing those who are infected through same sex sexual activity to live a life of silence and shame. Nigeria already punishes same sex sexual activity by incarceration in prison for up to 14 years.

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which is awaiting a vote in the Nigerian House of Representatives and ultimately President Goodluck Jonathan’s signature, seeks to broaden the criminalization of homosexuality by introducing sentences for those who are suspected of being in same sex relationships regardless of whether they engage in any sexual activity. The bill also punishes those who encourage same sex relationships.

This bill underscores the struggles against discrimination, harassment, and intimidation faced by Nigeria’s LGBT community. Human Rights Watch and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission have called on the President of Nigeria and its Government to reject this bill and stop the ongoing hate legislation focused directly at the LGBT community in Nigeria.

Support of this resolution is consistent with the City of West Hollywood’s on-going commitment to support human rights domestically and internationally. Previously, the City has condemned violence against LGBT demonstrators in Russia and violence against the LGBT community in Honduras. 

The City has also passed resolutions criticizing the Malawi government for their persecution of the LGBT community and the Ugandan government for the death of LGBT activist David Kato.