Gays to picket Nigeria’s embassies over anti-gay law

Gays all over the world are mobilising for actions against Nigeria over the Same sex Prohibition law signed by President Goodluck Jonathan last week.
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.”

Banned in Nigeria

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.