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I never knew there was a large community of GBLTQ in Nigeria until 2days ago. A friend of mine had attended gays monthly party in a club, where the whole community of Gay people come together to celebrate themselves, dance, share and just do fun stuff together. Some lesbians attended too.
She told me she was amazed to see guys who were more in sync with their feminine touch even more than some naturally born girls, how they danced, their charisma and of course their dressing. She was totally blown away by the number of GBLTQ’s who were there and the caliber of people that attended as well. At the meeting; they also had a talk on HIV and how they need to protect themselves and a representative from an international agency giving the talk told them how it is that they are not accepted in the society and how they need to protect themselves sexually by using condoms and also making sure they know their HIV status…”
Presently in Nigeria, Homosexuality is a criminal offence punishable by 14years in prison and unfortunately, no culture supports homosexuality too. I am only imagining what it feels like, for the GBLTQ’s in Nigeria to live in isolation and denial because of fear of what the society might do to them. They look and dress differently during the day and they transform at night. I know it is something other GBLTQ’s in other part of the world are facing too but to me the fight for them to have their Rights, Respect and Responsibility is a great one.
So far, in Nigeria, policies that support the needs of GBLTQ’s do not exist. To be sincere, I never thought GBLTQ would be able to build so much momentum as they have now, they even have a club, they have been able to build a community and there are even some top government officials among them but I just have fears of what the future holds for them
Nothing in Nigeria gives room for GBLTQ’s; not in the educational system, health system, political system… I cannot imagine a 13 year-old coming out in his school; that child might just be expelled from school. Actually, a friend of mine who is 20 years old was suspended from school because of lesbianism. Nigerians are still very in touch with their cultural roots and that I think is one the greatest challenge GBLTQ has.
