What States are watching gay porn in Nigeria? Let us act like they do not exist.
Homosexuality is still a crime in 72 countries, around the world In Nigeria. LGBT rights are not recognised. according to the ILGA-RIWI Global Attitudes Survey on LGBTI People (pdf), Nigeria is described as the most homophobic country on earth and ranked as the most dangerous place for LGBTQ+ travellers.
There is no legal protection against discrimination in Nigeria. Nigeria is a very conservative country, split between a mainly Muslim north and largely Christian south. Very few LGBT persons are open about their orientation, as violence against LGBT people is frequent.
Federal law prohibits all forms of Homosexual activities and prescribes up to 14 years imprisonment for those found culpable and a 10-year jail term for Nigerians who belong to a gay organisation.
In Northern Nigeria, the Maliki form of Shari’a law applied in 12 states have a lesser penalty for unmarried persons, It prescribes the death penalty for married individuals. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Nigeria. The maximum punishment in the twelve northern states that have adopted Shari’a law is death by stoning but this isn’t stopping homosexual Nigerians from exploring their sexuality, in recent research we did, with certain descriptors, Nigerians are watching gay porn.
With the descriptor Gay porn’ ‘Nigeria is number 29 in the highest countries with the world search and number 24 with the term ‘gay sex’. With the descriptor ‘man fucking man’ Nigeria comes in 13th place. With the descriptor ‘lesbian sex’ Nigeria comes in as 3rd and as number 4 with the descriptor ‘gay sex pics, number 7 for ‘black gay sex’
and number 2 for ‘man having sex with man’
Are Nigerians getting off privately on what they are condemning publicly?
State Ranking (descriptor- gay sex)
1. Bauchi
2. Edo
3. Anambra
4. Abia
5. Imo
State Ranking (descriptor– lesbian sex)
1. Bauchi
2. Kano
3. Imo
4. Enugu
5. Anambra
The truth is Nigeria has progressed a lot. “The fact is 10 years ago we couldn’t be having this conversation. But today we have LGBT organisations that are visible en masse, we’re able to hold public events and we can do community engagement.” Olumide Makanjuola.
To act like queer men and women do not exist in the country is to live in utmost denial because they are our friends, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, fathers and mothers. In this month of June, we celebrate the impact they have in our world as we continue to seek for a more loving and better society for queer people in the country. Happy Pride Month!
[…] Predictably, the queer community often fall victim to the terror of SARS. Gay men who are perceived as “feminine”, masculine and trans people are disproportionately targeted. This is a reflection of the Nigerian society which remains largely homophobic. […]