A letter to the Nigerian ambassador to Zimbabwe

17 January 2014
The Nigerian Ambassador to Zimbabwe
Chancery Building 36 Samora Machel Ave Harare

Honourable Ambassador

Ref: Nigerian Same Sex Prohibition Bill

GALZ [Gay and Lesbian Association of Zimbabwe], an association protecting, representing and promoting the rights and interests of lesbian women, gay men, bisexual, transgender men and women and Intersex persons (LGBTI) in Zimbabwe, are extremely concerned by the recent signing into law of the same sex prohibition bill which we have reason to believe will go along way towards attenuating the extremely difficult situation in which LGBTI Nigerians find themselves in.

The Bill impinges on the fundamental rights of expression and association of Nigerian communities which are guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution. We are concerned that these fundamental rights which are regarded as inalienable and inherent are being determined by majority opinion without consideration to the negative and severe impact it has on the lives of LGBTI Nigerians and their families.

LGBTI people have suffered a history of discrimination and prejudice on the African continent and have been attacked by various governments, including the Government of Zimbabwe, for being foreign and perverted. Our own President is on record as saying that homosexuals are ‘worse than dogs and pigs’. This has encouraged a climate of hysterical homophobia in this country that has led to the majority of LGBTI people living in fear. The same could be said for Nigeria now that President Goodluck Jonathan has signed the bill into law.

The Nigerian Government’s suspicion of sexual difference has been echoed by heads of state in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia and elsewhere and the situation is becoming untenable. We share a number of common concerns with our Nigerian colleagues such as:

• State-instigated propaganda that paints LGBTI people as criminal, foreign agents, corrupters of children, Satanic and a threat to African cultures.
• Fear of eviction from home and from jobs
• Enforced marriage
• Social stigma and ridicule which often leads to incidents of
mob justice
• Marginalization by religions
• State-instigated violence against LGBTI people including the
use of outdated colonial laws to oppress lesbian and gay
people
• Blackmail by extortionists who take advantage of homophobic laws and state disapproval of homosexuals.

We ask that you encourage your Government to cease the ‘witch-hunt’ of people on account of their real or perceived sexual orientation.

We also encourage you to enter into meaningful discussions with Nigerian LGBTI groups regarding the way in which the situation facing lesbian gay, bisexual, trans and Intersex and people in Nigeria can be positively rectified.

We kindly request an immediate end to the arbitrary detentions of perceived LGBTI people in Nigeria.

We would be grateful to receive your assurances that our concerns will be noted.

Yours Sincerely
Chesterfield Samba
Director- GALZ