Nigeria: Nigerians out on bail for 'indecent dressing'

On 13 September it was announced that 18 cross dressers in the Bauchi state in Nigeria were granted bail, after been charged with indecent dressing and vagrancy. The news spread internationally after their arrest more than two weeks ago and renewed concerns of prejudice, trans- and homophobia.

Aged between the ages of 18 and 21, the men were initially accused of sodomy but were later changed to “indecent dressing” or cross-dressing and “vagrancy”. According to the Islamic Sharia legal system they were contravening Article 372 section 2(E) of the Bauchi State Islamic code which prohibits cross-dressing and the practice of sodomy.

"Any (male) person who dresses in the fashion of a woman in a public place will be liable to a term of one year or 30 lashes" a spokesman for the local Sharia police, Muhamad Bununu, told AFP news agency.

In the proposed bill everyone who undergoes, performs or witness same-sex unions will be sentenced to five years imprisonment. Although the bill is yet to be approved, police and people in Nigeria act in ways as if it is already in place. The arrest of these 18 people was made in support of the pending same-sex marriage bill.