By Kate Henshaw
Comments are moderated. Please keep them clean and brief.
The only constant thing in life is change, but whether it is good or bad, whether we choose to embrace or reject it is the question. With the passage of time, we have seen changes in the world around us that we never thought would happen.
A female president in Liberia, a female Prime Minister, a man “pregnant” with twins, a man with mammary glands(this will apply to those undergoing sex change), etc.
We raise our brows, frown, condemn and reject those that do not conform to the status quo or to the confines of our imagination of right and wrong within the environment we live in. Change is inevitable for the advancement of a society and liberation of its people but who determines that which is right or wrong?
Gone are the days when being gay meant to be happy. For most of its life in English, the word’s primary meaning was joyful, carefree, bright and showy, happily excited, merry, keenly alive, bright, lively and exuberant to mention a few.
Today, to be gay means you are a homosexual man and for a woman, the specific term is lesbian. Change even the dictionary and Google accepts. In a world where there is a proliferation of beliefs, traditions and culture especially with regards to our country, Nigeria, do we have the willingness to accept the change?
By no means am I holding brief for lesbians and gay people whom in my opinion are involved in a practice I do not know anything about or support. I am a Christian and my Bible tells me that I am perverted if I indulge in same and that it is a detestable act.
The Qur’an also abhors the practice and describes it as evil. My question is what about under aged marriages that are conducted till today in some of our communities? What about one of our law makers who dared his fellows and purchased for himself a little bride for his pleasure, female genital mutilation, the incessant and continuous rape and killings of young women in our higher institutions, in relationships and marriages, paedophiles, the crooks and looters in government, do these evils not deserve the same zeal and speed with which the law against same sex marriages was passed warranting very stiff penalties, even death, to dissuade perpetrators?
Do Christianity and the Islam not condemn these too? The question of who has the moral justification to deem one sin greater than the other then comes into play. Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.
Now family and friends of gay people are also punished for supporting their loved ones as Sub-section 3 of the Same-sex marriage (Prohibition bill) says “any person or group of persons that witness, abet and aids the solemnisation of a same sex marriage or civil union or supports the registration, operation and sustenance of gay clubs, societies, organisation, processions and meetings in Nigeria commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment”.
Having the guts to call the bluff and stand up to our former colonialist is quite admirable and shows that we have grown a pair ‘balls’ to defend our sovereignty. Whether they choose to withdraw financial assistance or not does not frighten us as this was the intention so that we tow the line.
We are trying to cure the cancer in us before it takes over the whole body. We are also taking a sweeping variety of drugs in the hopes that every trace of the cancer will be eradicated but in the process killing other healthy organs in the body.
Someone argued, “why not simply NOT recognise same-sex relationship or marriage as valid?” “Why not state that marriage is the union of a biological man and woman and that any other union would not be deemed valid?” A case of throwing out the baby with the bath water can be avoided. Now there will be Nigerians running over to the other side, seeking asylum, claiming victimisation and the denial of their fundamental human rights, whether true or false.
As if we did not have enough on our plate. We want our professionals in diaspora to return home and be a part of the change in our society not provide them with a hostile environment should they choose to. We want to try and understand their point of view in choosing a sexual preference and see if we can bring them round to our way of reasoning.
I believe the natural order of life, and procreation is a man and woman coming together to multiply and replenish the earth. If same sex unions produce children for the procreation of mankind, I am yet to witness such.
Same-sex marriage is not a problem that keeps the average Nigerian thinking of ways to better his/her lot, wondering where the next meal would come from and what the future portends for their children, it is not top of the list on the scale of preference. Security of lives and property, Strikes in our Universities, Electricity, Good roads, Eradication of corruption, Health, Social security guarantee and qualitative education are.
Whatever path we choose to follow, whatever we do because of religion or the lack of it will speak for us when we shuffle off this mortal coil. We who believe shall render account. Not everyone who calls upon the Lord in public like the Pharisees is righteous for our righteousness is as filthy rags before Him.
A female president in Liberia, a female Prime Minister, a man “pregnant” with twins, a man with mammary glands(this will apply to those undergoing sex change), etc.
We raise our brows, frown, condemn and reject those that do not conform to the status quo or to the confines of our imagination of right and wrong within the environment we live in. Change is inevitable for the advancement of a society and liberation of its people but who determines that which is right or wrong?
Gone are the days when being gay meant to be happy. For most of its life in English, the word’s primary meaning was joyful, carefree, bright and showy, happily excited, merry, keenly alive, bright, lively and exuberant to mention a few.
Today, to be gay means you are a homosexual man and for a woman, the specific term is lesbian. Change even the dictionary and Google accepts. In a world where there is a proliferation of beliefs, traditions and culture especially with regards to our country, Nigeria, do we have the willingness to accept the change?
By no means am I holding brief for lesbians and gay people whom in my opinion are involved in a practice I do not know anything about or support. I am a Christian and my Bible tells me that I am perverted if I indulge in same and that it is a detestable act.
The Qur’an also abhors the practice and describes it as evil. My question is what about under aged marriages that are conducted till today in some of our communities? What about one of our law makers who dared his fellows and purchased for himself a little bride for his pleasure, female genital mutilation, the incessant and continuous rape and killings of young women in our higher institutions, in relationships and marriages, paedophiles, the crooks and looters in government, do these evils not deserve the same zeal and speed with which the law against same sex marriages was passed warranting very stiff penalties, even death, to dissuade perpetrators?
Do Christianity and the Islam not condemn these too? The question of who has the moral justification to deem one sin greater than the other then comes into play. Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.
Now family and friends of gay people are also punished for supporting their loved ones as Sub-section 3 of the Same-sex marriage (Prohibition bill) says “any person or group of persons that witness, abet and aids the solemnisation of a same sex marriage or civil union or supports the registration, operation and sustenance of gay clubs, societies, organisation, processions and meetings in Nigeria commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment”.
Having the guts to call the bluff and stand up to our former colonialist is quite admirable and shows that we have grown a pair ‘balls’ to defend our sovereignty. Whether they choose to withdraw financial assistance or not does not frighten us as this was the intention so that we tow the line.
We are trying to cure the cancer in us before it takes over the whole body. We are also taking a sweeping variety of drugs in the hopes that every trace of the cancer will be eradicated but in the process killing other healthy organs in the body.
Someone argued, “why not simply NOT recognise same-sex relationship or marriage as valid?” “Why not state that marriage is the union of a biological man and woman and that any other union would not be deemed valid?” A case of throwing out the baby with the bath water can be avoided. Now there will be Nigerians running over to the other side, seeking asylum, claiming victimisation and the denial of their fundamental human rights, whether true or false.
As if we did not have enough on our plate. We want our professionals in diaspora to return home and be a part of the change in our society not provide them with a hostile environment should they choose to. We want to try and understand their point of view in choosing a sexual preference and see if we can bring them round to our way of reasoning.
I believe the natural order of life, and procreation is a man and woman coming together to multiply and replenish the earth. If same sex unions produce children for the procreation of mankind, I am yet to witness such.
Same-sex marriage is not a problem that keeps the average Nigerian thinking of ways to better his/her lot, wondering where the next meal would come from and what the future portends for their children, it is not top of the list on the scale of preference. Security of lives and property, Strikes in our Universities, Electricity, Good roads, Eradication of corruption, Health, Social security guarantee and qualitative education are.
Whatever path we choose to follow, whatever we do because of religion or the lack of it will speak for us when we shuffle off this mortal coil. We who believe shall render account. Not everyone who calls upon the Lord in public like the Pharisees is righteous for our righteousness is as filthy rags before Him.
Comments are moderated. Please keep them clean and brief.
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