Nigeria Gay Activists Speaks Out

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7937700.stm

Nigeria gay activists speak out

Gay rights activist Rashidi Williams addresses Nigeria's National Assembly. Nigerian gay rights activists have told the country's lawmakers that a new bill to outlaw same sex marriage would lead to widespread human rights abuses. The new law would mean prison sentences for gay people who live together, and anyone who "aids and abets" them.

The plea by activists was made to a public committee of the National Assembly which is discussing the bill. It is already illegal to have gay sex in Nigeria but the new law would extend police powers to arrest suspects. "This bill is not necessary, we see no reason why people should be criminalised," Rashidi Williams, 23, of the Queer Alliance of Nigeria told the committee.
"I did not choose to be gay. It is trial enough to live in this country, we should not create more laws to make us suffer," he said.

'Fabric of society'
Under the new law anyone who has "entered into a same gender marriage contract" would be liable to be jailed for three years. The bill defines a same sex marriage as gay people living together.

If you are not careful and allow the institution of the family to break down, the consequences will be on all of us Mayor Eze Nigerian National Assembly member Anyone who "witnesses, abet and aids the solemnization" of a same gender marriage would face five years in prison, or a fine.
Activists say the law does not make sense because anyone who aides and abets people to live together would face a tougher sentence than the couple concerned.

The law would make it easier for the police to arrest suspects, and criminalise anyone working in a human rights organisation that dealt with gay rights, they say.

Church groups spoke in favour of the bill, saying that gay marriage risked "tearing the fabric of society".

"In the Bible it says homosexuals are criminals," Pius Akubo of the Daughters of Sarah church told lawmakers.

Rev Patrick Alumake told the National Assembly the top leadership of the Catholic church in Nigeria supported the bill wholeheartedly.

"There are wild, weird, ways of life that are affecting our own culture very negatively, we have people who either by way of the media or travelling around the world have allowed new ideas which are harmful to our nation and our belief," he said.

The bill's sponsor, House of Representatives member Mayor Eze, said the bill was necessary to protect the family. "If you are not careful and allow the family institution to break down, and the consequences will be on all of us," he said.

'Abomination'
Children wearing T-shirts that said "Same sex marriage is un-natural and un-African", and "same sex marriage is an abomination" stood in the aisles of the committee room.
Ekaette Ettang, of the Daughters of Sarah church who provided the T-shirts, denied they were inciting hatred against homosexuals.

"We don't hate gay people, but this is the public's opinion and we have the right to speak," she said.

Activists say gay people in Nigeria face violence from their families and neighbours every day.
Two years ago, a woman went into hiding in the northern Kano State after reports that she had organised a wedding for four women - which she strongly denied.

Also that year 18 men were arrested in the northern city of Bauchi and accused of participating in a "gay wedding".

A Sharia court dismissed the charges and they were charged with the lesser offence of vagrancy.

11th March 2009, Historical Event Shaping Nigeria

9AM

Today, 11th March 2009, the Same Gender Prohibition bill 2008, will be debated by the Public, in what is tagged as the most crucial, cintroversial and popular subject in the country, in the past few weeks both national and foreign media has showed great interest in the matter and there are many reasons for that. For many years Nigerian government and leading religious community leaders have denied the existence of LGBTI people in the nation, it was more serious on the 9th February 2009 after many months of media intrution, speculations and assaults on LGBT people and organisations that the Minister of Justice, Honorable Ojo Maduekwe stood up before the UN review committee and denied any existence of LGBT people in the nation, Now LGBT people, leaders and allies have arrived at the parliament in Abuja Nigeria and at the time of posting this note are seated in the Senate committee room 028 to defend the rights of the LGBT citizens, House Of Rainbow Metropolitan Community Church also have two representatives in the Senate, following the entire process. I will keep you posted.

4PM

The debate is now over and the overstretched LGBT delegates and allies are preparing for a press conference with the Media. Many LGBT leaders, Youth and allies stood up in the Parliament to make a case for the rejection of the Same Gender Prohibition Bill 2008, I was informed by our delegates that there were No Muslim or Northerners at the Hearing which is very odd, however there were loads of Anglican Clerics, all dressed for the occasion, this is indicative and evidential of the master minds behind this bill. 80% or more of the presentation were from defenders of LGBT rights, it is believed that more papers were lodged with the Clerk of the House that were not presented today. There are rumours that the bill will pass regardless, however, there has been a dramatic shift in the outlook of the Honorables of the House in their views of the matters of Human Rights especially the Women's Affairs Ministry, who now align their consideration with the Human Right Commission.


I commend the bravery of all who attended, and ask us not to lose sight of our goals, the battle is not over yet. What happens next?, the bill will now go through due process taking into consideration all the views presented today at the hearing, it will take some time before a response is made public. Leading Activists such as Leo Igwe, Director of the Nigerian Humanist Movement and Joseph Akoro, Director of TIP, were joined by new comers to activism such as William Rashidi of Queer Alliance Nigeria, House of Rainbow Metropolitan Community Church had two representatives in attendance and the MCC statement was presented eloquently by Barrister Lazarus Aule a defense counsel from Lawyers Alert. Changing Attitude was represented by three or more delegates and their statement was presented by Mr Patrick. The Nigerian and foreign media were present throughout the hearing. Full statements in the Public hearing to the House will be posted soon, watch this space.

Rev Rowland Jide Macaulay

A Call to Prayer for Nigeria On the Same Gender Bill Debate

On Wednesday, March 11, legislators in Nigeria will again address a matter of life and death for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in that nation. On that date, the Same Gender Marriage (Prohibition) Bill 2008, introduced by the Nigerian National Assembly on January 15, 2009, will be debated and voted on.A House of Rainbow MCC member will travel to Abuja to present testimony against the bill.At issue is more than relational rights or marriage equality.

The criminalization of our love means the criminalization of our lives. If enacted, this law will drive LGBT people underground, lessen HIV prevention, separate people from their families, impact the housing, employment and public services of LGBT people - and will literally put their lives in danger.We know all too well how real that threat can be from the recent experiences of Rev. Jide Macaulay and his congregation of House of Rainbow MCC, who were driven from a Sunday worship service by an angry crowd of people who believed LGBT lives are expendable.

One woman from the MCC congregation was severely beaten by a mob of eleven. Rev. Jide has received numerous death threats.Ours is a movement of faith grounded in these convictions: God made us who we are, God's love is universal and unconditional, all human life is sacred, and all humanity must be accorded equal dignity and value and worth. All life should be protected; no life should be threatened.We call on all MCCers to join us on Sunday, March 8, in fervent prayer.

Together, let us pray for the defeat of this restrictive and life-threatening legislation in Nigeria. Pray for the courage and safety of our House of Rainbow MCC member presenting testimony. And pray for a fresh outpouring of God's Holy Spirit on the Nigerian National Assembly, that their hearts may be opened to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God.

In faith and hope,+Nancy +GlennaRev. Elder Nancy Wilson, The Rev. Elder Glenna ShepherdOffice of the MCC Moderator MCC Elder Serving Region 4

Prayer:

O God, we pray todaythat you surround your LGBT children in Nigeriain the light and love and life of Jesus the Christ.Protect each and everyone from all violence, hatred and discrimination,and the loss of things necessary for a full and flourishing life.Give to each and every one safe space.Protect our MCC representative at the National Assembly legislative hearing.And open the hearts of the Nigerian National Assembly Membersto act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with youand all your children.In the name of Jesus the Christ, we pray. Amen

Shocking Headlines Ahead of the Public Hearing In Nigeria

http://www.triumphnewspapers.com/same632009.html

There are headlines on the issues in Nigeria, see the above link

Same-sex marriage in Nigeria? Never!... MULAN, others vow

The Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN) says it plans to make a presentation at next week’s Public Hearing on the bill against same sex marriages in the country. Hassan Fajemite, Chairman, Lagos state chapter of MULAN, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos. ``We are in support of any bill that will completely enforce a ban on same sex marriages in Nigeria.

``Of course, in the penal code which operates in the Northern states and the criminal code which operates in the southern states, same-sex marriages are not allowed.``We plan to make a presentation on the issue at the Public Hearing by the House of Representatives next week in Abuja,’’ he said. Fajemite said same-sex marriages were alien to Africa, while the Islamic religion also forbids it. ``Even the African traditional religion also frowns at such a strange lifestyle.

``Same-sex marriages do not foster procreation. We wonder why anybody in his right mind will support it,’’ he said.When NAN contacted the scribe of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Pastor Wale Adefarasin, on telephone on the issue, he said: ``Whether the Christian faithful in the country will make a representation at the Public Hearing or not, our stand on the issue is clear.``We stand against same-gender marriages and the Bible is against such a lifestyle as it does not glorify God,’’ Adefarasin added.

The Federal Executive Council under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, approved a draft bill which sought to prohibit same-sex relationships and marriages in January 2006.The bill provided for a prison term of up to five years, without the option of a fine, for anyone who contracts any marriage or has a relationship with a person of the same gender.

Anyone who aids or supports same-sex marriages or relationships would also be liable under the bill.According to reports on the website of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, the then Justice Minister, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), also backed the bill, saying that ``same-sex marriages are unAfrican and are prohibited in both the Bible and the Qur’an’’.

The Homophobic Church - Interview with Rev Jide Macaulay

http://www.unitedbyone.co.uk/Publisher/Article.aspx?id=39196&page=1

“Are black churches homophobic?” Yes. When Jide answered this question during our interview he looked at me dead in the eyes. He was calm, articulate and clear in what he had to say. There was no mincing of words as he was simply speaking from his personal experience. You see, Rowland ‘Jide’ Macaulay is a Black, Nigerian, Born-again Christian who openly admits to being gay. He is also an ordained reverend; a man of the cloth. He was once rooted in the Pentecostal church but left the flock disillusioned by the exclusive nature of its congregation. Now aged 40 and living in London , Jide is comfortable accepting who, he believes, he is - an African, gay Christian; a child of God.

The subject of homosexuality is rarely addressed in churches today, even more so the topic of gay/lesbian Christians. Most ministries refuse to accept that lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) individuals can be Born-again Christians. The belief is you cannot profess to walk with Christ if you make a conscious decision to walk in ‘sin’. From many church pulpits there is constant reference to Biblical scriptures like Sodom and Gomorrah which they say illustrates the consequence of this ‘chosen lifestyle’. These sentiments are also echoed in the lyrics of some well-known Gospel songs.

Whether you agree with this or not the fact remains that LGBT communities are often condemned to ‘fire and brimstone’ damnation and ostracism. They are seen as the ultimate of all sinners – ahead of the adulterers, idolaters and gossipmongers. There have even been extreme cases of this 'non-acceptance' with arson attacks on gay-welcoming churches – one such example in Hawaii a few years ago, as reported on 365Gay.com.

The irony of the matter is that the hatred towards LGBT Christians is more likely to come from the black church which was once oppressed by the white community pre-civil rights days. Yet despite this history, the perceived bigotry from the black congregation remains and Jide’s experience is testimony to that.

“When I was growing up, there were no role models and no education about being gay,” explains Jide. “The church was the last place to raise this issue for fear of victimisation, isolation and exorcism. It is commonly said in Africa that ‘It is better to have the corpse of my child, than for me to accept that my child is gay’. Most families believe it is an abuse of traditional values and a sign of western sexual corruption and immorality. Some people even believe it’s a disability or result of occult activity.

"My father is a pastor and bible school lecturer and I was more afraid of his reaction than I was of God, which is not right. I was always aware of my sexual orientation and that I was attracted to boys and as a child I prayed to God to remove this feeling from me. It was a confusing time and I had so many questions in my mind. 'Was it a sickness? If I got married would I be healed?'" Although he grew up in a Christian household, Jide re-dedicated his life to Christ and eventually joined a London Pentecostal church. It was there that he met a woman and after years of dating got married and had a son. Jide’s commitment to God led him to do a Masters degree in theology and was later ordained as a reverend in 1998. He also produced a book called Poetry Inspired in 2001 and carried his poetic ministry across the waters. But despite having a ‘normal’ life he was battling with his sexual orientation and eventually engaged in sexual relations with a man.

“I knew I had to separate from my wife at this point which was a painful, painful experience,” says Jide. “I told her everything. But it really got bad when she told the family and when the church got to know. However the important issue was my child. My sexual orientation has nothing to do with being a good father.”

Jide explained that the ‘out of the closet’ experience was also a battle of religious beliefs and cultural identity. He still loved the Lord but didn’t know of any support systems and so he looked for help in the gay community.

“I didn’t like myself and I wanted to be a whole person,” Jide explains. “However, I found a black gay and lesbian Christian fellowship in South London which I had visited before. They introduced me to the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) and I started to go there in 2002.”

Today, Jide is a part of the ministerial clergy of MCC North London. The church, which has many branches around the world – including parts of Africa – opens its doors to marginalised groups particularly the LGBT community.

“MCC is about Christians winning souls for Christ. It's an inclusive congregation where as many mainstream churches are exclusive. I think the Pentecostal church needs to be honest and realise there is a ministry for the LGBT community. There is also a need to look at the interpretation of the Bible, moral teachings and not to be judgemental.”

Jide’s ‘openness’ suggestion has also been echoed by religious leaders (including Rev Al Sharpton) who attended the Black Church summit in Atlanta, USA, in January. Its focus was on homophobia in the black church and the summit concluded that there is a need to have an open discussion on how to deal with the matter – especially as ‘in the closet’ lesbians and gays are already in church, not just in the choir, but in leadership positions and in the pulpit.

What does the future hold? God only knows. But Jide hopes things will change even though his siblings and father still refuse to accept who he is. “The future? Well, I want to be in full-time ministry, write books, plant churches in Nigeria and reach out to other LGBT Africans. I will also continue being a father to my son and even though I’m single I would love to get married one day!”

Sources http://www.usatoday.com/
http://www.365gay.com/
http://www.mccchurch.org/

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Mentioned House Of Rainbow Nigeria in Report

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/af/119018.htm

It is with great joy that I rush this update to you, I just received information that in the annual Human Rights Report released from the US Department of State during a press conference of the Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton include discrimination against LGBT communities in Nigeria and focuses particularly on the Bauchi case and the House Of Rainbow MCC Lagos attacks.

Other Societal Abuses and Discrimination

Homosexuality is illegal under federal law; homosexual practices are punishable by prison sentences of up to 14 years. In the 12 northern states that have adopted Shari'a law, adults convicted of engaging in homosexual intercourse are subject to execution by stoning, although no such sentences were imposed during the year. Because of widespread taboos against homosexuality, very few persons were openly homosexual.

On September 12, local newspapers Nation, Vanguard, PM News and the Sunday Sun published photos, names, and addresses of members of the House of Rainbow Metropolitan Community Church, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered-friendly church in Lagos. Following publication, persons started harassing the 12 members. One woman was attacked by 11 men, while others were threatened, stoned, and beaten. No investigation was initiated by year's end.

There were repeated delays in the trial of 18 men arrested in August 2007 by Bauchi State police and charged with "addressing each other as women and dressing themselves as women," which is illegal under the Shari'a penal code. The men, all in their twenties, also were charged originally with sodomy, but the charges were later changed to "vagrancy" under the Bauchi State Islamic code. All 18 accused remained free on bail at year's end, but no developments occurred in their trial.

Until My Last Breath

(responding to an email from someone)

I am sure you appreciate the safety of being in Europe compared to the times you spend in Nigeria. In 2006 I gave up everything in England to relocate to Nigeria to start the House of Rainbow Metropolitan Community church, I focus all my strength and trust on God and I still do, however, my life was endangered by my openness and somewhat naive of the Nigerian politics.

My home was vandalised beyond recognition and looted of every valuable items and I was later informed through our private investigator that there was an order to assasinate me, it was reported that our church was "an unacceptable brand of religion" I was circulated as wanted by the authorities for questioning, it was the grace of God that I was able to leave the country with the cloths on my back. I was angry, but you cant argue with God, many people with hope for liberation suffered again and again, many people were fired from their jobs and evicted from their homes because they were homosexual and attached to our church, our pictures were smeared over the Nigeria media with a clear homophobic message and incitement to kill.

Recalling the headlines makes me angry and at the same time more determined never to stop this heroic journey of faith.I am in London not because I chose but because God needed to preserve my life and that is why I continue to be more effective using the internet as an additional tool. I am out of Nigeria to re strategise and look at new ways we can do our work effectively, the down side is that many more people will not have access to the internet and many more will like to speak to somebody, we are doing our best to develop and train people locally in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

Personally I am frustrated but I am relearning to wait on God in faith and conscience. The physical church as been transformed in to a cyber church for now, where no harm or fear can be real. The two links I sent you is part of the work to reach people, at the moment we have nearly 300 people on line with over 400 hits on a single video message, there are people from over 35 countries and thus far I have upload 20 video messages.The hypocrisy of our people and government is so bad to the point that the minister of justice stood at the UN review in Geneva and lied that there are no homosexuals in Nigeria on the 9th February 2009. He must be in dark ages, never read the papers nor listen to the news.

I am active and in contact with Nigeria and our people everyday, by phone and internet. Nigeria newspapers still run stories with my name and our church regularly. I do not intend to stop until my last breath. I am stil involved with activism in Nigeria and we are detemined that we would continue the work, we need to measure the safety of all people. What can be useful is if we all come together trust and honor God in all we do. Help our fellow brothers and sisters. We cannot blame those that are downlow, even those in government, you know they will be skinned alive if they admit to being gay, these is part of the cross they bear, but at least they can orchestrate some changes using other mechanism. I must assure you we are working with much more people who are now allies to the LGBT community than we did five years ago.

Please keep in touch

Videos @ http://www.youtube.com/HouseOfRainbow and or join the discussion forum @ http://spiritualityandsexuality.ning.com/ ,