Crossdressers in Nigeria will risk being jailed for six months if a new bill to prohibit crossdressing is passed.
Umar Muda, a member of the House of Representatives sponsored a bill to prohibit cross-dressing in Nigeria.
The bill, read on the floor of the House on Tuesday, April 5th, 2022, seeks to ban cross-dressing with the exemption of those using it for entertainment purposes. for example, pantomiming and comedy.
According to the bill, defaulters will face a six-month prison sentence or pay a fine of five hundred thousand naira( £700) if it is passed into law.
The bill, titled “A bill to amend the same-sex marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013 to prohibit cross-dressing,” seeks to amend the main act.
In recent times, cross-dressers have become increasingly popular in Nigeria particularly on social media platforms either as brand ambassadors or content creators. This popularity has paved the way for the immoral act in a country where same-sex relationships are illegal.
In a recent social media chat with the CVUK team, 18% out of 25% of Nigerians believe it is a subtle way of promoting “homosexuality” under the guise of cross-dressing, which is punishable by 14 years in prison if convicted by a court, and an abominable act before God.
“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination”.
This bill, which has drawn criticism from concerned Nigerians, was described as a misplaced priority and an attempt to divert public attention away from the current issues in the country.
A Twitter user @De General wrote, ” How does cross-dressing affect Nigeria’s economy? There are more pressing issues than this in Nigeria”. However, during a phone interview with Pastor Paul Umanah of Christ Faith Church Uyo, he said ” the bill is a welcome development not just to Nigerians but to the Christian faith and step towards restoring righteousness in Nigeria.
. In a separate phone interview with Evangelist Kingsley Wachijem, ” I see this bill as preventing Nigeria from becoming Sodom and Gomorrah. it is deceptive to appear as a certain gender in a country where same-sex relationships are illegal under the false pretense of dressing up for the fun of it.
It is a sin and an abominable act that should be not just be banned in Nigeria but everywhere in the world” he said.
Christians on social media also celebrated the bill, saying there could never be a better time for the proposed ban.
Akingunsoye Titilayo in a Facebook post wrote, “Yes they should ban it before it will get out of hand”.
Ashley Chidi Ekwueme also on Facebook wrote, “All of you saying is that the pressing issue aren’t serious. Yes, it is one of the pressing issues. When you’ll see in the news a gay man molesting a child you will be commenting against it which is good. Now if they don’t move bills like this how best can they effectively tackle such menace? People like Bobrisky and co are a bad influence on innocent youths. I support this firmly. Moreso in solving problems we must start with someone”.
The clerics lauded Mr. Muda for coming up with the proposal to stop such sinful act of public display of sodomy in the guise of cross-dressing and urged Christians to pray without ceasing against unrighteousness in the world.
End Homosexuality
According to a global review by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), more than half of Africa’s 54 countries outlaw same-sex relationships.
There have been social, political, legal, and religious considerations of same-sex marriage since its legalization in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, Finland, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other parts of the world.
The big question is, how can Africa maintain its anti-LGBT stance at a time when more and more countries around the world are becoming progressive on LGBT rights?
How can Africa and Christians all over the world put an end to this demonic act which Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni described as “western import and unnatural” in a 2014 interview on CNN?
Homosexuality practice is a condemnable practice that goes against God’s will for all mankind. All sexual activities outside the context of God’s word are sexual immorality and punishable.
Christians all over the world are encouraged to continue to pray against poor leadership, sodomy, and abominable laws that enable rebellion against God’s word, and for Christian Voice network, as we extend our reach to Africa. “Men ought always to pray”.
For further reading see: Isaiah 3: 9; Leviticus 18: 22 & 20:13; Deuteronomy 22: 5; Genesis 19:1-26; Ephesians 5:31; Mark 7:21; 8:36,37, 1 Corinthians 6:9; Romance 1:24-32; Luke 8:1.
MaKeDa
