WEST HOLLYWOOD—The West Hollywood City Council has passed a resolution that has denounced the Nigerian Anti-Gay Bill on Monday, December 19. The Nigerian Senate has approved an Anti-Gay Bill that restricts gender of the same sex from marrying.

Based on the bill, “same gender marriages” is defined as “The coming together of living together of husband and wife or for other purposes of same sexual relationships.”

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan. Photo courtesy of his official Facebook page

The Anti-Gay bill supposedly would punish any beings living together as couples with up to three years in prison and anyone who witnesses the same sex activity with five years in prison. According to reports, Nigeria is the third-largest population in the world that has individuals living with the AIDS disease. Nigeria currently imprisons those engaging in same sexual activity by up to 14 years.

Those who introduced the Anti-Homosexuality Bill had hopes of widening the penalty of homosexuality by introducing sentences for anyone who encourages same sex relationships. This bill is awaiting a vote in the Nigerian House of Representatives and the signature of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Since the passing of the Anti-Gay Bill, the Human Rights Watch and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission have asked both the President of Nigeria and the government to reject the bill and put an end to this hate legislation which targets the LGBT community in Nigeria.

The City of West Hollywood has a local as well as worldwide track record of involvement with human rights issues. West Hollywood has spoken out against violence against LGBT demonstrators in both Russia and Honduras. The city council has also previously passed resolutions that criticize the Malawi government for its persecution of the LGBT community as well as the Ugandan governments for roles in the death of the LGBT activist David Kato.

In a statement released by West Hollywood City Council member John Heilman, Heilman shares his frustration of this newly approved Nigerian bill. “It is important that people worldwide speak out against violations of human rights,” said Heilman. “The proposed Nigerian Anti-Gay Bill is an unacceptable step in the wrong direction and further marginalizes LGBT people in that country,” he added.

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