Suspected gay members protest Nigeria’s anti-gay bill in New York

NEW YORK, A group of suspected members of the gay community in New York on Monday protested against the recently passed bill that prohibited same-sex marriage in Nigeria.

The placard-carrying protesters, numbering some 15, made up of blacks and whites, claimed to be Nigerians as they arrived at the vicinity of the Nigeria House.

Some of the cards read: “We are not illegal; we are full citizens of Nigeria, “Stop the bill: Consensual adult love is not a crime: We are not illegal,” Some Christians are gay, get over it. Homophobia is unAfrican.”

Ifeanyi Orazulike, the Spokesperson for the group, said they had sent a protest letter to President Goodluck Jonathan on the issue.

He said that if the anti-gay bill was approved, Nigeria would place itself outside the commity of democratic nations.

Orazulike explained that the implications of the bill with its modification, would affect the long years of work in the protection and promotion of human rights.

He claimed to be the Director, International Center for Advocacy on Right to Health (ICARH).

The Consul-General of Nigeria, Mr Habib Habu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he learnt the group came around and left after a while without demanding to present their grievances to anyone.

“I learnt it’s like people making a brief stop-over for a while. If they had requested for me, I would have received them.” (NAN)