By Rotimi Fasan
A LOT of heat with little or no light has been generated by the gay rights bill before the National Assembly. The general impression if one is to go by media reports is that most Nigerians are against same sex relations to say nothing of same sex marriage.

It’s a highly emotive issue that has seen many of our law makers and religious leaders speaking and cursing without the sobriety that one might expect of people in positions of high responsibility. While the emotions generated by the matter are quite understandable, perhaps a little reflection and a readiness to listen to the other side might help everybody in arriving at a well reasoned position that is less clouded by emotions.

The difficulty lies however with what is clearly an unwarranted attempt by America to interfere in matters within the powers of the Nigerian State. The Americans have warned that they were taking close look at developments in Nigeria regarding the bill before the National Assembly which has now criminalised same sex marriage.

They’ve since gone further to make clear that they would be tying aid to how Nigeria resolves the gay rights bill. For us the matter is a simple case of bullying: an attempt to arm twist the National Assembly and by implication Nigeria into towing the American line.

I can agree no more with the rest of Nigerians that the warning (or is it threat) from America amounts to blatant interference, the sort they wouldn’t do to countries with better world standing than Nigeria. Can you imagine America saying the same thing to Britain, Russia or China?

Of course, they could call on, say, Russia or China to respect certain rights but it would be really a serious matter for them to come out as directly as they are doing to Nigeria.

Yet what the Americans are doing or saying is typical, it follows a pattern they are used to in their dealings with so-called Third World countries. They do it much too often in matters related to our economy. It is the pattern behind austerity measures the ‘developed world’ routinely imposes on their ‘developing’ counterparts.

Many of those who rant about American interference in the gay rights matter wouldn’t talk of such interference on the economic front. Even the presidency that seems ready to look America in the face could be doing so because it could sense the impression of widespread anger that has followed comments from America.

In other words, it is a political issue which in practical terms is an issue of votes. Yet, that is precisely a strong factor for America’s utterances and its readiness to beat others into lining up behind it. For long gay rights issues as well as the right to abortion and the right to carry arms have been very polarising. None of these matters could be said to have been resolved once and for all even when they’ve been dissected and apparently resolved, as in the case of abortion, by the Supreme Court.

Every other election year such matters still become issues of fierce debate. Some even go as far as taking matters into their own hands as in the case of so-called pro-life agitators, some of them highly religious people, who have in the name of God or desire to protect the unborn, had shot and killed doctors known for providing abortion for women who wanted it.

The impression might have be created by the present debate in Nigeria that the issue of gay rights and same sex marriage have been long settled in favour of this seemingly minority segment of the larger American population. This is far from the truth.

Yes, the society recognises the right of gays who openly hold pride parades. But truth is that it takes long for many to come out of the closet, in a manner of speaking- in other words, they remain gays and only declare their sexual status but only when it’s no longer convenient to keep it under.

Many find it difficult to tell their families about their status while others simply cannot face the obloquy of their neighbours. It is part of the unresolved and ambivalent aspect of the gay matter in America that they remain highly contentious in national institutions such as the military.

A military commander once lost his position for making uncomplimentary remarks about President Bill Clinton on his favourable disposition to gays in the military.

The point I’m making is that in America itself, gays are yet to gain the full respect and recognition of their compatriots even when their rights are constitutionally guaranteed. It explains why politicians think twice before taking any position that would seem to be endorsing gays.

When put on the spot some simply run for it- literally- as did Christine O’Donnell on the Piers Morgan show last August. Thus ,the question of gays getting married shouldn’t be the next thing in Nigeria where they’re yet to be recognised in public.

Whereas the matter of gays is far from resolved in America, it seems an insult that these same Americans, through their government, are trying to push down the bitter pill down the throats of Nigerians. Nigerians are right to reject this move.

But beyond standing up to America is the need for a more sober contemplation of the matter. Human history is full of instances when the majority have imposed their will on the minority-time was when men believed women are naturally inferior to men and should as a consequence be treated less than men. Many women would argue that is still the case today.

The enslavement of the black population of Africa was justified on grounds of ‘natural justice’. The killing of twins and the inquisition were justified by the majority who controlled things in those days. Yet all these issues have, today, been resolved in favour of the minority.

For all I know, same sex relations may be a disease not just an aberrant behaviour as most of those opposed to it have argued. But taking time to find what makes some disposed to it might be the first step toward finding a cure for it.

Are some people naturally disposed to gay relations as the vast majority of humanity is disposed to heterosexual relations? What, if anything, makes some favour sex with the opposite sex while others want it with people of their sex?

Can science explain this, if not how can we know that those who claim that theyare naturally gay are not right? And should such people have a right to adopt babies knowing that their ‘natural’ sexual disposition does not allow for it? Its questions like these we must seek to find answers to before we can foreclose discussion.