ABSTRACT
The chapter will examine the role of culture and religion in the criminalization of homosexuality in Nigeria and propose a middle ground where the rights of gay people can be respected. It will examine relevant provisions of Nigerian law which had criminalized homosexuality long before the introduction of the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act of 2013 and argue that these laws contradict provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and principles of fundamental human rights.
The chapter will discuss Nigeria’s history of criminalizing homosexuality, derived from the mentality that homosexuality is against African culture and debunk this assertion through sociological review of literature. A more realistic approach will be suggested in the form of short and long-term goals. The short-term goals will be to relax the country’s tough stance on homosexuality, while long-term goals will be the protection of gay rights in Nigeria, and the eventual decriminalization of homosexuality in the country.
