Senate’s stand on same-s*x marriage commended

THE Senate has been commended for its hard stance on same s*x marriage in Nigeria with its recent passage of a bill prescribing 14 years jail term for anyone caught engaging in the act, even as the increasing acts of immorality in the country had been condemned in the strongest terms.

The chairman, Council of Ulama of the Jama’atu Izala Til Bidia wa Ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, gave the commendation, on Sunday, at the IBB Square, Bauchi, at its national preaching and launching of N251, 500,000 appeal fund, saying that the rising immoralities in the country ought to be of concern to everyone.

While commending the media for its accurate reportage of events in the country, Sheikh Jingir noted that despite preaching by men of God from varying religious groups, crimes, including cultism, kidnappings, ethno-religious crises, unjust killings by members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, among others, continued unabated in the country.

He added that the insecurity in the country was a serious issue that needed to be tackled once and for all for the benefit of all, adding that the prediction by Western countries that Nigeria would break up by 2015 had been one of the causes of the series of problems confronting the country currently.

The cleric, therefore, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to do everything possible to tackle the current security challenges in the country. He also implored the Federal Government to amicably dialogue with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) with a view to settling the ongoing impasse between them. , which had necessitated the current strike embarked upon by the lecturers since late last year.

According to Sheikh Jingir, this was the only way to allow millions of Nigerian university students to go back to school and resume with their studies. While calling on the Nigerian youths to be self-reliant, Sheikh Jingir called on the Federal Government to invest in agriculture and health in order to provide more jobs for the people as well as provide them with good healthcare delivery services.

He then called on the legislative arm of government in Nigeria to shun and avoid any laws that were against the culture and traditions of the various people of Nigeria. Meanwhile, a total of N50 million was realised at the lauching of the appeal fund, which JIBWIS said was meant for providing some facilities, including construction of two schools in Kogi and Benue states as well as completion of a Quranic school in Plateau State, among others.

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Anti-Gay Bill: Obama Dares Nigerian Senate, Issues Presidential Memo

Just a week after the Nigerian Senate passed the anti-gay s*x bill, US president Barrack Obama issued a presidential memorandum directing 'all federal agencies engaged abroad to ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons.

The full text of Obama's Memo, which was released yesterday Dec 6, from the Office of the White House Press Secretary, when you continue....

Half the time I don't understand homos*xuality, how anyone can be attracted to the same s*x amazes me...but that doesn't give me the right to wish them death or imprisonment. I like to talk about this here 'cos a lot of you seem extremely passionate about the topic...all the comments! So continue to read and let's know what you think of Obama's memo...

“FACT SHEET: Working to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bis*xual, and Transgender (LGBT) Persons Globally.

“The struggle to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bis*xual, and transgender persons is a global challenge, and one that is central to the United States’ commitment to promoting human rights.”

--President Obama, December 6, 2011

Since taking office, President Obama has demonstrated that his vision for a brighter future includes greater equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bis*xual and Transgender (LGBT) Americans. The President and this Administration are dedicated to eliminating barriers to equality, fighting discrimination based on s*xual orientation and gender identity, and engaging LGBT communities across the country.

The Administration’s dedication to LGBT rights does not stop at our borders, as the President made clear at the United Nations in September of this year when he said: “no country should deny people their rights because of who they love, which is why we must stand up for the rights of gays and lesbians everywhere.”

Today, President Obama issued a Presidential memorandum that directs all federal agencies engaged abroad to ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons. Under the Obama Administration, agencies have already begun taking action to promote the fundamental human rights of LGBT persons everywhere. And now, following an interagency process coordinated by the National Security Staff, this memorandum directs the first-ever U.S. government strategy dedicated to combating human rights abuses against LGBT persons abroad.

Today’s memorandum applies to the Departments of State, the Treasury, Defense, Justice, Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Export-Import Bank, the United States Trade Representative, and such other agencies as the President may designate.

The memorandum directs agencies to:

*Combat the criminalization of LGBT status or conduct abroad.

*Protect vulnerable LGBT refugees and asylum seekers.

*Leverage foreign assistance to protect human rights and advance nondiscrimination.

*Ensure swift and meaningful U.S. responses to human rights abuses of LGBT persons abroad.

*Engage International Organizations in the fight against LGBT discrimination.

Report on progress.

Even before today’s memo, U.S. agencies have been working to protect and promote the rights of LBGT persons around the world. Since January 2009, Secretary Clinton has directed the Department of State to champion a comprehensive human rights agenda—one that includes the protection of LGBT people.

Around the world, the State Department is:

*Engaging bilaterally and regionally in conjunction with U.S. embassies, civil society, and multilateral agencies to encourage countries to repeal or reform laws that criminalize LGBT conduct or status.

*Reinforcing the human rights of LGBT people in multilateral fora, such as the UN Human Rights Council. In June 2011, the United States joined South Africa and a cross-regional group of co-sponsors in passing the first-ever UN Human Rights Council resolution on the human rights of LGBT persons.

*Promoting human rights worldwide. U.S. embassies are declaring the United States’ support for the human rights of LGBT people through innovative public diplomacy. Ambassadors and embassies have hosted public discussions and private roundtables, published op-eds and supported Pride events.

*Supporting LGBT human rights defenders and civil society groups, with programmatic and financial assistance, including efforts to document human rights violations; build advocacy skills; provide advocates with legal representation; and, when necessary, relocation support.

*Reporting on the conditions of human rights of LGBT people in each of its annual, country-specific Human Rights Reports.

*Strengthening the Department’s personnel and consular policies. The Secretary extended the range of legally available benefits and allowances to same-s8x domestic partners of foreign service staff serving abroad. The United States also incorporated gender identity into federal equal employment opportunity policies in 2010.

*Protecting LGBT refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants through a protection strategy developed with other U.S. Government agencies, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and NGOs.”

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Britain Threatens Nigeria To Reverse Gay Marriage Law Or Face Sanction

THE Federal Government on Thursday disagreed with the British Government over the recently passed same-s*x marriage bill

as the Senate president, David Mark insisted that the law is irrevocable in spite of the threat by the foreign nations to withdraw assistance to Nigeria on account of that law.

While the British Government said that Nigerian government should rescind its decision to punish individuals who engage in same s8x marriage with 14 years imprisonment, the Federal Government said that the foreign mission should hold whatever assistance or aid to Nigeria tied to such gifts with ulterior motive.

The British Prime Minister, Mr David Camevon, said that Britain would not give any assistance or aid to countries that were opposed to same s*x marriage.

The British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Andrew Lyod, who held a closed door meeting with the Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, asked the Nigerian government to rescind its decision on punishing individuals involved in same s*x marriage, adding that such a law infringes on the fundamental rights of choice and association.

This is just as the Canadian government has also condemned the passage of a bill criminalising same-s8x marriage and gay activities in Nigeria by the Senate, saying that the bill, if assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan, would trample upon the fundamental human rights of homos*xuals and gay people.

The Canadian government, in a statement by its Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird, on Thursday, called on Nigeria to reverse the bill so as to allow all its citizens to enjoy basic rights.

The Canadian government said: “Canada calls on Nigeria to immediately ensure that all its citizens enjoy basic rights. A bill passed by Nigeria’s Senate would, if ratified, disregard basic human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

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