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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSuspected Gay Men Forced To March Naked Through Nigeria's Capital Before Being Beaten By Police And
Two Violent Mobs
The situation in Nigeria for its gay citizens continues to deteriorate. In early February, shortly after the African nation officially criminalized homosexuality, a suspected gay couple was forced to have sex in front of an angry mob. But late last week and over the weekend the violent mob rule intensified.
In Abuja, Nigeria's capital, a mob of more than 50 people forced 14 suspected gay men to march through the streets naked last week. Once in the Gishiri neighborhood, the mob beat the men with nail-studded clubs, whips, iron bars and anything else that could be weaponized. Police joined the mob in beating the men, with one man nearly dying from the injuries he sustained.
"They all had weapons," one witness said. "Some were having wires, whips. Some had broken furniture. They said they wanted to kill. They were moving around from one person's house to another."
Following the attack, the mob wrote "Homosexuals, pack and leave" on the homes of the men they assaulted.
http://instinctmagazine.com/post/suspected-gay-men-forced-march-naked-through-nigerias-capital-being-beaten-police-and-two
MADem
(135,425 posts)William769
(55,148 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)People are emboldened that Russia could get away with acting like (pardon my French) fucking bigots in front of the ENTIRE world, with insufficient pushback.
And they have a world stage right now.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)atreides1
(16,100 posts)American Evangelical "Christians" like Scott Lively...imported their hatred of the Gay community to places like Nigeria and Uganda.
William769
(55,148 posts)They are the highest rated group over there.
But then again yes it is Russia, they have the biggest bully pulpit right now (the Olympics) also with them being on the world stage to begin with they are the biggest culprit.
Spin it anyway you like, those are the facts.
former9thward
(32,111 posts)If anything it a legacy of the British.
Most of sub-Saharan Africa that were under British colonial rule have laws that criminalize homosexuality. And we need to kind of understand the history of this. And the reality is it's a curious consequence of British colonial rule, that the British left a legacy of these laws that criminalize gay sex. It was an obsession of the British in the 19th century to criminalize gay sex. You have this extraordinary statistic that out of 53 commonwealth countries that there are, 42 of those countries criminalize homosexuality. And that just gives you a sense of the extent to which this is a British colonial legacy.
http://www.npr.org/2014/01/18/263651508/nigeria-passes-harsh-anti-gay-law
It has nothing to do with Russia.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
MADem
(135,425 posts)Timing is everything, too.
The International Olympic Committee has pooh-poohed any discussion of "politics" at the Olympics....but they confuse "politics" with "human rights," that's the bottom line.
That kind of thing creates what is perceived as a "safe" environment for Uganda and Nigeria to act like bigoted assholes.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)http://blogs.cfr.org/campbell/2014/01/15/nigerians-circle-the-wagons-against-west-on-anti-gay-law/
In the face of criticism of Secretary of State John Kerry and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, some Nigerians are using the anti-gay legislation as a push back against alleged western cultural imperialism As a Roman Catholic spokesman said, opposition from the American government should be no surprise because the West which had done everything to sell their cultures to Africa will stop at nothing to want to impose such beliefs on the African continent which is always going to the West for financial aids and loans. Indeed, many Nigerians see the anti-gay legislation as a reaffirmation of core Africanand Nigerianvalues.
And back in early 2012, Nigeria was already acknowledged as one of the worst nations for the abuse of the LGBT community...
http://www.lgbt-ep.eu/press-releases/european-parliament-calls-on-nigeria-to-stop-persecuting-lgbt-people/
Michael Cashman MEP, Co-president of the European Parliaments Intergroup on LGBT Rights, commented: Nigeria is already among the worlds top oppressors of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Why such a law now? Nigeria needs to follow the example of countries like Rwanda, Kenya or South Africa, which prove African nations dont need to persecute the vulnerable in order to strive.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)done because the US sees profits from it, eventually. IMO ALL US foreign aid should be cut off to these countries.
cali
(114,904 posts)Luminous Animal
(27,310 posts)in this utterly saddening hatefest. The U.S. evangelical community is, by far, more culpable in this than Russia.
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)All religious hate from the two religions of hatred
shenmue
(38,506 posts)This is a crime against humanity.
LuvNewcastle
(16,862 posts)Can anyone from the UN step in and mediate this crisis? It's out of hand all over Africa and Asia, but these latest examples from different African countries are particularly horrific. I really wish I could do something.
bluestateguy
(44,173 posts)I'm sure that will put all this to a stop right quick: a bunch of French and Belgian security guards wearing UN helmets riding around Nigeria in UN golf carts.
Please.
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)Shades of Nazi Germany.
atreides1
(16,100 posts)The wet dreams of the American Right Wing Evangelical Christians...they can't have this kind of thing here in the US so they've exported their hate to several countries in Africa.
But, in time it'll begin to happen here as well...
William769
(55,148 posts)louslobbs
(3,238 posts)force us back into the closet? NEVER AGAIN!
Lou
sufrommich
(22,871 posts)over my (and millions of others) dead body.
LuvNewcastle
(16,862 posts)If that ever happens, I'll get out of this piece really fast.
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)They try pulling that barbaric shit here and there'll be riots, and I'll be there.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)what it takes to preserve decency on this spinning ball of dirt. I'm really fed up with fuckers like this! The hell with the christian Taliban! For them, this is a very proud day!
Sissyk
(12,665 posts)That WILL NOT HAPPEN here.
JoeyT
(6,785 posts)The bigots are getting louder and stupider and more hateful because they feel their grip slipping away. The kids growing up now? They support LGBT rights in higher numbers than the generation before them, who support it in higher numbers than the one before them, and so on.
It would take a massive...and I do mean a massive shift for them to manage that.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)General Electric
Chevron
Mobil
Microsoft
Apple
Intel
Coca Cola
Procter and Gamble
TDale313
(7,820 posts)LuvNewcastle
(16,862 posts)RKP5637
(67,112 posts)TDale313
(7,820 posts)Just horrific.
Luminous Animal
(27,310 posts)TBF
(32,116 posts)with horror as people I know cheer on the Olympics. I have warm feelings for the skier who is bringing back the stray puppies, but I still won't watch him in these games. To watch is to give the country viewers and I refuse to do that with their current human and animal abuses. Putin is a monster.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)MadrasT
(7,237 posts)The amount of irrational hate in the world makes me feel very...
...very...
...sad.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)often incredible reading the comments on various news websites, just unbelievable. Each day I wonder, WTF next. My question is, why do we still give money to Ugunda. Apparently, as some people have said, it's an investment by the US looking for payback in profits of some sort. If so, that further confirms my feeling that often it's $$$$$ first, humanity last.
JI7
(89,281 posts)or are we just hearing about it more ?
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Nigerian Catholics to stop this injustice.
William769
(55,148 posts)theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)... in both countries and Cameroon as well, where there has been widespread anti-gay violence.
MissB
(15,812 posts)Things aren't perfect here, but I'm grateful to be an American.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)louslobbs
(3,238 posts)lots of places with more hatred and bigotry than there is in America. Why not just go where you feel more at home and where the bigotry is legal? They might have a problem with the skin color of most of the people, but I'm sure that in time that too could be morally legislated.
Lou
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)maiming people for no F'en reason.
louslobbs
(3,238 posts)Lou
bluestateguy
(44,173 posts)I can tell you that these thugs will have to answer before a very angry God someday.
They have no right to claim to be followers of Jesus.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)heard anything like these cretins say today. Our church was about love, kindness and acceptance. I retained all of the good things I learned although I am really not a religious person.
I was taught the devil often works in disguise. To me, these individuals are cretins from hell, disciples from hell. They do not practice Christian religion, but rather they use religion as a cover, a mask, a tool so as to practice their cults of hatred and persecution.
I have news for them, when the judgment day comes, they will not be judged well and rather than the gates of heaven, they will enter the gates of hell.
one_voice
(20,043 posts)K&R
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)friendly to just about anyone, but now I've become more guarded and cynical, and just fed up with so many people. I just think the asshole count in the world has gone up drastically in my lifetime. Anyone tells me they're republican, I'm immediately cautious, same for those that wear a badge of religion on their arm.
TheMathieu
(456 posts)We need to start providing asylum for LGBT persons.
LuvNewcastle
(16,862 posts)More gay kids are growing up every day over there.
countryjake
(8,554 posts)and recommending with the hope that it might actually be seen amongst all the other crap that seems to have taken over this forum.
LuvNewcastle
(16,862 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)this is the beginning of genocide. (And by the way, this is the problem with Russian laws too)
And some of our RWNJ wish they could do this.
William769
(55,148 posts)RKP5637
(67,112 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)bluestateguy
(44,173 posts)No, I will not respect homophobia, abusing women and religious hate just because it is their "culture".
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)but nice hippie punching there pal.
certainot
(9,090 posts)an anti gay hate journalist i heard on nicole sandler subbing randi rhodes says he heard the russian bigots with talking points, in english, right off the US rw blogs -i'll bet it's similar in nigeria/africa- rw radio and 'christian' blogs
Laelth
(32,017 posts)And it's horrifying. If you have the time and can find the source, I'd love to see this observation as a stand-alone OP.
-Laelth
Oilwellian
(12,647 posts)For two days in early March 2009, Ugandans flocked to the Kampala Triangle Hotel for the Family Life Network's "Seminar on Exposing the Homosexuals' Agenda." The seminar's very title revealed its claim: LGBT people and activists are engaged in a well thought-out plan to take over the world. The U.S. culture wars had come to Africa with a vengeance.
To put on the conference, the Uganda-based Family Life Network led by Stephen Langa with the goal of "restoring" traditional family values and morals in Uganda teamed with two U.S. hatemongers from the Christian Right, Holocaust revisionist Scott Lively and Dan Schmierer of the ex-gay group Exodus International.[1] Vocal opposition in international circles did not stop the country's high profile religious leaders, parliamentarians, police officers, teachers, and concerned parents from attending. Indeed, parliamentary action to wage war on gays was on the conference agenda. It was not enough that homosexuality is illegal in Uganda. As someone stated from the podium,
[The parliament] feels it is necessary to draft a new law that deals comprehensively with the issue of homosexuality and takes into account the international gay agenda .Right now there is a proposal that a new law be drafted.[2]
The unsuspecting audience heard Lively promote his book, The Pink Swastika, and his argument that not only are gays seeking to take over the world, but they also threaten society by causing higher rates of divorce, child abuse, and HIV/AIDS. Legalizing homosexuality is on par with accepting "molestation of children or having sex with animals," he said. As Lively puts it, LGBT issues cannot be considered human rights issues. "The people coming to Africa now and advancing the idea that human rights serves the homosexual interests are absolutely wrong," he said. "Many of them are outright liars and they are manipulating history; they are manipulating facts in order to push their political agenda." Lively even tarred abortion rights as "a product of the gay philosophy" meant to promote sexual promiscuity in order to "destroy the family." In sum, he warned, U.S. homosexuals are out to recruit young people into homosexual lifestyles so they must be stopped.
http://www.publiceye.org/magazine/v24n4/us-christian-right-attack-on-gays-in-africa.html
But oppression isnt the only link between these regions. The same U.S. evangelicals responsible for promoting the initial drafts of Ugandas Anti-Homosexuality Bill (often referred to as the Kill the Gays bill due to clauses in its original form that would have applied the death penalty to individuals found guilty of aggravated homosexuality) are also well-known figures in Russias anti-LGBTQ movement. Scott Lively, whos currently being charged with crimes against humanity for his involvement in Ugandas attack on LGBTQ people, has also claimed credit for Russias gay propaganda law. Rick Warren, who was also influential in the conception of Ugandas anti-LGBTQ legislation, is in the process of launching a new branch of his ministry in Moscow. Don Schmierer, another of the U.S. evangelicals guilty of endorsing Ugandas anti-LGBTQ movement, has gone to the effort of having his book (a guide for how to prevent the homosexual condition) into Russian.
http://www.politicalresearch.org/tag/scott-lively/
The Evangelicals have been busy spreading their hate around the world.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)supported this law through his personal silence and via the statements of his Bishops and Cardinals.
Uganda has another 40% who are Anglican.
The fact is, like it or not, this law was passed mostly by Catholics and Anglicans, because they comprise between them over 80% of Uganda. Yeah, Lively and the rest of them are monsters, but to claim there is a difference between one clerical hate monger and the next seems to serve one set of hate mongers. The culpability is ecumenical, non denominational, and none of the guilty should be spared from criticism.
LuvNewcastle
(16,862 posts)There's been tension in the past between the American Episcopal Church, which is outspoken for gay rights, and the African Anglicans. The Episcopalians have gay bishops, and that riles the Africans. I hope the Episcopal Church speaks out loud and clear on this issue and shames the African Anglicans. This situation is an outrage, and there should be international condemnation and pressure for sanctions against the countries that are doing this.
As for the Catholics, I don't expect a whole lot. A lot of American Catholics are for gay rights, but the American cardinals all seem very conservative. I think the Pope will call for an end to the violence, but I certainly don't expect him to tell Ugandans to embrace their gay brothers and sisters. He has a chance to really lead here, but I expect him to totally blow it.
William769
(55,148 posts)LuvNewcastle
(16,862 posts)Luminous Animal
(27,310 posts)Cafe regulars will remember that Akinola supported anti-gay legislation criticized by every major human rights group, the European parliament and the U. S. State Department, and has yet to answer questions about his knowledge of a massacre of 700 Muslims in Yelwa Nigeria in 2004.
Orombi isnt quite as bad. He only believes that gay people and their supporters are out to kill him, and will pay Africans to become homosexuals.
A Kampala newspaper report on Warrens support of the Lambeth boycott included this paragraph:
Dr Warren said that homosexuality is not a natural way of life and thus not a human right. We shall not tolerate this aspect at all, Dr Warren said.
http://americablog.com/2008/12/where-does-rick-warren-stand-on-criminalizing-homosexuality.html
But it's only a speech! Aargh!
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)stands perilously close to being in open support of these genocidal laws.
Behind the Aegis
(54,032 posts)William769
(55,148 posts)Behind the Aegis
(54,032 posts)Sadly, it isn't too far off the mark. When dealing with some assholes who mock anti-Semitism and during the anniversary of Kristallnacht, I posted pictures of Jews being marched through various cities with onlookers hurling things and the SS beating them. It may not be at the same level, but it could very easily happen. The most disgusting part are those who aren't concerned or are only concerned when they can use it to make a political strike against another hated group.
William769
(55,148 posts)I don't know if you saw this one or not.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024525168
At the least I see a genocide starting in the near future.
ismnotwasm
(42,022 posts)Take a look at this article
Date: 15 January 2013
Source: The Independent
Police are hunting down and torturing homosexuals in Nigeria, rights groups say, only days after President Goodluck Jonathan signed new anti-gay measures into law.
Campaigners also allege that gay men were tortured into naming dozens of others, to be arrested.
Homosexual acts were already illegal in Nigeria, but the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, passed with no announcement on 13 January, means anyone belonging to a gay organisation can get up to 10 years in jail, and anyone married to someone of the same sex can get up to 14 years.
The law was met with condemnation from countries such as the United States, Britain and Canada. The UN Secretary General has spoken out against it and UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said "Rarely have I seen a piece of legislation that in so few paragraphs directly violates so many basic, universal human rights."
According to the Associated Press news agency, accounts varied of how many arrests were made in Bauchi state on Tuesday, and a local law enforcement official denied that anyone was tortured. Executive director of Nigeria's International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights said an undercover officer joined a group being counselled on AIDS, pretending to be gay. The organisation said police then detained four gay men over the December holiday period and tortured them until they named others allegedly belonging to a gay organisation.
http://www.rhmjournal.org.uk/news.php?newsID=1736