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These are particularly very tough times. If you do have some extra (food, money or airtime), please reach out to those you think are hard-hit. E.g your hair dresser, the cleaner, the mechanic, or that friend or family member... For members, I have a limited number of airtime vouchers to give away. Send me a private message if you can't afford to buy yourself some credit at this time. Staying informed and keeping in touch with friends and loved ones during this period is so crucial to our mental health. Top-up will be weekly for the next 3 weeks. Also, If you have some extra and you would like to help, feel free to contact myself or any of the admins. Every little helps.
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In a podcast show tagged ‘Middle ground’ hosted by the trio of April Maey, Loose Kaynon, and Wendy Akomolafe-Kalu, Abaga criticized Nigeria’s anti same-sex marriage law stating that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being gay or lesbian so therefore LGBT persons have the right to be themselves. He also voiced his concerns for the need why gay persons need to stay safe and why the law is an infringement on people’s right to privacy. “I feel like I have a few friends with different sexual orientations and I think it’s stupid that we have that law in Nigeria, but now that we do, until the law is repealed, I feel it’s not safe to openly disclose your sexuality. “It’s not my business what anybody does. And what I mean [by that] is, it’s my privacy. Everybody has a right to their privacy. “If you bring a tape of two men having sex, then you can prove [they are gay]. But for the most part, how are you going to prove without fringing on someone’s right or privacy – going through their phone. It almost seems to me to be an unenforceable law.” Abaga in response to series of tweets to his fans who opposed his stand on the issue, made things further clear, stating that homosexuals have a right to their existence just as straight folks. He wrote; “My thinking… I was born straight. I wd never want 2b punished 4 who I am… because of this, I wouldn’t punish som1 else for who they are. “Cheating and adultery are wrong… but they are not criminalized… and no form of consensual adult expression of love should be… my opinion”. Source
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Why it’s very challenging defending gays in Nigeria – Kayode Gomez
FlyJ posted a topic in Debates - Express and Discuss
Defending others can be a fulfillment of purpose to save lives and promote human rights; recently it has become dangerous, risky, stigmatizing and discriminating…. Someone whom i thought should defend me even when the world turns against me said to me; I won’t be surprise if I find out tomorrow you are gay, because you are already beginning to act like it”. Only because I said whoever is not comfortable with the work I do should give me alternatives or shut up! The statement came as shock, not because I have not heard worse or had worse experience more than just statements, but I was shocked because of whom it came from. And no alternatives can be better than serving humanity. Without self exemption, so many human rights defenders have suffered and still suffering persecution, hate, stigma and discrimination just because we speak for vulnerable and marginalized groups, worst of all LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex). And I begin to wonder, what is so special about being LGBTI or defending LGBTI. One major reason why there are so much activism around this area is because there are actions and bad laws that violate people’s rights. The society use the opportunity to preach hate, blackmail, crucify, persecute and discriminate loving people only because of their sexual orientation. They use religion and culture as basis for argument. News flash! LGBT persons are not aliens; they live among us, they hold reputable positions in the world, they are politicians, celebrities, husbands, wives, parents, you celebrate them, some are even your role models, they preach and pray on pulpit, people fall under anointing when they speak and lead worship songs in church, they lead prayers in mosque, they represent family and friends you have. A saying says; “when throwing a stone in the market, be careful because you don’t know if it will hit one of yours”. Coming back to defending others; I have had terrible experiences just because I’m an activist saving lives and promoting human rights. I have been arrested, I have lost friends and colleagues, I have heard things and answered strange questions. People will ask me; “if you are not one of them, why defending them?” Worst of all, my Mum once threaten to disown me if I continue to defend the rights of LGBT. They say; “God is not happy with me”…..Lol! the last time I checked, God has been my pillar and source. There is no joy more than I’m fulfilled saving lives and promoting human rights. I don’t have to be gay to defend LGBT rights. No one ever asked me why I defend or address issues affecting other marginalized groups such as; PwD (People with Disability, SW (Sex Workers), PLwHIV (People Living with HIV/AIDS) and so on…. So why attach so much importance, hate and stigma to sexual minorities. By the way; who is the sinner and who is committing crime? Is it the person who is passionate, happy and in love with his/her life or the person that save lives and promote human rights or you that preach hate, condemn, judge and crucify others. Only hypocrites think some group of people are less human…..what makes you better? Source
