Appraising the cross-currents of law, religion and culture on same sex marriage issue in Nigeria: The human rights approach

Abstract

Since there is no well articulated legal protection against same sex marriage discrimination in Nigeria, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons in Nigeria are facing unique legal and socio-religious challenges not experienced by those not in that category. Most Nigerians due to their religious belief opine that homosexuality is a way of life that the society should not accept. This position has been widely criticized by human and civil rights organizations as well as the United Nations as inconsistence with Nigeria’s obligations as demanded by the international law and treaties that guaranteed human right and equity which Nigeria is a signatory. This paper therefore examines same-sex marriages from human rights' point of view. The article elucidates the imperative of Universality of Human rights, based on principle of justice and equity as against the socio-religious sentiment that was used to curry support for anti-same sex marriage campaigns in Nigeria.