Draconian Anti-Gay Marriage Bill Proposed in Nigeria

An antigay bill recently proposed in the Nigerian senate would criminalize same-sex marriage — already illegal in Africa's most populous country — as well as impose penalties against any individual who "witnesses, abets and aids the solemnization of a same gender marriage contract.”

Box Turtle Bulletin reports that the penalty for those who enter into a same-gender marriage under the bill, dated July 25, 2011, would be three years imprisonment.

A previous, even more draconian bill on same-sex marriage from 2006, which ultimately did not pass, had sought to ban formation of any LGBT clubs and proposed a five-year prison sentence for anyone advocating on gay rights issues.

Read the report here.