As President Muhammadu Buhari
prepares to meet with his United States counterpart, Barack Obama, in the White
House next Monday, the US government is expected to make another case asking
the Nigerian government to repeal its law against same-sex unions.
The US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda
Thomas-Greenfield, stated that the US would continue to pressure Nigeria until
it legalises same-sex marriage.
According to the Nigerian Pilot, Thomas-Greenfield revealed America’s plans
yesterday during a live-web chat with journalists in Washington DC. The United
States recently legalised gay marriage, a development, which sparked off mixed
reactions across the globe.
Thomas-Greenfield said the US had adopted the protection of the rights of
same-sex people as part of its foreign policies, vowed that Washington would
continue to mount and sustain pressure on Nigeria and other countries to
reverse their laws against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT)
community.
She said: “As a government, it is one of the highest priorities and strongest
values that discrimination against anyone based on their sexual orientation and
gender identity is wrong. We believe human rights should be available to
everybody.
“As a policy, we will continue to press the government of Nigeria, as well as
other governments which have provided legislation that discriminate against the
LGBT community.”
Thomas-Greenfield, who did not agree that pressuring Nigeria to reverse the
anti-gay law amounted to interference, said Nigeria and Uganda have the hardest
legislation on the gay community.
She said: “This is very much a work in progress, but I think you will agree
with me that the law in Nigeria really went far in discriminating against this
community but also people who associate with them. So, we will continue to
press the government, to press the legislature to change these laws and provide
human rights for all Nigerian people regardless of their sexual orientation.”
Thomas-Greenfield was optimistic that the US would win the fight to protect the
LGBT community.
Culled
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