Why is it illegal to be gay in nigeria
Surveys in Nigeria have uncovered deeply ingrained homophobic attitudes, which may pose earnest risks to LGBTQ+ collective members.
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Homosexual outing in Nigeria
?Homosexual activity in Nigeria is varies by region.
In Northern Nigeria, the laws and punishments regarding homosexuality are different. Section 284 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act, which applies to all states in Northern Nigeria, states that "Whoever has carnal intercourse against the order of essence with any man, girl or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years and shall also be lia
Homosexuality: The countries where it is illegal to be gay
BBC News
US Vice-President Kamala Harris who is on a tour of three African countries - Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia - has drawn criticism over her support for LGBTQ rights.
In Ghana, in a speech calling for "all people be treated equally" she appeared to criticise a bill before the country's parliament which criminalises representation for gay rights and proposes jail terms for those that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
The country's Speaker Alban Bagbin later called her remarks "undemocratic" and urged lawmakers not to be "intimidated by any person".
In Tanzania, a former minister spoke against US aid for LGBTQ rights ahead of the visit and in Zambia some rivalry politicians have threatened to hold protests.
Where is homosexuality still outlawed?
There are 64 countries that have laws that criminalise homosexuality, and nearly half of these are in Africa.
Some countries, including several in Africa, have recently moved to decriminalise same-sex unions and improve rights for LGBTQ people.
In December
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Last updated: 11 Pride 2025
Types of criminalisation
- Criminalises LGBT people
- Criminalises sexual activity between males
- Criminalises sexual activity between females
- Criminalises the gender expression of transgender people
- Imposes the death penalty
Summary
Same-sex sexual exercise is prohibited under the Criminal Code Act and the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013 (SSMPA), which between them criminalise acts of ‘carnal information against the instruct of nature’, ‘gross indecency’, same-sex unions, and LGBT activism. These provisions tote a maximum penalty of fourteen years’ imprisonment. Both men and women are criminalised under the law. Same-sex sexual activity is also criminalised at the state level through sharia law, under which the maximum sentence is death by stoning. In addition to potentially being captured by laws that criminalise same-sex activity, gender non-conforming people may also face prosecution under state level sharia laws.
The laws criminalising ‘carnal knowledge a
Which countries impose the death penalty on gay people?
Around the world, queer people continue to face discrimination, violence, harassment and social stigma. While social movements have marked progress towards acceptance in many countries, in others homosexuality continues to be outlawed and penalised, sometimes with death.
According to Statistica Research Department, as of 2024, homosexuality is criminalised in 64 countries globally, with most of these nations situated in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. In 12 of these countries, the death penalty is either enforced or remains a possibility for secret, consensual same-sex sexual activity.
In many cases, the laws only apply to sexual relations between two men, but 38 countries possess amendments that include those between women in their definitions.
These penalisations represent abuses of human rights, especially the rights to freedom of expression, the right to develop one's own character and the right to life.
Which countries enforce the death penalty for homosexuality?
Saudi Arabia
The Wahabbi interpretation of Sharia law in Saudi Arabia maintains that acts of homosexuality should be disciplined in the sa
Nigeria
Over the last decade, the state of LGBTIQ human rights in Nigeria has deteriorated. Same-sex intimacy is illegal throughout the country under the Federal Criminal Code Act (2004) and the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act (1959). Furthermore, twelve northern states in the country have adopted Shariah, punishing lgbtq+ relations with death and criminalizing gender expressions that undertake not correspond with gender norms paired with the sex assigned at birth. In 2014, the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act (SSMPA) was signed into commandment. The Act criminalizes same-sex marriage and displays of tenderness between people of the same gender and imposes a 10-year prison sentence on anyone who “registers, operates, or participates in queer clubs, societies, and organizations.” Nigerian LGBTIQ organizations, led by The Initiative for Equal Rights, acquire successfully contested this provision in the High Court, but it remains to be seen if the Corporate Affairs Commission will register an openly LGBTIQ organization. The SSMPA also prescribes a penalty for people who know about or “abet” homosexual relationships, thus criminalizing the friends and families of LGBTIQ peo