Estimates of the homosexual population in the country have ranged from fifteen to twenty million.[1][2][3] Studies have found that the majority of LGBTQ Nigerians identify as Christian, in denominations such as Anglicanism.[4]
Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized throughout Nigeria under various laws, including federal and state codes.[5] Punishments range from imprisonment to capital punishment in some northern states governed by Shari'a law.[5]
Federal laws
In southern Nigeria, the Criminal Code criminalizes sex acts between men with penalties up to 14 years' imprisonment. Gross indecency between men is punishable by up to 3 years in prison.
In northern Nigeria, the Penal Code prohibits "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" for men and women, punishable by up to 14 years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Twelve northern states implement Shari'a-based criminal laws applying to Muslims and those who consent to Shari'a court jurisdiction.[5]
Sodomy and lesbianism are severely punished, with penalties ranging from 100 lashes to death by stoning, depending on marital status and location.[citation needed]
Lesbianism is defined as carnal acts or stimulation between women, punishable by imprisonment or caning in most states, with death penalties applied in Kano and Katsina.[citation needed]
Cross-dressing and "imitating the opposite gender" are penalized in some states. For example, Kano imposes up to one year in prison or a fine for men who dress or behave as women.[citation needed]
Being labeled a "vagabond" or "incorrigible vagabond" for engaging in same-sex acts or cross-dressing carries punishments of imprisonment, caning, or fines.[citation needed]
History
Early history
In pre-Islamic Hausa culture, in areas now including northern Nigeria, ƴan daudu were men with feminine attributes.[6]
1970s
LGBTQ organizing in Nigeria dates back to at least the 1970s.[7] Until 1999, when military rule in Nigeria ended, LGBTQ organizing did not focus on political rights, due to more widespread restrictions on political organizing and activity.[7]
The first Nigerian branch of the LGBTQ-affirming Metropolitan Community Church was founded in 1974 in Imo State.[7] In 1976, the congregation's first minister, MethodistSylvanus Maduka, was the first non-white minister ordained in the MCC.[7] It is unclear how many of the church's members, if any, were gay or lesbian, but congregation leadership did publish in support of LGBTQ rights.[7]
In 1989, the Nigerian Gentlemen Alliance was founded in Lagos.[7] The gay men's social club aimed to provide HIV-prevention education, and worked to support the LGBTQ Nigerian diaspora in the United Kingdom.[7] Its formal meetings saw limited attendance, but its parties saw higher attendance, with a 1991 event having up to 1,500 attendees.[7] Beyond Lagos, the organization founded multiple state branches, including in Kaduna, with meetings in Zaria.[7]
The return to democratic rule in Nigeria in 1999 also brought about a number of organizations seeking to address to HIV/AIDS crisis and provide healthcare.[7] Alliance Rights Nigeria, founded in 1999, held private meetings for its gay members and organized public lectures "focused on AIDS, STDs, and safe sex".[7]
2000s
In 2004, the Alliance Rights Nigeria programs director, Bisi Alimi, came out publicly on the popular NTA talk show New Dawn with Funmi.[8] By May 2004, Alliance Rights Nigeria was the only LGBTQ organization in the country "with a public presence".[7] The group later partnered with the Nigerian Ministry of Health in 2007, on the HIV/STI Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Survey (IBBSS).[7]
The early 2000s also saw LGBTQ religious groups, such as Changing Attitude Nigeria, founded by Davis Mac-Iyalla in 2005, and the MCC-affiliated House of Rainbow, founded by Jide Macaulay in 2006.[7] A daughter organization of House of Rainbow, Daughters of Jezebel, worked to support lesbians.[7]
By the mid-2000s, groups were beginning to organize in support of LGBTQ rights, such as the Coalition for the Defense of Sexual Rights in Nigeria (founded 2005) and The Initiative For Equal Rights.[7] This more public organizing exposed activists to outbursts of homophobic violence and being outed in the Nigerian press.[7] From the mid-2000s onward, activists also have increasingly utilized social media to politically organize.[7][9]
Many LGBTQ Nigerians use the label 'queer', due to the legal repercussions of being deemed gay or lesbian.[10]
Despite repressive laws and public attitudes, an underground LGBTQ culture does exist, especially in Lagos and its suburbs. Many LGBTQ Lagos residents found an inclusive space in Lagos Fashion Week, which embraced gender non-conforming styles and models, although the event has been under pressure for years to dampen this attitude. Some more inclusive brands have chosen to hold private showings of their collections.[11]
The city has been home to a ballroom scene since the early 2000s;[12] to protect attendees, event details are released only shortly beforehand. LGBTQ party organizers may partner with private security firms to ensure partygoers' safety.[10]Pride in Lagos, an annual event held since 2021, includes ballroom performances.[13]
Many LGBTQ Nigerians use social media to connect and to share their experiences and opinions.[14]
Literature
She Called Me Woman: Nigeria’s Queer Women Speak (2018), collection of interviews with 25 Nigerian lesbians[15]
Embracing My Shadow by Unoma Azuah (2021), country's first lesbian memoir[16]
Films
Under the Rainbow (2018), documentary film by Pamela Adie[17]
Pentecostal leaders within Nigeria tend to "vehemently preach against homosexuality".[18]
Schools and universities in Nigeria tend to promote compulsory heterosexuality. LGBTQ students often face "rejection, bullying, and victimization" from both family members and school authorities, with some being expelled from schools and universities.[19] Studies have also found negative attitude towards the LGBTQ community among newspapers,[20][21]librarians,[22] and social workers[23] in Nigeria.
Some organizations in Nigeria try to assist LGBTQ persons, such as the Metropolitan Community Church. Affiliation with these groups may place individuals at risk of violence or abuse.[24]
Asylum seekers
The enforcement of Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act has not only criminalized same-sex unions but also prohibited LGBTQ advocacy, gatherings, and public expressions of affection. This legislation has forced many LGBTQ Nigerians to seek asylum abroad, including in the United States.[25] Asylum seekers often cite fears of violence, ostracism, and legal repercussions under both secular and Shari'a laws.[25] Activists have also highlighted the significant health and economic consequences of the law, as it hampers access to HIV prevention services and forces LGBTQ individuals and allies to abandon their work in community health and education.[25]
Organizations such as Housing Works in Brooklyn provide vital support for LGBTQ asylum seekers from Nigeria, assisting with legal representation, housing, and access to medical care.[25] Asylum seekers face challenges even after fleeing Nigeria, including the trauma of displacement, societal stigma, and concern for family members who remain at risk back home.[25] For some, the opportunity to live openly is tempered by ongoing fears of being targeted or exposing their loved ones to harm.[25]
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