Why LGBTQ+ Nigerians fear heading home for Christmas

 | 
12/14/2023

Christmas can be a fraught time for LGBTQ+ people, some of whom might be estranged from their families while others dread festive gatherings with intolerant relatives. But LGBTQ+ Nigerians who celebrate Christmas face a double whammy of social stigma and a legal ban on gay sex in the deeply religious country, where many reject homosexuality as a corrupting Western import. Some Nigerians decide to go back into the closet for the duration of the festive season, hiding their true identity when they visit their families. “Going back home during the festive season, I wasn’t open with my siblings,” said Ernest, a 25-year-old gay man living in the southern city of Port Harcourt. He asked for his surname not to be used for personal safety reasons.

Share this:

Latest Global News

Added on: 11/22/2024
11/21/2024
The Vatican has blocked discussions over women’s rights at the UN climate summit following a row over gay and transgender issues, sources have told …
Added on: 11/22/2024
11/21/2024
In the wake of the U.S. election, crisis lines are surging – an undeniable indication that the most marginalized groups among us are reeling in uncertainty. In …
Added on: 11/22/2024
11/21/2024
CAPE TOWN – The first openly LGBTQ+ candidates to run for office in Namibia say young voters want change even as hate crimes rise …

Explore LGBTQ+ Issues

Other News from , ,

Added on: 11/22/2024
The Vatican has blocked discussions over women’s rights at the UN climate summit following a row over gay and transgender issues, sources have told …
Added on: 11/22/2024
CAPE TOWN – The first openly LGBTQ+ candidates to run for office in Namibia say young voters want change even as hate crimes rise …
Added on: 11/18/2024
Mali is on the brink of passing a law that would jail people for engaging in same-sex relations, condoning same-sex relationships, or “promoting” homosexuality. The …