Much ado about homosexuals

It was 7:20pm and PHCN had decided to interrupt our power supply again! As I grumbled about in the dark cursing their timing, I decided to take a stroll down my street to literally ‘cool off’.

Halfway to the end of the street, I stopped dead in my tracks. What was that sound? My curious mind wondered. I waited a beat to be sure it was not my imagination. And then I heard it again! The faint rustle of leaves and a low moan as in the throes of passion.

I would have walked away having drawn a conclusion that it was probably a young teenager and his girlfriend ‘discovering’ themselves. However, on closer inspection, I found that the teenagers ‘discovering’ themselves were both guys.

I did not think anything of it as I walked on having satisfied my curiosity. I finished my walk and returned home with a feeling that I could not describe at the time. I had almost fallen asleep that night when it struck me. The feeling that was tugging at my heart was pity. I felt pity for those guys because our society will never embrace the presence of homosexuals amongst us.

Prior to that day, I had been in conversations with all kinds of people regarding this issue. Moralists, Elders, Deacons and Christians. Some were of the opinion that homosexuals should be killed. Majority felt that the 14 year sentence for homosexuality should be increased.

Science has shown that a tendency towards homosexuality can be traced from birth and environmental influences. Nonetheless, most people have refused to accept this explanation, saying it is a choice and a disdainful one to say the least.

So I ask, if it is more of a choice, why can’t they just change their choices or preference considering the consequences they will face once discovered? These gay people already know that they will be victimised and judged if they came out of the closet. Don’t you think that is strong enough motivation for them to change their minds?

Let us even assume that it is a choice. Why put a 14 year sentence on homosexuality? For a country that claims to practice democracy, is that the right course of action? Democracy to me, my dear readers is not just the right to vote in elections. It is also a right to live freely, choose what to eat, how to express oneself, what religion to belong to and even sexual preference.

In view if that statement, please forgive my lack of understanding as to why gay people should be imprisoned for 14 years because they choose to have a relationship with a member of the same sex. To me, it is akin to imprisoning a man because he has chosen to serve Buddha. Besides, if a gay man goes about his daily job, works effectively and efficiently, pays his taxes without default and is generally law abiding, would you put him behind bars because of his sexual preference?

If people’s answer to the last question is in the affirmative, I will be sorely disappointed to even think that my fellow citizens might have lost their humanity. We as a country have continually ‘struggled’ to put the people that have looted our treasury and raped Nigeria behind bars. Will we all jump at a chance to incarcerate an innocent person because they are gay?

In conclusion, even though I think that Nigeria is a long way from embracing homosexuality, the harsh treatment meted out to them is unfair and unnecessary. We all can help them by respecting their privacy and judging less.

As always, I would love to hear from all my readers what they think about the topic discussed and proffer solutions where they think necessary.

Always on your side
Sharon