Nigeria’s Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, passed in January 2014, makes even befriending a homosexual person a crime punishable by up to 10 years in jail. Just talking about the law can also result in prison time, if your speech is interpreted by a court as “promoting” homosexuality.
Bisi Alimi, head of the Bisi Alimi Foundation and a university lecturer and actor, came out on a Nigerian television show in 2004, and was forced to flee the country under death threats 3 years later.
Testifying before a panel of British Members of Parliament last week, he appealed for Britain to do more to support LGBT people in its former colony.
“It’s not about them dictating to Nigeria but letting them (Nigerian policy makers) understand why it’s important economically, politically and socially to not have such laws,” he said.
Business Insider has more coverage from the Associated Press.