HRC recently released a video of Whoopi Goldberg sharing a message for the leaders of Nigeria and Uganda, and a call to action for the LGBT community.

The post Whoopi Goldberg has something to say about anti-gay laws in Uganda and Nigeria first appeared on Lesbian.com.

The State Department is looking into media reports that authorities in Nigeria are arresting dozens of LGBT activists in the aftermath of passage of an anti-gay law in the country.

Under questioning from the Washington Blade, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said reports of arrests in Nigeria are “very troubling” if true.

“We’re trying to confirm those reports,” Harf said. “I’ve seen them. We don’t know if they’re true or not. If they are true, that would obviously be very troubling. Again, our team is continuing to check on the ground to get new facts to see what’s actually going on.”

Read more at Washington Blade

Washington Blade is America’s leading gay news source.

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LGBT Nigerians protest outside the Nigerian embassy in New York (Photo: Saharareporters)

BY ERIN HIGGINS
dot429

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has approved a bill that not only bans same-sex marriage, but criminalizes it. A spokesperson for Jonathan, Reuben Abati, did not clarify the exact date, but merely stated on January 13 that the president had signed sometime “earlier this month.”

“More than 90 percent of Nigerians are opposed to same-sex marriage. So, the law is in line with our cultural and religious beliefs as a people,” said Abati. “I think that this law is made for a people and what [the] government has done is consistent with the preference of its environment.”

The law is not intolerant of only same-sex marriages. It also states that anyone who registers, operates, or participates in gay clubs or societies, as well as anyone who shows any homosexual public displays of affection, is breaking the law. These offenses are punishable by up to ten years behind bars.

Read more at dot429.com

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