Nigeria has the second largest amount globally of HIV+ people, mainly they are LGBT. So what do the dumb fucks in Nigeria do? Criminalise gays and arrest them, throwing them in jail, simply for being gay. It's one of those anti-gay laws that's been adopted by Nigeria, which punishes being gay with up to 14 years jail.
But there's obviously been no thought whatsover about the implications for fighting HIV/AIDS. Criminalising homosexuality as this does will IMO launch an HIV crisis in Nigeria. What a bunch of fuckin religious loonys.
An AIDS counsellor told The Associated Press he helped get bail for the men and also said a total of 38 were arrested. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear he would be arrested. Aken’Ova’s organization is providing legal services for them.
The AIDS counsellor said the arrests were sparked by a rumour that the United States paid $20 million to gay activists to promote same-sex marriage in this highly religious and conservative nation.
The United States, Britain and Canada condemned the new law in Africa’s most populous nation, with Secretary of State John Kerry saying Monday that it “dangerously restricts freedom” of expression and association of all Nigerians.
Jonathan’s spokesman said the president signed the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act on Jan. 7, providing penalties of up to 14 years in jail for a gay marriage and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for membership or encouragement of gay club, societies and organizations.
The U.N. agency to fight AIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria expressed “deep concern that access to HIV services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people will be severely affected by a new law in Nigeria – further criminalizing LGBT people, organizations and activities, as well as people who support them.”
The law also criminalizes people and groups who support “the registration, operation and sustenance of gay clubs, societies and organizations, processions or meetings in Nigeria.” Those convicted could be jailed for 10 years.
UNAIDS said the law could harm Jonathan’s own presidential initiative to fight AIDS, started a year ago.
It said Nigeria has the second largest HIV epidemic globally with an estimated 3.4 million people living with HIV. The disease affects many more gay men than heterosexuals, with 2010 statistics estimating national HIV prevalence at 4 per cent compared to 17 per cent among gay men, according to UNAIDS. more
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