Same sex marriage also known as gay marriage is a marriage between two persons of the same sex or gender identity.
The first laws in modern time enabling same sex marriage were enacted during the first decade of the 21st century. As at May 2013, thirteen countries and several sub-national parts of Mexico and the United States allow same sex couples to marry. Most countries went the extra mile to enact laws to legalize same sex marriage which will come in force in August 2013. Bills allowing same sex marriage have been sponsored by some groups, some have been passed and some countries are still debating the bill on same sex marriage.
Same sex marriage has been seen by many as political, social, human and civil rights issue as debates have continued to arise over whether same sex couples should be allowed to marry or be denied.
Nigeria neither recognizes same sex marriage nor civil unions for same sex couples. Homosexuality can land those that indulge in it up to 14 years imprisonment in the southern part of Nigeria and capital punishment in areas under sharia / Islam law.
Recently, the lawmakers passed a bill banning same sex marriage. Despite all efforts at discouraging the practice, given, religious societal and cultural condemnation, some deviant groups are still pushing for the legalization of the act.
In this interview Olivia Uzoma sort from Reverend Sam Duru, the vicar of St Luke’s Anglican Church Egbu, his opinion on same sex marriage and the dangers of such act on our youths and teens in the campuses and society at large. Excerpts:
Please Sir, what do you have to say about same sex marriage?
Same sex marriage has to do with two people of the same sex or gender having sexual intercourse with each other and going as far as performing marriage rites too. There have been series of publications especially in the media and lots of comments have been made about same sex marriage.
In Britain they practice, gay marriage and perform marriage rite in the churches too, it was due to the disagreement of this act by some men of God that led to the formation of GAFCOM (global Anglican Feature Conference). As an Anglican, we abhor it, infact we do not want to hear anything about it because it’s against our faith and belief. And you know our cultural beliefs are quite different from that of the western world.
There, they believe that people have their lives to live and they believe that trying to ban canal relationship of a girl with a fellow girl (in terms of lesbianism) or men with fellow men (in terms of gay), is trampling on people’s rights. The most annoying thing is that it has also creped into the church as some clergy openly support the marriage. African system and setting is quite different from that of the western countries, our conception and understanding can never be the same.
We are people that are so gifted in culture and tradition and we believe that our tradition and culture don’t permit same sex marriage. The major reason people marry is for procreation (ie having babies) it will never be easy for a woman to sleep with a woman and make babies.
The least they can be done is adoption nothing else or probably what is done in the western world, cloning, and with inventions in science, people believe that when a child is needed one of the couple can sacrifice to meet a man to get pregnant and make babies as for lesbians but it is a little difficult for gays. Looking at all this act it is against what the scripture says about God’s creation, there is no place such can be found or even recorded that such act should be practiced.
Do you think it should be encouraged in Nigeria ?
No! it should be discouraged by all Nigerians who think rightly . For anybody to engage in same sex marriage there is the possibility that something is wrong with the person. For a girl to decide to marry a fellow girl then there must be something wrong with that child. Unfortunately the practice is very common today in student hostels and campuses, even in our seminary schools we also have them there. An average right thinking person in Nigeria will never want to hear of such repulsive act, and if such is allowed in Nigeria, then we are finished and our generation will be ruined.
How do you think this same sex marriage can be eradicated in our society?
Our country needs prayers. We need to fervently pray for our youths and teenagers, we need to bring these children to order and caution them. Parents should be watchful of their children and mind the kind of company they keep as friends, they should know the whereabouts of their kids at every given time.
What advice do you have to give to our youths and teens out there?
I know that whether we like it or not, anyone involved in homosexualism can stop it if he/she wants to. As a pastor, I will say that what they need is simply to give their lives to Christ. Homosexualism is a habit, and when such a habit is formed it becomes very hard to quit. I also want to tell you that in homosexuals the only thing he/she is interest in is sexual satisfaction. I remember one basketball player who recently in an interview said that for a long time he has been a gay but feels ashamed saying it, but that because of the awareness now he is trying to stop it. I feel its not a game to practice such act, the issue is not really going into it but the ability to come out because at times its not easy for a person engaged in that to disengage easily. So what we have to do is to encourage them to quit as it makes one not be him/herself. We have to live free and maintain those moral expatiations that the society expects from us I believe we can actually fight against it if we are committed.
