On May 30, 2013 the Nigerian House of Representatives passed the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill: AN ACT TO PROHIBIT MARRIAGE OR CIVIL UNION ENTERED BETWEEN PERSONS OF THE SAME SEX, SOLEMNIZATION OF SAME AND FOR OTHER MATTERS RELATED THEREWITH. (HB 197)

The bill, passed by the Nigerian Senate in 2011, and the future of LGBT people in Nigeria, hang precipitously in the balance. It needs only the signature of President Jonathan Goodluck to become law of the land. If the president fails to sign the bill within 30 days it goes back to the Senate who has the power to sign the bill with a 2/3 majority vote. The bill, initiated in May 2006 , has received criticism and outcry from around the world and its movement forward has been repeatedly stalled. More information and perspective can be found in the recent documents including the bill itself, a statement from the Coalition for the Defense of Sexual Rights Nigeria and “The Flames of Homophobia,” an op-editorial by Damian Ugwu, Africa Region Coordinator, and IGLHRC.