Gay Pastor Olajide Macaulay Flees To The UK, Writes To Nigerians

Gay Reverend Jide Macaulay, Founder and Project
Director of House Of Rainbow Fellowship wrote to
Saturday Vanguard. Reverend Jide who has fled to
the Uk described the new anti-gay law as one of the
harshest laws in the world, adding that the LGBT-
community now lives in fear of arrest and violence.
Read the letter below:
On January 7th, President Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan signed the Same Sex Marriage
Prohibition Bill 2013 into law. The law bans same
sex marriage, and through its wording, also seeks
to criminalise people, organisations and agencies
who support homosexuality and those who do not
immediately report any known homosexuals, or
homosexual activities.
Since January12th, when the announcement was
made, the LGBT-community has been thrown into
panic. There is chaos throughout Nigeria as we are
grappling with keeping up with mass arbitrary
arrest, humiliation, blackmail, extortion and police
corruption in several 'charge and bail' cases.
The hostility in Nigeria against gay people has
reached epic proportions. In the East of Nigeria,
many are fleeing their homes. One gay man,
labelled "a leader of the homosexual" is on the
run. His parents and brother were threatened with
arrest if they don't provide information about his
whereabouts.
In the same region, more than six people were
arrested. In the West of the country, we can
confirm that nearly ten people have been arrested
and bailed. The police have extorted funds from
each victim at an average of between $120 to $
300. Most of the people arrested were tortured
and asked to provide additional details of other
gays or lesbians. In the North of Nigeria, in Bauchi
and Kano, there are two separate cases of arrests
and harassment of gay people. Both areas are
firmly under sharia law, which carries the death
penalty.
In the wake of the passing of the anti gay laws,
there is no doubt of the many calls, emails and
online messages we have received, expressing
fear, anger, anxiety and suicide attempts. This is a
critical time for all LGBTI-people; a time when our
ideals are being stretched and tested.
The Nigerian President and legislators have
ignored the critical aspect of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, and passed into law
a legislation that is unjust.
In a BBC Radio program yesterday, I spoke out to
condemn this law. However, a few of the speakers
claimed that a research showed that 98% of
Nigerians are happy and jubilant about this law,
and based on their religious beliefs that
homosexuality is "unafrican", against religion and
unnatural.
Nigeria like many African nations, has many
issues and the oppression of LGBT-citizens is
largely unwelcomed by an already marginalised
group. We are now looking into our first priority
intervention to help those displaced and or
attacked.
In view of the present situation in Nigeria, we are
helping with emergency evacuation to safe homes
around the country. The Initiative for Equal Rights
(TIERs), a Human Rights Organisation in Nigeria,
has now opened a 24hr support line for LGBT-
people in Nigeria.
We also continue to advise all LGBT-people to stay
away from trouble, not pick unknown phone
numbers and sign off gay dating websites.
Reverend Jide Macaulay, Founder and Project
Director of House Of Rainbow Fellowship.