By Sandra Ijeoma Okoye
It is not an overstatement to say that no society exists without having a spectrum of its population that is made of non-conformists, mavericks, independent-minded people and people with free spirit. The reason for the foregoing circumstance cannot be pooh-poohed when viewed from the prism of the fact that deviant behaviours, such as cross dressing is the way of life of a people. Therefore, every society, no matter its size must exist with certain population of those who deviate from its cultural values and norms. Nigeria, being a country that cherish its culture and identifies with it, is not exempted from having its fair share of aberrant citizens.
You may have asked, “Why are you sounding this way”. I must confess that the inspiration to write this piece came due to the fact that the House of Representatives has introduced a bill to prohibit cross-dressing with an amendment to the Same-Sex (Prohibition) Act.
The amendment, sponsored by Muda Umar (APC, Bauchi), seeks to amend sections 4 and 5 of the principal act.
In fact, this proposed bill, if passed into law, could affect popular crossdressers like Okuneye Olanrewaju, who is popularly known as Bobrisky and James Brown. The bill was read for the first time on the floor of the House on Tuesday.
The 2013 Same-Sex Prohibition bill was signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan despite opposition from the international community, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom.Mr. Jonathan signed the bill into law on January 17, 2014.
The then U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, had said the law “dangerously restricts freedom of assembly, association, and expression for all Nigerians”, and the existing act prescribes 14 years in imprisonment for same-sex marriage and 10 years imprisonment for aiding and abetting the act.
The proposed bill exempts the use of cross-dressing for stage acts and other means of entertainment, in fact, clause two of the bill seeks to alter section 4 by inserting a new subsection 3.
Since the news of the introduction of the Bill against cross dressing hit the headlines, particularly to this writer, on Wednesday morning, many have voiced their concern over its provisions and wondered if our lawmakers have no other national issue of more importance to address for the betterment of the people and the country. Some people I overheard at a newsstand in Lagos on Wednesday were amazed that the legislatures are somewhat legislating against cross dressing which ought to be trivial in the face of enormous challenges that stare us in the face. Massive killings are ongoing across the country while not few Nigerians are yet to put the issue of the trained attack by bandits along Abuja/Kaduna railway behind them. For instance, many places in Lagos since 2 weeks ago have been in darkness as a result unprecedented collapse of the national grid. Added to the foregoing is that the prices of food items since the last few months have been spiralling beyond the purchasing power of most Nigeria.
Could it be that our lawmakers have forgotten the challenges Nigerians and Nigeria have at hand? The foregoing question is unarguably expedient as President Muhammadu Buhari in his New Year speech asked Nigerians to envision a year of continued progress against the nation’s combined challenges arising from security and socio-economic issues. He gave the charge on in his New Year message to Nigerians to usher in the year 2022.
The President also urged the people, irrespective of their religious and political affiliation, to come together in the fight to keep the country united against all odds.
He admitted that the persistent insecurity in parts of the country may have threatened the overall objective of his administration to position the nation on the irreversible trajectory of sustainable growth and progress.
President Buhari, however, assured that the government would remain resolute in its commitments and would continue to press ahead with its programmes and plans.
To achieve this, he stressed that standing together against all odds, was by far greater and would ultimately be more prosperous and viable than the sum of its distinguishable parts.
The President also used the occasion to highlight some of the efforts made so far by his administration, and what Nigerians should expect in the areas of security, economy, and anti-corruption fight, among others.
Without doubt, Nigerians want numerous challenges been faced to be addressed before anything. So, what is this issue of a bill seeking to amend the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act (2013) and also outlaw cross-dressing in Nigeria that has been introduced for first reading at the House of Representatives? Is it our priority when there are heaps of challenges that need to be addressed?
I still wonder why Honourable Muda Lawal Ulnar who sponsored the bill on Tuesday during plenary should be proposing that cross dressing; whether done privately or publicly, would be making reference to Section 4 of the same-sex Marriage Prohibition Act (2013) in the for the prohibition of same-sex marriage when we have myriads of challenges at hand.
He is also proposing 6 months imprisonment or a fine of N500, 000 for anyone found guilty, and that “A person shall be deemed to have committed the offence publicly where it is published or displayed publicly notwithstanding that it was committed privately or in any place that would have ordinarily been described as private. Provided that this section of this Act shall not apply to cross-dressing in the course of a stage play or in any bona fide public entertainment.
“That Section 5 is amended by inserting, after the existing sub-clause (3), a new sub-clause (4): That a person engaged in cross-dressing is guilty of an offense and liable to imprisonment for 6 months or to a fine of N500, 000.
In addition, Hon. Ulnar is seeking for Section 7 of the Principal Act to be amended by introducing the word “cross-dressing and defining same as the practice of wearing clothes usually worn by a person of the opposite sex”.
At this juncture, it is expedient to tell our lawmakers that law making is beyond the issue of Cross dressing.
