‘We’ll force Nigeria to legalize same-sex unions,’ US says

The United States of America has said that it would continue to mount pressure on Nigeria until the country legalizes same-sex unions.

The US is expected to begin making its case against Nigeria’s anti-homosexuality law during President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Washington on July 20.

This was revealed on Monday, July 13, 2015, by the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield during a live-web chat with journalists.

Thomas-Greenfield said:

“As a government, it is one of the highest priorities and strongest values that discrimination against anyone based on their sexual orientation and gender identity is wrong. We believe human rights should be available to everybody.”

“As a policy, we will continue to press the government of Nigeria, as well as other governments which have provided legislation that discriminate against the LGBT community.”

Nigeria’s anti-homosexuality law was passed in January 2014 and carries a maximum sentence of 14 years.

Thomas-Greenfield also said that pressuring Nigeria to reverse the anti-gay law did not amount to interference with the country’s sovereignty.

She said:

“This is very much a work in progress, but I think you will agree with me that the law in Nigeria really went far in discriminating against this community but also people who associate with them. So, we will continue to press the government, to press the legislature to change these laws and provide human rights for all Nigerian people regardless of their sexual orientation.”

The US Supreme Court, on June 26, 2015, legalized gay marriage in all the country’s 50 states.