24 August 2019
Tinder's "Traveler Alert"
Tinder has recently partnered with the
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans,
and Intersex Association, by making use of
data collected and compiled by its State-
Sponsored Homophobia Report. There are
currently, about 69 countries where being
LGBTQ is a criminal offense and Tinder is
determined to protect its LGBTQ users
from potential risks and prevent them from
getting into danger.
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans,
and Intersex Association, by making use of
data collected and compiled by its State-
Sponsored Homophobia Report. There are
currently, about 69 countries where being
LGBTQ is a criminal offense and Tinder is
determined to protect its LGBTQ users
from potential risks and prevent them from
getting into danger.
A new security feature is designed to warn
users of the dating app about the risks faced
by LGBTQ people in various countries
that still have laws against same-sex love.
users of the dating app about the risks faced
by LGBTQ people in various countries
that still have laws against same-sex love.
In seven Countries, four in Asia, namely
Yemen, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Brunei, and
three in Countries in Africa Namely Nigeria,
Somalia and Sudan have a same-sex acts law
that makes anyone guilty by act or association
are punishable by death. In six other
countries, the death penalty for same-sex
involvement remains a possibility, Countries
such as Iraq, Qatar, Mauritania, United Arab
Emirates, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Yemen, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Brunei, and
three in Countries in Africa Namely Nigeria,
Somalia and Sudan have a same-sex acts law
that makes anyone guilty by act or association
are punishable by death. In six other
countries, the death penalty for same-sex
involvement remains a possibility, Countries
such as Iraq, Qatar, Mauritania, United Arab
Emirates, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
The new update is called “Traveler Alert,” this
the update allows every user of Tinder who is
identified as LGBTQ will by default not,
appear on Tinder once they open their app
in any of the 69 countries where being LGBTQ
is a crime.
the update allows every user of Tinder who is
identified as LGBTQ will by default not,
appear on Tinder once they open their app
in any of the 69 countries where being LGBTQ
is a crime.
However, If they decide to make their profile
public, the app will temporarily remove their
sexual orientation and gender identification
associated with their profile to in other to
safeguard users from law enforcement and
individuals who may be directly or indirectly
of a target to them.
public, the app will temporarily remove their
sexual orientation and gender identification
associated with their profile to in other to
safeguard users from law enforcement and
individuals who may be directly or indirectly
of a target to them.
“We hope that this development will raise and
increase awareness amongst all Tinder users,
and help protect people of diverse sexual
orientations in the 69 countries around
the world that are presently criminalizing
same-sex love,” André du Plessis, the
executive director at the International Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex
Association stated.
increase awareness amongst all Tinder users,
and help protect people of diverse sexual
orientations in the 69 countries around
the world that are presently criminalizing
same-sex love,” André du Plessis, the
executive director at the International Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex
Association stated.
“We work hard to change practices, laws, and
attitudes that put LGBTQ people at risk —
including the use of dating apps to target our
community — but in the meantime, the safety
of our communities also depends on supporting
their digital safety,” he added.
attitudes that put LGBTQ people at risk —
including the use of dating apps to target our
community — but in the meantime, the safety
of our communities also depends on supporting
their digital safety,” he added.
I am indeed excited about this development,
this is because a lot of people are subjected to
various unspeakable things just because of their
sexual orientation. I look forward to a Nigeria
where your sexual orientation or association
will not determine whether you should be
allowed to live or die.
this is because a lot of people are subjected to
various unspeakable things just because of their
sexual orientation. I look forward to a Nigeria
where your sexual orientation or association
will not determine whether you should be
allowed to live or die.
13 August 2019
Russian Gay activist Killed
Russia’s gays and lesbians society are not
new to hate crimes and even homophobic
murders. However, there is a new vigilante
group seeking to turn violence against the
LGBT society and also encouraging fellow
Russians to hunt them down.
new to hate crimes and even homophobic
murders. However, there is a new vigilante
group seeking to turn violence against the
LGBT society and also encouraging fellow
Russians to hunt them down.
Activists Tumasov said the vigilante group’s
website has been around for about a year,
and their primary aim is making available
names and pictures of LGBTs and promising
“awards” for attacks on them.
website has been around for about a year,
and their primary aim is making available
names and pictures of LGBTs and promising
“awards” for attacks on them.
On July 21, at the age of 41, the body of Yelena
Grigoryeva was found in a bush close to
where she lives in Saint Petersburg, with
nothing less than eight stab wounds on her
face and back.
Grigoryeva was found in a bush close to
where she lives in Saint Petersburg, with
nothing less than eight stab wounds on her
face and back.
The murder of Grigoryeva has left Russia’s
LGBT community horrified, even though
there seems to be no firm evidence linking
Pila vigilante directly to Grigoryeva’s fatal
stabbing.
LGBT community horrified, even though
there seems to be no firm evidence linking
Pila vigilante directly to Grigoryeva’s fatal
stabbing.
“I do not know who these people are, but it
is import to know that people who think this
way are living among us,” acknowledged
activist Mikhail Tumasov, who according to
him has also received various threats from
Pila.
is import to know that people who think this
way are living among us,” acknowledged
activist Mikhail Tumasov, who according to
him has also received various threats from
Pila.
Another Prominent activist Igor Kochetkov
accused the authorities of doing little or next
to nothing to stop this as he urges the police to
do more of probing the website and the death
threats issued against Grigoryeva and other
activist and LGBTs.
accused the authorities of doing little or next
to nothing to stop this as he urges the police to
do more of probing the website and the death
threats issued against Grigoryeva and other
activist and LGBTs.
Kochetkov considering his name was also
listed on the hit list, said in a video, “Dear
police and other law enforcement agencies.
It’s time to get to work!”
“Start protecting all citizens! And if you
believe that people like us should not be
protected find yourselves a different job.”
listed on the hit list, said in a video, “Dear
police and other law enforcement agencies.
It’s time to get to work!”
“Start protecting all citizens! And if you
believe that people like us should not be
protected find yourselves a different job.”
The Pila’s website has only recently been
blocked, But Pila has promised “to play until
the end”, not bulged about the ban.
blocked, But Pila has promised “to play until
the end”, not bulged about the ban.
Towards the end of last month, investigators
arrested a man who was suspected of killing
Grigoryeva and suggesting that the attack
was the result of a personal dispute.
but later said they had the wrong man and
detained a new suspect. The investigators,
however, made no mention of any form of
homophobic threats against the activist and
implying she was killed by someone that she
had a drink with. May the soul of Yelena rest
in peace, however, everybody deserves a
right to life no matter their sexual orientation.
The police really need to do better!
arrested a man who was suspected of killing
Grigoryeva and suggesting that the attack
was the result of a personal dispute.
but later said they had the wrong man and
detained a new suspect. The investigators,
however, made no mention of any form of
homophobic threats against the activist and
implying she was killed by someone that she
had a drink with. May the soul of Yelena rest
in peace, however, everybody deserves a
right to life no matter their sexual orientation.
The police really need to do better!
14 July 2019
The Slapping Senator: Senator Elisha Abbo
I find it very disrespectful and I refer to it as an assault to the two ladies in the Video. It is time that our leaders realize that we voted for them to lead us right and represent our country as good ambassadors. Senator Elisha Abbo, you were not elected by your constituency to go to Abuja and be Slapping people up and down just because you are power-drunk.
I wanted to make this post as soon as the Video broke but I wanted to get his reaction after charges were filed against him and to also see the actions of the Senate.
This Senator Abbo obviously doesn't have respect for women in general. He can be seen in the Video pointing his finger at Senator Remi Tinubu and becoming aggressive in his speech towards her.
The case is currently in court but I honestly draw my conclusions that this man is not fit to be a senator because he doesn't have respect for women at all....you are a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and should conduct yourself as such you are representing both sexes and not just the men in the society.
I look forward to him being brought to book for his actions so that others can also know that no one is above the law.
30 June 2019
MARRIAGE REFORM IN ZIMBABWE
Marriage for women in Zimbabwe has been very unfavorable to them as a result of not having equal rights to property acquisition and this, in turn, leaves them homeless and at loss after a divorce or husbands loss.
This to me is another angle of gender inequality as women and men are not equal and this affects their lives. The differences between men and women emanate from their biological, psychological and cultural norms. As it is said that the root cause of gender equality is embedded in what role a society or culture assigns to each gender.
This is quite evident in Zimbabwe marriage law where there is a minimal provision of property security to women who lose their husband to death or to another valid reason for divorce. The laws on marriage and divorce are not in line with the country’s constitution, of them having equal rights and them living in partnership. The marriage bill that was introduced in January 2017 needs the parliament to broaden the scope of the law such that it can protect women that are married to their spouse but are not legally binding under the customary law in regards to their equal right to property rights during marriage, divorce or death of a spouse.
Although Zimbabwe has a separate law governing the dissolution of marriage called the Matrimonial Causes Act that allows for equitable distribution of property between spouses at divorce, direct and indirect contributions to raising children and family care it has not reflected in how things are for attended based on this subject topic. Majority of these women in Zimbabwe are not married under the registered customary unions and most women lose their properties when their spouse dies or the men or his family keep all the property to themselves. This is an epitome of gender inequality.
The first step to combat this gender inequality in Zimbabwe’s marriage is to provide full protection that will detail marital property rights and equality for spouses both during marriage and during its dissolve.
16 June 2019
.....Now Kenya! Africa which way forward?
A high court ruling in Kenya, East Africa gave a heart crushing verdict on the LGBT community as the legislation announced that homosexuality is a criminal act in tune with the country’s constitution.
Masses of LGBT activists in different spheres stormed the courtroom to hear this verdict such that there were lots of pandemonium in the courtroom and it was filled to the brim which in turn delayed the session of the court.
LGBT community were so keen bout this court ruling because of the effects this verdict will have considering its a continents of the blacks where religious and cultural values are held up high. LGBT has already been classified as illegal in 32 countries out of 54 countries in Africa. What a shame…. They are finding it hard to get accepted in the African continent. A well-known gay activist “Bisi Alimi” also shared his sad feeling about the perception making a reference to Nigeria where “Nigerian laws punish same sex marriage with up to 14 years in prison”. Bisi Alimi is displeased with this news and so are we the Activists. Judge who made this verdict said the rules have not gone against the rights to dignity, healthcare access, fair trial and privacy involved neither can the LGBT+ community prove that their rights have been violated. Judges Roselyn Aburili, Chacha Mwita and John Mativo also emphasized that the legislation that criminalize homosexual could also apply to a heterosexual individual because revoking the laws that bind against homosexuality would initiate same sex marriage and this will be unconstitutional.
A Kenyan LGBT refugee from Rwanda, Hebert ran to Kenya because of the anti-gay law in Rwanda, but now Kenya is beginning to follow in the footsteps of other countries in criminalizing homosexuality. I wonder why it is still incomprehensible to the African cultural dynamics.
30 April 2019
'I was held at gunpoint for being gay' Bisi Alimi
I stumbled on an interview granted by Bisi Alimi
as regards the situation in Brunei and Nigeria as
regards the law against LGBT. I must tell you its a
good read, please read and you will understand
what fellow human are going through.
Brunei’s new laws stating that its LGBT citizens
can be stoned to death is one of the most deadly
attacks on the community I have ever seen. As a
gay man from Nigeria, I know what it feels like to
have your identity criminalized by people that
have no idea who you are, and do not care about
you. In January 2014, the Nigerian government,
led by Goodluck Jonathan, signed into law the
Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act that
prosecuted people for registration of gay clubs,
association, meetings, gathering and provision of
services to LGBT people. It ignited one of the most
vicious attacks on the community that I have
experienced in my adult life. Within months of
the law being passed, scores of people suspected
of being LGBT were arrested and some were
imprisoned. A 20-year-old man, Mubarak Ibrahim,
was convicted of having engaged in sodomy and
publicly flogged. In Lagos, HIV services suspected
to be providing services for LGBT people were
raided by the police and service users were
paraded on national television as common criminals.
Their HIV statuses were released in national
newspapers. For many of the gay men who went
through this ordeal, the trauma is something they
will never overcome. I know this from my own
experience. In 2007, a group of gunmen broke
into my house and held me to ransom for over two
hours. The reality that this could be the end of my
life, just for being an openly gay man, was not just
frightening, it has stayed me with me my whole life
and is something for which I’ve had to get mental
health support. In Brunei, the crackdown on the
country’s LGBT community – disguised as
upholding religious and moral values of the
kingdom – will put those already struggling at
more risk. The community will go underground
and essential services like HIV testing and care
will find it hard to reach them. In 2014, the Brunei
Ministry of Health noted that the rate of HIV
transmission is already increasing on this tiny
island. There is also the issue of arranged
marriage and false identity that comes as a result
of a regressive law such as this. I have seen this
happen in Nigeria: LGBT people were forced to
enter into marriage with people from the opposite
sex and build up a false identity. In most cases,
the marriage breaks down and it is hugely
stressful for any children involved. Jonathan is
now traveling the world giving talks on how he
regrets the passage of Nigeria’s anti-gay law, and
it is this hypocrisy that we are seeing played out
yet again in Brunei. For many of the gay men who
went through this ordeal, the trauma is something
they will never overcome. I know this from my
own experience. I had the privilege of attending
the birthday party of Prince Azim of Brunei in
London as a guest of my friend Caitlyn Jenner.
The King and Queen of Brunei were in the
audience along with members of the royal family
and many prominent people who identify as LGBT.
I could not sense any dislike or disdain and the
royal family and expressed their gratitude to the
audience for their friendship and support for his
son. It saddens me that the same royal family is
the one enacting this most dangerous of laws.
hat is even more shocking has been the silence of
the prominent LGBT people at that party that night.
A society that forces its citizens to live a lie through
regressive laws is a society that is on the path of
self-destruction. The solution is to invest in
grassroots movements that have education at their
core. I believe change will come but it won’t happen
through silence, only by strategizing and seeking
support and solidarity from activists across the
world. We all must use the voice and the leverage
that we have to send out a very strong message:
that homophobia and transphobia are unacceptable.
Organizations like the United Nations and the
Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN)
should condemn this law strongly. The business
has a responsibility to reconsider their investment
in Brunei and see the danger their staff will face.
anti-terrorism unit mocked for saying they're
'monitoring' Notre Dame fire The governments of
Britain and America along with other world
Leaders should speak out in unity against this
draconian law – and we should not think that our
individual activities don’t count. Even as ordinary
Citizens of the world, we can boycott the many
investments the Brunei royals have across the
world and there is a petition by Allout calling on
us to demand that the EU speak out. Adding your
signature will go a long way towards creating
change. We need to use all the platforms we have,
from an active protest on social media, and keep
putting on the pressure while expressing our
support and love for the LGBT communities in
Brunei. As people with influence, we must speak
up and uphold the principles that make us human.
No one is free until we are all free – and that
includes LGBT people in Nigeria and Brunei.
can be stoned to death is one of the most deadly
attacks on the community I have ever seen. As a
gay man from Nigeria, I know what it feels like to
have your identity criminalized by people that
have no idea who you are, and do not care about
you. In January 2014, the Nigerian government,
led by Goodluck Jonathan, signed into law the
Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act that
prosecuted people for registration of gay clubs,
association, meetings, gathering and provision of
services to LGBT people. It ignited one of the most
vicious attacks on the community that I have
experienced in my adult life. Within months of
the law being passed, scores of people suspected
of being LGBT were arrested and some were
imprisoned. A 20-year-old man, Mubarak Ibrahim,
was convicted of having engaged in sodomy and
publicly flogged. In Lagos, HIV services suspected
to be providing services for LGBT people were
raided by the police and service users were
paraded on national television as common criminals.
Their HIV statuses were released in national
newspapers. For many of the gay men who went
through this ordeal, the trauma is something they
will never overcome. I know this from my own
experience. In 2007, a group of gunmen broke
into my house and held me to ransom for over two
hours. The reality that this could be the end of my
life, just for being an openly gay man, was not just
frightening, it has stayed me with me my whole life
and is something for which I’ve had to get mental
health support. In Brunei, the crackdown on the
country’s LGBT community – disguised as
upholding religious and moral values of the
kingdom – will put those already struggling at
more risk. The community will go underground
and essential services like HIV testing and care
will find it hard to reach them. In 2014, the Brunei
Ministry of Health noted that the rate of HIV
transmission is already increasing on this tiny
island. There is also the issue of arranged
marriage and false identity that comes as a result
of a regressive law such as this. I have seen this
happen in Nigeria: LGBT people were forced to
enter into marriage with people from the opposite
sex and build up a false identity. In most cases,
the marriage breaks down and it is hugely
stressful for any children involved. Jonathan is
now traveling the world giving talks on how he
regrets the passage of Nigeria’s anti-gay law, and
it is this hypocrisy that we are seeing played out
yet again in Brunei. For many of the gay men who
went through this ordeal, the trauma is something
they will never overcome. I know this from my
own experience. I had the privilege of attending
the birthday party of Prince Azim of Brunei in
London as a guest of my friend Caitlyn Jenner.
The King and Queen of Brunei were in the
audience along with members of the royal family
and many prominent people who identify as LGBT.
I could not sense any dislike or disdain and the
royal family and expressed their gratitude to the
audience for their friendship and support for his
son. It saddens me that the same royal family is
the one enacting this most dangerous of laws.
hat is even more shocking has been the silence of
the prominent LGBT people at that party that night.
A society that forces its citizens to live a lie through
regressive laws is a society that is on the path of
self-destruction. The solution is to invest in
grassroots movements that have education at their
core. I believe change will come but it won’t happen
through silence, only by strategizing and seeking
support and solidarity from activists across the
world. We all must use the voice and the leverage
that we have to send out a very strong message:
that homophobia and transphobia are unacceptable.
Organizations like the United Nations and the
Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN)
should condemn this law strongly. The business
has a responsibility to reconsider their investment
in Brunei and see the danger their staff will face.
anti-terrorism unit mocked for saying they're
'monitoring' Notre Dame fire The governments of
Britain and America along with other world
Leaders should speak out in unity against this
draconian law – and we should not think that our
individual activities don’t count. Even as ordinary
Citizens of the world, we can boycott the many
investments the Brunei royals have across the
world and there is a petition by Allout calling on
us to demand that the EU speak out. Adding your
signature will go a long way towards creating
change. We need to use all the platforms we have,
from an active protest on social media, and keep
putting on the pressure while expressing our
support and love for the LGBT communities in
Brunei. As people with influence, we must speak
up and uphold the principles that make us human.
No one is free until we are all free – and that
includes LGBT people in Nigeria and Brunei.
In January 2015, an Islamic law enforcement agency, the Hisbah, arrested 12 men in the north Nigerian city of Kano for allegedly planning a same-sex wedding. The head of the Hisbah, Aminu Daurawa, told Agence France-Presse that the suspects “looked and acted feminine”, which prompted their arrest which shows that it is quite a criminal act under the law.
Ironically, a gay Nigerian cleric Jide Macaulay will be ordained an Anglican priest by the Church of England in June. The church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has however always rejected calls to ordain gay priests.
Macaulay is a Nigerian born on November 4 1965 who is a pastor an ordained minister, an LGBTQ, human rights and HIV/AIDS activist, community builder, queer theologian, lawyer, and parent. He is the founder of the first house of worship to the LGBTQ and serves as its executive director named the House of Rainbow. According to Ubuntubiographyproject.com, Macaulay’s Christian upbringing had always forced him into a different understanding of same-sex relations, and he married a woman under the guise of spiritual healing at the age of 24. While Macaulay experienced same-gender relationships and desires before marriage, it was not until after his divorce in 1994 that he fully came out as gay, with a great effort to reconcile his faith, spirituality, culture, and sexuality.
The cast out stone in Nigeria has become a corner stone in England to the LGBT community. It’s a wishful thinking that this freedom will be expressed in Nigeria for the LGBT people as well such that they will be able to express themselves publicly.
18 March 2019
LGBT in Nigeria
LGBTs are yet to find their place in a sacred and religious country like Nigeria where the act of homophobic activities is shunned and discriminated against. It is not surprising to know that there is no legal protection for these group of people and very few people can openly talk about their sexual orientation. Due to the fact that there is no legal right, they conceal their identities or run to some other countries where they are accepted because of the violence they face in other to seek protection.
Typically, in the Northern part of Nigeria, if you are found to be LGBT, under the sharia court you will be stoned to death especially for the Muslims and the maximum of 14 years imprisonment under the same-sex marriage prohibition Act. As a Nigerian, it is quite weird to hear same-sex to say “I love you” to each other especially between people of same-sex, the reception or the non-verbal cues of an onlooker or the recipient of such gesture can be perceived that you have crossed the line by saying that. We are so culturally inclined to every statement and behavior displayed in Nigeria, jokingly you hear people say “I cover my yansh (anus) with the blood of Jesus”.
A same-sex relationship is quite a terror to the society because of its oddness to the usual acceptance of the heterosexual community. Nigeria is one of the worst places to be friendly to anyone seen as gay or lesbian. Christians have preached against it is an immoral act and often referred to as Sodom and Gomorrah in the bible where this was practiced to be an abomination to God and the Muslims religion, Islam provides death as a punishment for such actions. So you dare not come out as a Man, to say you love men or as a Woman, to say you love women.
My advice for all Nigerians is that we need to stop discriminating against these people and respect them with so much love because you never can tell, your daughter or son can be the next person in this category.
11 March 2019
GENDER EQUALITY AND ITS EFFECT ON ECONOMIC GROWTH
Gender refers to the social and psychological dimension of being female or male. Gender roles are the behaviors, interests, attitude, skills and personality traits that a culture considers appropriate for males and females. Gender roles have rapidly evolved over a long period of time and it has shifted in different spheres as a result of different factors such as new family structures, education, media education, earnings, occupation, access to formal employment, access to managerial positions, access to productive inputs, political representation, or bargaining power inside the household etc.
Contemporarily, the male gender is seen as being the head of the family and seen as being ahead of female gender in the provision of needs however the female gender supports in household expenses, such as house-rent, decision making, payment of children school fees. Gender inequality, therefore, arises from unequal treatment of individuals based on their gender difference in socially constructed gender roles as well as the biological structure
In the precolonial period, women played a major role in social and economic activities. They were central to Trade such that among the Yorubas, the most successful among the women rose to the prestigious chieftaincy title of iyalode, a position of great privilege and power. However, Women's freedom of movement is restricted in some cases where they are obliged to obtain permission from their husband to obtain a passport or travel outside the country. Women in Purdah (Muslim communities in Nigeria states) cannot leave their homes without permission from their husbands or being accompanied by a man at all times. Also, there is a restriction in their dressing – they must be veiled in public.
The World Economic Forum has declared that there are four various levels of gender inequality: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment
The World Economic Forum has declared that there are four various levels of gender inequality: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment The World Economic Forum has declared that there are four various levels of gender inequality: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment The World Economic Forum has declared that there are four various levels of gender inequality: Economic
Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment Health and Survival and Political Empowerment. Whilst Education and Health inequality in many modern societies is at
the minimum level, hence these two factors may lose their importance, though inequality in Economic Participation and Political Empowerment will remain Health and survival and Political Empowerment. Whilst Education and Health inequality in many modern societies is at the minimum level, hence these two factors may lose their importance, though inequality in Economic Participation and Political Empowerment will remain. Health and Survival and Political Empowerment. Whilst Education and Health inequality in many modern societies is at the minimum level, hence these two factors may lose their importance, though inequality in Economic Participation and Political Empowerment will remain.
This disparity in gender inequality in the modern society was declared by the world Economic forum to be in four levels such as economic participation and opportunity, educational attainments, Health and survival and political Empowerment. Inequality in Economic participation and political empowerment still remains a prominent problem in Nigeria which needs to be addressed.
Women have the sheer volume of Human Capital which can be used to increase economic growth but it is of great importance to spend a period of time with men for acquiring enough experience although the gap in gender roles results from not having enough experience in the field of economic participation and political empowerment.
In other to promote gender equality in Nigeria, there is the need for more women empowerment programmes and projects, enlightenment campaign on more female involvement in decision making and the inclusion of women interest in development policies in Nigeria.
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