In a recent passionate debate, a Nigerian gay man and a transgender woman courageously shared their perspectives.
“Just let me be, I need freedom!” gay man exclaims in online LGBT rights debate. (Photo courtesy of Public Republic/YouTube)
Issues pertaining to homosexuality remain highly contentious in Africa, where it is often considered a taboo subject due to widespread misconceptions.
In a recent video released by The Public Republic and shared on its YouTube channel, four young individuals engage in a fervent conversation about homosexuality. On one side of the LGBT rights debate are two straight men opposed to homosexuality, while on the other side stand a young transgender Nigerian woman and a gay man, both vigorously defending their existence.
A transgender woman explains her perspective on LGBT rights. (Photo courtesy of Public Republic/YouTube)
The debate was remarkably insightful and provided an opportunity for people to explore different perspectives and gain a deeper understanding of LGBTIQ+ issues and realities.
Ameerah, the transgender woman, argues that it is entirely unfair and unjust to discriminate against individuals solely based on their sexual and gender identity. She points out that numerous studies have shown that being gay is a natural aspect of human diversity, and LGBTQ+ individuals are simply living their authentic lives.
Mathew, the gay man in the video, expresses his desire to be left alone to pursue happiness and live authentically.
“I am not trying to influence people. This is who I am. I want to live my best life. Just let me be. I am not trying to influence you, I need freedom,” he says. “I am not happy, truth to be told, because I cannot express myself. There’s a lot of things I want to do, I can’t do it because of the law in Nigeria. But other countries, they are actually doing well because [homosexuality] is legalized there and they are doing happy. Because I am not going to hurt anybody. I just want to express myself. This is who I am. This is what I am, so I want to express myself.”
As is customary from the opposing viewpoint, the two straight men Victor and Magaji persistently propagate misconceptions about homosexuality, reiterating old arguments used to bully and victimize LGBTQ+ individuals.
They assert that homosexuality should remain criminalized and that gay people will lead humanity to extinction by not choosing opposite-sex partners for reproduction. They also claim that laws against LGBTQ+ people exist to safeguard society from ‘harmful practices’ like homosexuality, without providing any evidence of how LGBTQ+ individuals are causing harm to society based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. They repeatedly contradict themselves and demonstrate a profound ignorance of the subject, as is often the case in debates and conversations involving individuals who lack understanding of LGBTQ+ issues.
You can watch the debate in the video below:
Source: African Human Rights Media Network member No Strings NG.
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