Lawmakers in Nigeria are debating a bill that would ban gay marriage and any form of association between homosexuals, even sharing a meal at a restaurant.

The bill, which is expected to pass, includes “penalties of up to five years in prison.” Homosexual acts are already illegal in Nigeria, and this bill, should it pass, will make joining gay clubs, reading gay books, visiting gay websites, watching gay films, and pretty much anything that can be associated with being gay in any way illegal.

Attitudes toward gays in Nigeria are typical of those across the continent. In neighboring Cameroon, Amnesty International says accusations of homosexuality and anti-gay laws have been used as a weapon against political opponents.

South Africa legalized gay marriages last month in fiercely debated legislation, making it the only country on the continent to do so. But the impetus was more a desire to stamp out all forms of discrimination in a reaction to apartheid than tolerance of gays, who are subject to prejudice and violence in South Africa.

The hostility in Nigeria means that there are very few gay or lesbian organizations. Oludare “Erelu” Odumuye _ the nickname means “queen mother” in Yoruba _ heads one, Alliance Rights.

“That bill would criminalize me if it was passed into law. It would criminalize my organization, it would criminalize my friends,” he said.

Thousands of people use Alliance Rights for health services, to gather information or to meet, Odumuye says. To avoid harassment, the group has no membership list and its buildings are not in town centers or identified by signs.

Visitors find them through word-of-mouth, Odumuye said. To give an idea of their size, he says the group received more than 1,500 responses to a recent health survey among homosexual Nigerians.

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