Cross-dressing will be considered as one of the offences under the same-sex marriage (prohibition) act of 2013 if the proposed bill is passed
By Kehinde Okeowo
Member of Nigerian House of Representatives and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Umar Muda, representing Toro federal constituency in Bauchi State, has introduced a bill seeking to prohibit cross-dressing in Nigeria.
The proposed bill was read on the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday and will be subsequently considered by the house if it scales necessary hurdles.
If the bill proposed by the 35-year-old legislator is passed, cross-dressing will become an offence in the country with the exemption of those using it for entertainment, but those found culpable will be liable to six months jail term or a fine.
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“A person engaging in cross-dressing is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment of 6 months or to a fine of five hundred thousand naira,” the bill says
This means crossdressers such as Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, popularly known as Bobrisky, who is an LGBT personality, James Chukwueze Obialor a.k.a James Brown and OAP, Denrele Edun risk spending at least 6 months in jail.
The bill seeks to amend the same-sex marriage (prohibition) act of 2013 by including cross-dressing as one of the offences under the act.
In the Act, same-sex couples and gay persons face 14 years in jail if convicted by a court.
Meanwhile, the proposed bill is generating debates on social media, as some members of the online community slammed the Rep member who introduced it, urging him to concentrate more on issues relating to insecurity and poverty.
A few of them, however, applauded the decision saying it will go a long way in helping to restore discipline in society.