LGBT Right Activism and the Risk of Christianophobia in Nigeria

Introduction

Atheistic schools of thought and other detractors of religion tend to associate Christian doctrines and religious fanaticism with backwardness, absurdity and anti-progressivism. In line with this, socio-philosophical forces such as modernism, individualism, secularism and more especially human rights have systematically militated against religion (religious dogmas) and members of religious denominations across the world. These socio-philosophical forces have somehow led to the progressive phobia and demise of religion. They have equally worked towards discrediting religion and reducing its influence in the public life. The concept of human rights in particular has, to a great extent, caused many religious dogmas and rituals/traditions to be relegated to the status of barbaric, repugnant and immoral traditions. This is more evidenced by the fact that issues like gender and racial equality, as well as pro-gay proselytism are today successfully discrediting and overshadowing most of the religious dogmas that hitherto stigmatized and oppressed particular minority groups (Crabtree, 2011; Zimrak, 2015). The phenomenal proliferation of the human right idiom in the world has, in this respect, functioned as a solid arsenal and a catalyst of the global movement in favor of gay rights. No doubt, Scott cited by Ray (2016) pointedly concedes that the human right philosophy has enabled the global gay community to gain socio-political power and to move from a socially vulnerable or weak bloc to a powerful minority. As he succinctly contends, “In the space of just half a century this tiny 1-3% of the population have made themselves a global political power with greater influence in the courtrooms and legislatures of the world than the Church of Jesus Christ. This astonishing transformation surpasses that of Darwinism, Marxism, and even Islam in its speed and breadth of reach”.

The human rights philosophy strongly advocates the legitimization or decriminalization of homosexuality not only in secular circles but equally – though recently – in religious communities. Such tenets of the human rights concept have been in total disregard of religious injunctions and conservative/traditionalist cultural models still prevailing in some countries, particularly black African and Arab countries. With this, human right activists and pro-gay schools of thought have, in their complex approaches to defending the rights of homosexuals, considered Christianity – or religion in general – coupled with conservatism as the principal “wild wheat” to off root from people’s mentalities. In tandem with this, LGBTI rights activists in Nigeria have virtually made it their cardinal prerogative to tentatively de-Christianize and de-Islamize the minds of Nigerians. Such de-Christianization and de-Islamization of the minds of Nigerians are regarded by these activists as a bi-dimensional strategy to create conditions favorable for the decriminalization of homosexuality and enable social tolerance in favor of LGBT communities in the Nigerian Federation. Such a strategy has often incorporated strongly worded reflections and more or less “aggressive” discourses against Christian doctrines and Islamic traditions, particularly those firmly in favor of anti-gay proselytism. The reflections and discourses formulated by the radical gay right activists often describe Christians’ anti-gay positions and campaigns as forms of “bigotry”, “Nazism”, “Fascism” and barbarism among other negative connotations.