The Sexual Orientation Question in Nigeria: Cultural Relativism Versus Universal Human Rights Concerns

We note that a political consensus on LGBT rights equating human rights is nowhere in sight in contemporary Nigeria. We rekindle the debate between universalism, as represented by the claim that human rights are the same everywhere, and cultural relativism, the conservative platform of the resistanc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sexuality & culture 2020-12, Vol.24 (6), p.1705-1719
Main Authors: Chimakonam, Jonathan O., Agada, Ada
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Consensus
Cultural relativism
Decriminalization
Gay and lesbian rights
Gays & lesbians
Homosexuality
Human rights
LGBTQ people
LGBTQ rights
LGBTQ rights movements
Original Paper
Personality and Social Psychology
Psychology
Regional and Cultural Studies
Relativism
Resistance
Sexual orientation
Social Sciences
Universalism
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Summary:We note that a political consensus on LGBT rights equating human rights is nowhere in sight in contemporary Nigeria. We rekindle the debate between universalism, as represented by the claim that human rights are the same everywhere, and cultural relativism, the conservative platform of the resistance to gay rights. We assert that the argument in favour of gay rights is rationally compelling but that the opinion of the overwhelming majority of Nigerians who oppose homosexuality cannot be easily dismissed. We examine arguments for and against the decriminalisation of homosexuality and conclude that supportive arguments validated by the harm principle present a convincing case for decriminalisation, notwithstanding the prevalence of anti-decriminalisation sentiments in Nigeria.
ISSN:1095-5143
1936-4822
DOI:10.1007/s12119-020-09705-9