Accepting Homosexuality?

Firstly, I want to use this opportunity to say that everything I write on this blog is my personal opinion. I appreciate and admire your views and would love to hear from you. I'm learning everyday.

Okay so my last post was on marriage, and I know it seems very random that this topic is completely different from the last but I have my reasons for this current post and would definitely reveal it to you very soon.....

Homosexuality is  an issue most people refer to as controversial. Some people cringe at the mention of the word "HOMO" "GAY" or "LESBIAN". Some people don't even want to talk about it but the truth of the matter is that it exists, it's critical and it's real. There are different approaches to this topic. The moral/religious approach, the scientific approach and of course the cultural approach. Scientifically, it appears that sexual orientation is biological by nature, determined by a complex interplay of genetic and hormonal factors and early uterine environment. Scientists therefore believe that a person's sexual orientation is "not a choice", people don't chose to be gay, it all started from their mother's womb!

Religious wise, Christians condemn homosexual activity outrightly, in fact it is seen as a sin. Passages from the Old Testament have been interpreted to argue that homosexuals should be punished with death. Islam also disapproves homosexual activity. Some people can go all day quoting different passages from the bible and Quran that speak against homosexual activity. Moreover, homosexuality is often described as morally wrong.

Culturally, Ha! Let's not even go there, we all know that it is frowned upon a great deal, especially in Africa. Some people still can't wrap their minds around why and how people of the same sex can be attracted to each other. As a good friend of mine would say " how can a man be attracted to another man?" But at the end of the day, she is not in their shoes and obviously can't understand how they feel. In Nigeria, lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender persons face legal challenges. Homosexuality is illegal in Nigeria and is punishable by death by stoning according to the Shari'a law, and by up to 14 years Imprisonment.

Now to the Koko! I' m sure everyone knows a homosexual, either from a distance or very close; that is, friend or family. It is indeed no news that homosexuals are seen as different and some people have been disowned by family members because of this sexual orientation. Some people are ashamed of their homosexual sibling, child, cousin and so on. Many people believe they are abnormal and wouldn't come close to them, almost like they have a diseases. The western culture has accepted homosexuality to an extent but Africans still remain status quo. Homosexuality is still a taboo in our society and many gay people are still scared of coming out of the closet, although there are rumors of gay churches, clubs and what have you in Nigeria.

At the end of the day, what do we have in our society? We have homosexuals pretending to be heterosexuals, getting married the way society demands(man and woman) hurting themselves and their innocent spouse, who by the way, has to deal with the trauma of realizing that their spouse is actually not attracted to them in the slightest bit. Can you imagine how traumatic that could be? Yes, these things are happening in our society today! At times, i see some guys, i can sense they are gay, but because of fear of being rejected by members of the society, they find a girl/boy, fake interest just to tie the knot in order to please mummy and daddy and the society. So I ask, do you think letting homosexuals express themselves would prevent situations like this?

Homosexuals are everywhere in our society today. In most cases  we know they are, although there are times we are ignorant or just chose to be ignorant. Homosexuals are your friends, sister, brother, cousin, aunt, uncle etc. Are you accepting homosexuality today, if not, why? Please drop a line..........