EntertainmentLifestyleYBNL Princess Speaks On Life As A Lesbian In Homophobic Nigeria

LAGOS — Temmie Ovwasa, popularly known as YBNL Princess, has lamented about the homophobia in Nigeria.

Recall that on January 7, 2014, Nigeria’s former president, Goodluck Jonathan, signed the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill (SSMPA) into law. The notional purpose of the SSMPA is to prohibit marriage between persons of the same sex.

However, in reality, its scope is much wider. The law forbids any cohabitation between same-sex sexual partners and bans any “public show of same-sex amorous relationship.”

The SSMPA imposes a 10-year prison sentence on anyone who “registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organization” or “supports” the activities of such organizations. Punishments are severe, ranging from 10 to 14 years in prison.

The Nigerian environment is therefore toxic for LGBT persons. They become easy prey to oppressive and exploitative state security apparatus. They are also vulnerable to public “moral police” who seek to make homosexual performance invisible and closeted.

This informed Temmie’s post on Twitter. According to the artiste, Nigeria is a cold-blooded country for LGBT persons, stating that whether the country gets better or worse, LGBT persons still suffer.

According to her, “I stay away from conversations about Nigerian politics, or about it getting better or worse because as a lesbian, the cards are stacked against me either way. Queer people were beaten up during a protest against police brutality. So, whether this place burns or not, we still suffer.

“You can imagine a better Nigeria and be joyful when you don’t have to worry about who you love when you’re seen as a valid citizen. Regardless of how this place turns out, we still have to leave to start families.”