It was a phenomenal day at the 2025 Pride Parade that held in Ontario, Canada recently.
The event witnessed a large turn out, including protesters who came out in their numbers to show solidarity for theLesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2+) community and unanimously appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government of Nigeria, to abolish the Anti-Same Sex Law and legalize in Nigeria.
One of the protesters, a Nigerian, Mrs. Hadirat Alaya Kuranga, who identified as a bisexual, seized the opportunity to specially appreciate her husband for standing by her and accepting her sexual orientation.
Kuranga also thanked the Canadian government for supporting LGBTQ2+ members and making their voices heard.
Mrs. Kuranga sent a shout-out to all LGBTQ2 members worldwide and expressed how “proud she is to be identified as a bisexual and a member of the community”.
Another Nigerian protester, Mr. Rasaq Salami Adisa, who identify as a bisexual and a member of Giant Horse in Nigeria, a secret LGBTQ group, took to the podium to felicitate with LGBTQ2+ worldwide, and importantly to appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to abolish Anti Same sex Act. According to him, equality is equity.
Another Nigerian protester, Jude Chinonso Okwara, also lent his voice to felicitate with the LGBTQ2+ community both in Canada, Nigeria and all over the world.
Okwara was ecstatic to witness the support and show of love for LGBTQ2+ gender, adding that he had never seen a turn out as massive as that.
Like the other protesters, Okwara begged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to legalize Same Sex Act in Nigeria.
He added that he felt complete and proud as a bisexual.
Another Nigerian protester, Ms. Nwafor Odera Stella, threw her weight behind the LGBTQ2+ community.
“All we are asking for is respect, fairness, recognition and protection. I plead with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Federal Government and the Nigeria law makers to abolish Anti Same Sex Act and allow freedom and respect for all sexual gender because equality is equity”, Ms. Nwafor added.
Another protester, Ibrahim Amusa Oriyomi, who also identify as bisexual, demanded inclusiveness acceptance and respect for their sexuality.
In 2014, then President Ebele Goodluck Jonathan passed into law the Same sex marriage Prohibition Act, criminalizing any form of same-sex relationships.
However, since the law was enacted, the LGBTQ2+ community has continued to appeal to the Nigeria Federal Government to abolish the law.
The protesters have taken it upon themselves to come out every year to lend their voices against the discrimination and disrespect for LGBTQ2+ members in Nigeria.
The protesters hope that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government of Nigeria will give a listening ears to the yearnings of these protesters and other LGBTQ2+ members worldwide and repeal the law.
The protesters opined thst “the law is what the judge says it is and nothing more pretentious”.
For now, all the protesters can do is to wait in positivism and keep their hopes alive.
