Welcome to queer nightlife in Nigeria where, on weekends, apartments turn into gay clubs, barred with passcode-guarding doors to protect against homophobes. As a result of the laws and law enforcement bodies in the country, queer nightlife in Nigeria is shrouded in secrecy and has been forced to go underground. A few minutes before midnight on a June evening, there was a line of people attempting to gain access to an unmarked apartment block in Lekki Phase 1 — a suburban neighborhood in Lagos State. To the uninitiated, it was a regular house party in the heart of Lagos Island, which is populated with young people in their 20s.
The location of the celebratory ball had to be kept a secret. This was a queer event and in Nigeria, where same-sex relationships or public displays of affection are illegal, anything that is. Under the new bill, same sex marriages would carry a 15 year prison sentence, and individuals who witness or help these couples would face ten years in jail themselves. About 50 people, mostly men, crowd around the front porch of a social club in Nigeria's biggest city, Lagos, cheering on a shy-looking young man, who proceeds to sing a ballad. Backstage, another man puts on his wig and takes a quick glance at his pocket mirror, before adjusting his tight-fitting red dress.
World Nigeria's Underground Gay Community Is an Inspiration Activist Edafe Okporo talks about being gay in a country where it is illegal on the LGBTQ&A podcast. The location of the celebratory ball had to be kept a secret. This was a queer event and in Nigeria, where same-sex relationships or public displays of affection are illegal, anything that is dedicated to embracing this culture is in danger. Marking Pride month in any way here is an act of defiance.
Gay Lagos Beach bars, clubs, parties, hotels, saunas, massages and more. Queer-centric information. Your complete directory to LGBT life in Lagos, Nigeria!. .
Welcome to queer nightlife in Nigeria where, on weekends, apartments turn into gay clubs, barred with passcode-guarding doors to protect against homophobes. .
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Navigate Gay Nigeria with caution. Find essential travel tips, important advice, and insights for LGBTQ+ travelers in our comprehensive guide to Gay Nigeria. .
The location of the celebratory ball had to be kept a secret. This was a queer event and in Nigeria, where same-sex relationships or public displays of affection are illegal, anything that is. .