same-sex marriage

A key component of morality or what tends to be moral has become quite contentious and topical in the 21st century due to the ever increasing number of persons who are involved in some same relationship or marriage. The 21st century has witnessed a rapid increase on the concepts of marriage that calls for gender neutrality rather than gender specification. There are so many philosophical (favorable and others against) arguments about the practice of same-sex marriage, ranging from religious, cultural, legal, and political grounds. Supporters pose that there is nothing immoral or abstract about it as long as it backed by the human rights doctrine. This work adopts the analytical methodology to rresearch into extant statutes vis-a-vis African traditional ethical values on marriage/family. The work discovers that whereas in western consideration, the concept of same-sex marriage contradicts the law (since the statutory definition of marriage has not been abdicated); and that, the concept contravenes the norms and ethical values of traditional Africa. Besides, this study will serve as an additional study material on the issue of same-sexmarriage, its ethical values if there is and its effect on modern day society. Hence the work suggests that concerning same-sex unions, the law should be silent; i.e., same sex relationships should not be outlawed– for persons have the right to freedom of association; nor should it be legalized– for it will introduce a burden on the law to develop its principles of such marriage. By and large, same-sex relationship offends
the basic moral ideal of human rational power higher and over bestiality.

A key component of morality or what tends to be moral has become quite contentious and topical in the 21st century due to the ever increasing number of persons who are involved in some same relationship or marriage. The 21st century has witnessed a rapid increase on the concepts of marriage that calls for gender neutrality rather than gender specification. There are so many philosophical (favorable and others against) arguments about the practice of same-sex marriage, ranging from religious, cultural, legal, and political grounds. Supporters pose that there is nothing immoral or abstract about it as long as it backed by the human rights doctrine. This work adopts the analytical methodology to rresearch into extant statutes vis-a-vis African traditional ethical values on marriage/family. The work discovers that whereas in western consideration, the concept of same-sex marriage contradicts the law (since the statutory definition of marriage has not been abdicated);
and that, the concept contravenes the norms and ethical values of traditional Africa. Besides, this study will serve as an additional study material on the issue of same-sex marriage, its ethical values if there is and its effect on modern day society. Hence the work suggests that concerning same-sex unions, the law should be silent; i.e., same- sex relationships should not be outlawed – for persons have the right to freedom of association; nor should it be legalized – for it will introduce a burden on the law to develop its principles of such marriage. By and large, same-sex relationship offends the basic moral ideal of human rational power higher and over bestiality.

The concept of same-sex marriage in recent times is one of the recurrent controversial issues universally, and this is especially so with its criminalization in some countries. It is not a new phenomenon. There are conflicting views on same sex relationships and nations of the world are at disparity on this score. With the passage of time, it is glaring that the law is being influenced as a result of growth and development of science. A controversial issue in the argument on same sex marriage in Nigeria is whether marriages between people of the same gender is foreign to Nigerian culture and tradition. The traditional marriage system in Nigeria has been particularly challenged by the rising visibility of same-sex relationships and marriages. Nigeria does not recognize or accept same sex relationships and this decision by the legislature is hinged on moral, religious and traditional values and the country has established this by passing the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act (SSMPA) 2014 into law. This law prohibiting same sex marriages and civil unions has been criticized by some of the international community on grounds that same sex activities are considered acts between two consenting adults as purely private affairs and ought not to be the state’s concern. A major question that arose with the implementation of the SSMPA was whether the new legislation would infringe the rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgenders (LGBTs) and in extension, the Nigerian Constitution which safeguards the rights of citizens. In light of the foregoing, this study examines the legality and framework of the anti-gay law in Nigeria and seeks to establish the impact same sex unions have on Nigerian culture, morals and the value system as a whole due to the fact that Nigeria is a highly moralist state