Notable crossdressers in Nigeria would be facing jail terms if the bill seeking to prohibit cross-dressing in the country is passed into law.
The bill, sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives, Muda Lawal Umar, passed first reading on Tuesday, is seeking to Amend the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013, to Prohibit Cross-Dressing; and Related Matters.
Meanwhile. this development is obviously not going to be received with open arms by some notable celebrities who are making a living from crossdressing, the likes of Olanrewaju Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, James Chukwueze Obialor a.k.a James Brown, popular television host, Adenrele Oluwafemi Edun, widely known as Denrele. Infringement of the law would attract a fine and a six months jail term according to the bill.
The bill seeks to amend Section 4 of the Act by inserting a new Sub-clause 3 that reads, “(1) Crossdressing done publicly is prohibited.
“(2) A person shall be deemed to have committed the offense publicly where it is published or displayed publicly notwithstanding that it was committed privately or in any place that would have ordinarily been described as private.
“Provided that this section of this Act shall not apply to cross-dressing in the course of a stage play or in any bona fide public entertainment.”
