US president, Joe Biden has issued a presidential memorandum aimed at expandingprotection of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer andintersex (LGBTQI) people worldwide, including potentially through the use of
financial sanctions.Nigeria’s anti-gay laws have been increasingly criticised by globalrights groups, which have categorised the country as overtly homophobic.
“The Departments ofState, Justice, and Homeland Security shall ensure appropriate training is inplace so that relevant Federal Government personnel and key partners caneffectively identify and respond to the particular needs of LGBTQI+ refugeesand asylum seekers, including by providing to them adequate assistance andensuring that the Federal Government takes all appropriate steps, such aspotential increased use of Embassy Priority-1 referrals, to identify andexpedite resettlement of highly vulnerable persons with urgent protectionneeds,” Biden said.
Recall that Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Same-SexMarriage (Prohibition) Act in January 2014, prescribing between 10 to 14 yearsin prison for cohabitation between same-sex sexual partners, public show ofsame-sex relationship, registration, operation or participation in gay clubs,societies and organisation, amongst others.
As a predominantly conservative country, it is unlikely thatNigeria would revisit its anti-gay marriage law to strengthen bilateralrelations with the United States.
In a memo issued in February, Biden had threatened “swift andmeaningful” responses, including financial sanctions against countriesfound guilty of human rights abuses of LGBTQI+ persons.
The memo read, “When foreign governments move to restrictthe rights of LGBTQI+ persons or fail to enforce legal protections in place,thereby contributing to a climate of intolerance, agencies engaged abroad shallconsider appropriate responses, including using the full range of diplomaticand assistance tools and, as appropriate, financial sanctions, visarestrictions, and other actions.”
“All human beings should be treated with respect anddignity and should be able to live without fear no matter who they are or whomthey love,” said the memorandum, building on a 2011 directive issued whenBiden was serving as vice president.
“The United States belongs at the forefront of thisstruggle – speaking out and standing strong for our most dearly heldvalues.”
Biden campaigned on a pledge to pass LGBTQ rights legislationknown as the Equality Act in the first 100 days of his administration and makeLGBTQ rights a top priority.
The memo directs US agencies working abroad to work harder tocombat the criminalisation by foreign governments of LGBTQ status or conductand directs the State Department to include anti-LGBTQ violence, discriminationand laws in its annual human rights report.
It calls for increased efforts to ensure that LGBTQ asylumseekers have equal access to protection, expanded training for US federalpersonnel, and potential increased use of priority referrals to expeditevulnerable people’s resettlement.
It also instructs agencies to consider appropriate responses,including the full range of diplomatic tools and potentially financialsanctions and visa restrictions, when foreign governments restrict the rightsof LGBTQ people.
Biden announced the push during a forceful speech at the StateDepartment, vowing to rebuild US credibility worldwide.
“To further repair our moral leadership, I’m also issuing apresidential memo to agencies to reinvigorate our leadership on the LGBTQI
issues and do it internationally,” he said.