Nigerian singer shows her ignorance about homosexuality
Popular Nigerian singer Salawa Abeni has much to learn about the realities of LGBT life, as she demonstrated in advice she gave to Nigerian musicians, urging them to avoid a homosexual “lifestyle.”
COMMENTARY
The 56-year-old Yoruba musician Salawa Abeni revealed her ignorance about homosexuality in her March 28 remarks to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) about the present condition and future prospects of Nigerian music.
In Abeni’s advice to fellow musicians, especially young ones, she implied that gay people disrespect family values by the mere fact that they are gay. She said:
“These artists must also live mature lifestyles that represent respect for marriage, family life and they should eschew immorality, drug addiction, and homosexuality.”
Her words are a clear indication that more work needs to be done to educate people on gender and human sexuality. Abeni and many other people need accurate information about homosexuality and other minority sexualities. In general, Nigerians need comprehensive sexuality education.
Sadly and disappointingly, Abeni displayed ignorance in the midst of her expert musical advice. People need to know that homosexuality is a valid sexual orientation and there is absolutely nothing immoral or shameful about being gay.
Also, (please pay attention to this, Salawa) people do not choose to be gay, neither can anyone change their sexual orientation. This is a well-established fact backed by research.
For more information, read this blog’s excerpts from the statements of associations of psychologists, psychiatrists and other experts about forms of therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation (variously called “ex-gay therapy,” “conversion therapy” and “reparative therapy”).
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She is right to discourage such a lifestyle: why would anyone encourage persons to engage in a lifestyle that is promiscuous, riddled with drug abuse?