The Cross River State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to prohibit same sex marriages and civil unions in the state, advancing the proposed legislation to the committee stage for further legislative consideration.
The bill, sponsored by the member representing Boki II State Constituency, Hilary Ekpang Bisong, and co-sponsored by 10 other lawmakers, was presented during plenary at the Assembly Complex in Calabar.
Speaking during the debate, Bisong said the proposed legislation was designed to reinforce the state’s social and cultural values while providing a legal framework to address issues relating to same-sex unions.
He said the bill reflects the beliefs and aspirations of many residents of Cross River State.
The proposed law seeks to prohibit same-sex marriages and civil unions within the state and deny legal recognition to similar unions contracted outside Cross River State or outside Nigeria.
Following debate, lawmakers unanimously approved the bill for second reading.
The Speaker subsequently referred it to the appropriate House Committee for further scrutiny, stakeholder engagement, and a public hearing before it is returned to the House for third reading.
If passed by the Assembly and assented to by Governor Bassey Otu, the bill would become law in Cross River State.
Nigeria already has the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2013, a federal law that prohibits same-sex marriages and civil unions across the country.
Prohibition of same sex bill is intended to complement the existing federal legislation within the state’s legal framework as it progresses through the legislative process.
