




































 Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) 
Volume.15, Number 1; January-2024; 

ISSN: 2837-3707 | Impact Factor: 7.80 

https://zapjournals.com/Journals/index.php/gjear  

Published By: Zendo Academic Publishing 

 

 

pg. 15 

MANAGING GLOBALIZATION AND CULTURAL NORMS: IMPACT OF 

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LEGISLATION ON STATE AUTONOMY 

 
1Sarah Eze and 2Benjamin Thompson  

 

Article Info  Abstract 

Keywords: Heterosexual 

Union, Same-Sex Marriage, 

Human Rights, International 

Law, Cultural Values. 

 

DOI 

10.5281/zenodo.10571677 

 The foundational role of heterosexual unions in human society is 
undeniable, serving as the origin of human existence and the family 

structure. This study addresses the imperative of upholding traditional 

heterosexual relationships within the context of the contemporary push 
for same-sex marriage (SSM) rights, which challenges established 

norms. The significance of the heterosexual partnership as the 
fundamental principle of human society, as espoused by Udokang 

(2000:154), underscores the potential societal consequences if this 
principle is violated or distorted. 

In this landscape, where Western societies and their allies advocate for 
the global acceptance of same-sex marriage, the need to safeguard 

citizens' United Nations human rights is paramount. Nigeria, like many 

other nations, staunchly opposes same-sex marriage. The Anti-gay 
(Prohibition) Act of 2013, signed into law by Nigeria's former 

President, Goodluck Jonathan, reflects this stance, imposing severe 
penalties for contravening the legislation. 

However, criticisms from international entities, such as Ms. Navi Pillay, 

assert that Nigeria's position on same-sex marriage is inconsistent with 

international law. This paper contends that the internationalization of 

human rights places limitations on states' autonomy to regulate the 

treatment of both citizens and aliens. The struggle between upholding 

cultural and traditional values and adhering to evolving global standards 

of human rights is a central theme in this analysis. 
 

 

INTRODUCTION   
There is no gainsaying the fact that human society arose and remains through the family or the natural appetite 

between opposite sexes. It is the heterosexual union between man and woman, male and female, not the reverse 
that gives birth to human beings including advocates of same-sex marriage (SSM) relationship. Udokang 

(2000:154) conceived this arrangement as “the first and original principle of human society” which can never be 
violated or distorted without potential tragic consequences. Therefore, the call to evolve more proficient ways of 

guaranteeing and appropriating the UN human rights of citizens could not have come at a time better than now 

                                                 
1 Department of Political Science Evangel University, Akaeze, Ebonyi State  
2 Department of Political Science Akwa Ibom State University Nigeria Obio Akpa Oruk Anam LGA – Nigeria 

 

https://zapjournals.com/Journals/index.php/gjear


Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) Vol. 15 (1) 

 

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that the West and their allies are canvassing for support to globalize the entire human race with same-sex marriage 

practice.   

Nigeria, like most countries of the world, is 99 percent anti-gay or same-sex marriage. Consequently, Nigeria’s 
former President, Goodluck Jonathan, on January 13, 2014 signed into law the Anti-gay (Prohibition) Act 2013 

with 14 years of imprisonment and/or death penalty for anyone flouting the legislation. Uganda followed suit the 
succeeding month with tougher penalties; even the US Arizona State same month abhorred gay union as does 

Russia without President Obama raising eye brows. But due to the poor socio-political, economic, scientific and 
technological status of their target countries, Ms. Navi Pillay said Nigeria’s position on homosexuality or same-

sex marriage laws contravened international law and must be resisted, fought and ended (Etimette, 2014; 

Ogundele, 2014; Uwalaka, 2014). Invariably, the assertion that due to the internationalization of human rights, a 
state is no longer free to treat its nationals and aliens the way it pleases, is indeed what this paper articulates and 

will yet do.   

Notably, pro-gay have argued that so long as governments and leaders who oppose them are members of the UN 
and as signatories of various human rights laws in the UN treaties, they are bound to oblige the US position. This 

they say with little consideration for the fact that no international law, with respect to state sovereignty can 
function in any state without it being domesticated through legislative processes by the National Assembly of a 

given country (Adebambo, 2014). Another argument seeking to justify gay laws is that homosexuals are capable 

of no other sexual activities – being born so. Meanwhile scientists and medical experts refute in entirety, the 
existence of such gene (Muanya, 2014). They rather reveal a lot on health implications of same-sex marriage to 

include Anal Cancer, Genital Warts, HIV/AIDS and other serious health risks constantly ignored by homosexuals. 
Really this is where globalization as the extension, expansion and intensification of interests of world powers to 

places and people for good or for bad speaks volumes.   

Advocacy for same-sex marriage in the current world system appears to have grossly undermined not only the 
sovereign status of states but, also the first and original principle of human society called “family”. Similarly, the 

basis of their argument that the gay “having been created by nature as such, it is unfair for the society to 

discriminate against their sexual preferences” is devoid of the needed cogency (Agbiti 2007:15). One wonders 
why the advocates would not proffer the same arguments for “the kleptomaniacs, nymphomaniacs and those with 

obsession to kill without justification, who all claims (sic) to be victims of instinctive compulsion”. Refuting this 
claim, the Nigeria Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) posited: “There is no such gene as a 

homosexual gene! Therefore we reject born that way fallacy” (Muanya (2004).   

In the same vein, Natural law thinkers, Robert George and John Finnis revealed that “People with homosexual or 
heterosexual tendencies who really intend to use their sexual appetites in morally right ways will not engage in 

homosexual acts” (Ukachukwu, 2014:13). It is the contention of this paper that the state-based ethical cum 

domestication provisions in the UN charter for rights of sovereignty, dignity of human person and their allies are 
untenable due to human rights pursuits without traditional or God’s kind of morality.   

As a polarized global phenomenon, the Western states divide are the US, UK, Canada and, the non-Western states 

- Africa and others. The West are promoting and over-liberalizing individual rights, as opposed to Africa and 
others’ conservative – collective right of the society. The West couldn’t be any less formidable owing to a number 

of collaborators among which are Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, governmental and other 

nongovernmental agents currently engaged in threats, pressure, lobbying and advocacy-drives in poor countries 
like Nigeria. Historically speaking, it could be recalled that twenty-four years ago, the cureless dreaded disease, 

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) started in the US as a result of sexual promiscuity involving 
man and animal. Ironically, the same America is spearheading the spread and legalization of another form of 

bestiality (same-sex marriage) in all countries of the world.   

It is imperative to note at this point that as at 2007, no fewer than “67 of the then 192 member countries of the 
United Nations including all the European Union member states and the United States” supported the proposal 

co-sponsored by Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay to stop anti-gay or same-sex marriage laws. Conversely, Syria 

initiated counter proposal “signed by 57 member nations, including all 27 nations of the Arab League as well as 
Iran and North Korea”. In Africa, South Africa, as lately as 2006 signed into law the freedom for homosexuals to 



Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) Vol. 15 (1) 

 

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contract same-sex marriage. In February 2014, President Yoweri Museveni, who, to many (due to America’s 

threat), seemed gullible and vulnerable, suddenly, like his Nigeria’s counterpart, President Goodluck Jonathan, 
proved his worth by signing the anti-gay law with death penalty. In the meantime, Uganda reportedly goes tougher 

than Nigeria, as women wearing miniskirts are stripped naked publicly by the Police. As at 2011, homosexual 
behaviour was illegal in 76 countries and punishable by execution in seven others (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human 

rights April, 2014).   

The paper’s attempt at understanding the pulse of international society on globalization and same-sex marriage 
laws is limited to examining issues and prospects for states’ sovereignty using the UN human rights laws as the 

basis. In doing this, the paper considered some selected case studies on same-sex marriage laws in the United 

States of America, Nigeria, China, and Britain.  Consequently, the paper sought to answer some vital questions, 
viz: To what extent is same-sex marriage related to globalization and state sovereignty in contemporary 

international system? What could be responsible for the US moral/ethnical decline after it had attained 
unprecedented scientific/technical heights? These questions constitute the major thrust of this paper. Therefore, 

their answers will aid in recommending possible ways to checkmate the excesses of the US team and advise 
targeted vulnerable countries on the way forward.   

Conceptual Clarification  

Globalization  
Globalization as a process is better described than defined if its essence and practices are to be fully grasped. 
Marshal (1998, in Engwemi and Usman, 2010:187) itemized the description to include among others: existence 

of a world satellite information system; the emergence of global patterns of consumption system and 
consumerism; the decline of the sovereignty of the nation state; the emergence of world political systems such as 

the League of Nations and the United Nations; the development of world-wide health problems such as AIDS; 
extension of human rights and the complex interchange between world religions, inter/intra cultural groupings 

and ethical or moral issues. These and lots more constitute emerging issues and/or factors towards global 
consciousness.   

According to Kessler (cited in Ikpe, 2010:284), globalization “is the expression and shrinking of the world in 
terms of time, space and distance; manifesting in the way in which, and the speed with which money and 

communications generally move round the world. Through this process, the world has been compressed into a 
“television screen”. In other words, globalization, as exemplified by (Ikpe, 2010:384-385) anchors on speedy 

communications in that:    

In 1776 it took 50 days for news of the English reaction to the American Declaration of Independence to get back 
to the United State. In 1950, British reaction to the outbreak of the Korean wars was broadcast in America in 24 

hours. With advances in satellite broadcasting, reports filmed in Britain now take a mere 25 seconds to reach 

American TV screens and vice versa. We now take for granted the almost immediate transmission of newsworthy 
events around the world. 

Same-sex Marriage  
Same-sex marriage is a legally recognized relationship between two people of the same sex.  The concept, like 
most others in social sciences, not only lacks a universally accepted definition due to its newness, absurdity, 

strangeness, abrasive and embarrassing disposition. Descriptively, Same-sex marriage is the marriage relationship 

between persons of same sex (man to man, woman to woman). Same-sex marriage is homosexual in nature and 
structure. It is institutional like its heterosexual opponent. It is made up of branches such as: Lesbianism, Gay, 

Bisexual, Transgender, Homosexuality, Alternative sexual orientation among others. While Lesbianism involves 
women only, Homosexuality and Gay involves men in particular. Gay is more synonymous with same-sex. The 

“Alternative Sexual Orientation” as Etimette (2014:19) explained, is an act of “a man poking his genital” or male 
organ “into a fellow man’s anus, and a woman sucking a fellow woman’s” vagina to satisfy sexual urge or just 

for the fun of it. Again, this forms the basis and essence of Same-sex marriage which America and her allies are 
determined to indoctrinate the rest of the world with. 

 

 



Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) Vol. 15 (1) 

 

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Human Rights Laws  
Human rights are moral principles regularly protected as legal rights in national and international laws. They are 
supposed to be universal, egalitarian and persuasive, not forceful. In recapitulation, the laws though applicable 

everywhere, the same for everyone, no sovereign state can be forced to obey or apply any of them without first 
and foremost domesticating it as an act of the National Assembly.  

According to John (2000:45), of the three major rights (Civil Rights, Legal Rights and Human Rights), human 

rights is the most problematic. To him, the first two rights vary from state to state while the last right is global, 
inalienable and claimable by man as a member of the human race or family. Shaw (2005:148), while linking 

human rights with ethics/morality see chances of their successful implementation only as they reflect values of 

the state or community. Otherwise the totalitarian collective Soviet Union would not have endorsed the UN 
Human Rights Treaties. The Westerners (America and Europe) value individual rights as opposed to Asian-

Chinese value for honest, effective and efficiency government or collective society as does Africa. Be it also 
noted that virtually all matters that today would be classified as human rights issues were in the 19th century 

universally regarded as within the internal sphere of national jurisdiction.  

State Sovereignty and International System  
Sovereignty has to do with supreme authority. Its classical form implies supreme control of the state over its 

domestic affairs including its citizens at home or abroad, over aliens residing within the state except those 

enjoying diplomatic immunity. Contemporarily, sovereignty is limited to the rules and procedures for decision-
making which admit of flexibility instead of rigidity or risk relevance in the current world system. To many, 

sovereignty of states died before the 20th century while others still believe in its existence as the basis of 
interaction. The above views could be supported by the frowning of the United States, European Union, and 

United Nations on the signing into law anti-gay marriage with death penalty by Nigeria and Uganda, and the fact 
that “constitutional arrangements of Japan and Germany were directed by the United States after World War II. 

The United Kingdom, despite its rejection of the Euro, is part of the European Union” (Eminue, 2001:144).  

On the other hand, international system could be defined as the study of the interactions among the various actors 

that participate in international politics, including states, international organizations, non-governmental 
organizations, sub-national entities, and individuals. It was the concept of globalization that shaped and brought 

about the system in its contemporary form (Shrinkage of the World) through advancement in modern technology, 
the source added. Comparatively, the law is above individuals in domestic system, but international law exists as 

between the states. Individuals only have the choice to obey it or not. Legal structure and authority in states are 
hierarchical and vertical while the international system is horizontal, consisting of over 190 independent states 

legally sovereign and equal (Shaw, 2005). For instance, it was the impact of the Second World War and its 
aftermath which necessitated the drive for adequate international system to maintain international peace and 

protection of human rights.  

Be it noted at this point that in spite of Article 2(7) which provides that “nothing contained in the present charter 

shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction 
of any state, this has over the years been flexibly interpreted, so that human rights issues are no longer recognized 

as being solely within the domestic jurisdiction of states” (Shaw, 2005:258-259). Accordingly, Owugah 
(2003:253) contended that:   

We are now in an international system in which the United States, as the only super power, bestrides the world 
like a colossus, supported by the European Union and Japan with their transnational corporations (TNCs), the 

IMF/WB and the WTO as the agents or institutions of globalization charged with the responsibility of imposing 
and supervising the effective implementation of the principles of free market system on the weak, underdeveloped 

and dependent economies in the South.  

It is also worth noting that globalization policies have ostensibly turned from the promised development, 
technological advancement, peace, and high standard of living into exploitation, threats, suppression, poverty, 

confusion, sodomy and moral depravity. 

 

 



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pg. 19 

Theoretical Framework  
The paper adopted the cyclical (Rise-and-Fall) theory as the framework for analysis because apart from its ability 
to examine the apparent paradoxical moral decline surrounding the UN Human Rights laws and the US 

purportedly established morality, the theory adequately captures and explains most of the variables and dynamics 
that inform prospective effects of globalization on same-sex marriage, state sovereignty and other related issues. 

The cyclical theory was developed by Oswald Spengler and Theodore Caplow (Ikpe, 2010:446-447). The theory 
argues that societies grow, reach a peak and then inevitably decline. Ikpe joined historians and other social 

thinkers to observe the conformity of past civilizations - Egyptians, Babylonian, Cretan, Greek, Carthaginian, 
Roman and others to the cyclical process of birth, growth and decline within a span of five thousand years. 

Toynbee and Capplan (1972 cited in Ikpe, 2010) equated the noted societal tendency with the life cycle of man - 

birth, grow to maturity, aged and then die. 

Therefore, protagonists of the cyclical theory see those social changes as normal and inevitable. Akpan (2003:296) 
corroborated the above position by observing that “in most cases, just as such nations reached the apogee of 

materialism and culture or consolidate the gains they already had, they declined and fell and were replaced by 
other power centres”. He cited Greek, Rome, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Britain, France and Russia as another set 

of case study of the theory.  

With regard to the West, cyclical theorist, Oswald Spengler blamed its decline, supposedly in the 70s, on the 

replacement of energetic social builders by entrenched minorities who rule by force (Andreson and Taylor, 2008 
in Ikpe). Ikpe observed that though Oswald’s prediction of the decline and rise of the West and Asian countries 

respectively has not occurred in the envisaged forms, Asian countries such as China, Japan, India and the so called 
Asian Tigers are actually emerging as economic and technological powers. Owing to the above submission, and 

the fact that leadership (human factor), according to Akpan (2003:300), “not geography, population, natural 
resources, political structure or system, military strength etc. constitutes the greatest determinant of national 

power”, it is the contention of this paper that the same human factor constitutes the decline and fall in the same 
degree albeit negatively (Ojo, 2014:23; Isu, 2014:14). 

Furthermore, another major cyclical theorist, Theodore Caplow (1991 cited in Ikpe, 2010) also analysed cyclical 
theory using three different cycles viz: (1) Idealistic culture, (2) Ideational culture, and (3) Sensate culture. In the 

idealistic culture, the society struggles with tension arising from what is considered ideal and practical (Ikpe, 
2010). It is a period involving contradicting issues like same-sex marriage and state sovereignty with the society 

trying to establish, reconcile and legalize the controversies involving contesting groups. Again, Anderson and 
Taylor (2008) in the Ikpe uses America to illustrate idealistic culture thus: that as regards American situation, the 

constitution and other legal documents and protocols emphasizes “equality for all despite intractable racial class, 
and gender stratification in the American society”. This is followed by ideational culture which according to 

Caplow (1991), operates in the spiritual dimension. This is where several faith-based and religious groups claim 

solution to individual and societal moral decadence ostensibly and ironically propagated by America in the name 
of fostering equality and human rights laws globally.  

In his sensate culture, a behavioural pattern of people in the society is hedonistic or pleasuredriven with 

indulgence in alcohol, drugs, music, sex et cetera. The culture, he added, “grows to a level where it becomes 
abhorring or unacceptable to a larger number of people and resulting in the society seeking solutions once again 

in the idealistic culture which completes and begin the cycle again”.  

Homosexuality and Other Related Same-Sex Marriage Acts  
In less than one month after anti-gay law in Nigeria has been signed by the President, the Punch Newspaper of 
February 11, 2014 reported the arraignment in Ibadan Magistrate Court of two NYSC members for engaging in 

homosexuality with a pupil. The culprits were reported by the prosecutor to have “procured and got hold of the 
male pupil, (themselves being males) took him into a room, laid him on a bed, caressed him and orally sucked his 

manhood until the minor ejaculated”. They were granted bail in the sum of N100,000.00 each with one blood 
relation as surety.   

Relatively too, is the fact that while other people in other parts of the world celebrate the tying of marital knots, 
divorce is the most celebrated event in Japan now. The story reveals that requests for divorces have tripled (with 



Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) Vol. 15 (1) 

 

pg. 20 

expensive average of 55,000 Yen) ceremonies to mark the transition of the couples to their former single status 

since the 9.0 magnitude earthquake of March 11, 2013 which set off a massive Tsunami. Divorcees confess after 
ceremonies of their feeling relieved to make clean breaks.  

Femi (2008:16) reported of incest involving one of the former Nigeria’s Presidents with his daughter in-law. 

Similarly, The Sermon Newspaper of July 29, 2008 carried on its front page picture of a man caught having sex 
with goat. The man, a Sudanese, was ordered by community elders to pay the sum of 15,000 Sudanese Dinass 

($50, about N18,250) as dowry for his goat-wife. The man pleaded for pardon as he claimed ignorant of what 
moved him to such an abominable act (Silas, 2008:1-3). As if those sexual abuses were not enough, a newspaper 

report with the caption “Sacrilege” carried the picture of a man of God, and a pack of used condom a worshipper 

gave as an offering in his church. The man of God wept over what he called “man’s ingratitude to God”. He saw 
this as a way of mocking God by the antiChrist. He particularly decried the approval of same-sex marriage by 

some countries of the world, “describing the constitutional recognition accorded to such couples as an indication 
of the reign of anti-Christ in the world” (Oti, 2013). 

Oladinde (2010:40) sees homosexuality as being caused by pornography, masturbation and the like, not 

necessarily, generic, hormonal, congenital, and biologically pre-determined or mental illness as speculated by 
some scientists, biologists and social engineers. He went on to advice that any counselee should see the act as a 

sin against Allah’s marital laws in the Holy Qur’an and make effort to repent and go through a process of 

deliverance or rehabilitation.  

Issues and Prospects for States Sovereignty in the Globalization and Same-Sex Marriage Laws Discourse   
Globalization has led to internationalization of most issues in human and state existence. And due to the 

internationalization of human rights, a state is no longer free to treat its nationals and aliens the way it pleases; 
and the extent to which a sovereign state can use the human rights laws to treat its citizens and non-citizens seem 

unjustly grossly limited. On the front burner now is the much heated, debated and polarized issue of same-sex 
marriage laws. As earlier stated in the problem statement, the paper contends that same-sex marriage is a product 

of serious moral decay; and the UN Human Rights laws purportedly founded on morality have woefully failed. 

More so, western morality is paradoxically war against humanity and divinity. It does not require amendment but 
sincere restoration replacement of the philosophy of the founding fathers like George Washington with the motto: 

“In God We Trust”. Outside this fundamentally therapeutic ethics/morality grounds, there remains little hope for 
America and it same-sex marriage allies. Oke and Esikot (1999:85) postulated that though ethics lack the capacity 

to make one moral, it offers the individual excellent mental training in the analysis and evaluation of moral 
problems and cases. In other words, with ethics, they added, the individuals are well equipped with requisite 

knowledge to objectively deal with vital moral issues and not to base judgment on emotion, sentiment and 
generally held opinions.  

Undoubtedly, the current controversial gay or same-sex marriage advocacy is driven by contemporary Western 
morality. In January 2014, following the signing into law of the antigay law by Nigeria’s President Goodluck 

Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan with death penalty on culprits and 14 years imprisonment on their accomplice(s), the 
Western and European World Powers have been raising eyebrows. Some of their representatives, Robert 

Fitzpatrick, Head of Press and Public Affairs, William Hague, British Foreign Secretary, stormed Abuja to 
contend that Nigeria’s position on the bill is a direct infringement “on fundamental right of expression and 

association which are guaranteed by the Nigerian International treaty obligations”, and that they are concerned 
about the prospect of this action on homosexuals. They promised sanctions and increased pressure against Nigeria 

and indeed any country that is anti-gay until they succumb to their bid (Chukwu and Akinola, 2014). The envoy 

in their moral dilemma statement added that as far as issues of human rights are concerned, they are “not telling 
Nigeria what kind of legislation to practice, or advocating for homosexuality, or what same-sex marriage should 

be. We are not imposing our own morality or culture. Indeed, western morality, as opposed to the traditional, 
cannot be any less denied”.  

Obviously, these statements are not only ostensible and diplomatic; they are exhibits of minds full of guilt. Be 

that as it may, the position of this paper as earlier stated remains that advocates of same-sex marriage are morally 
bankrupt and fraught with over-liberalization of immoral issues such as incessant divorces, fornication and 



Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) Vol. 15 (1) 

 

pg. 21 

adultery euphemistically called “fun” in the West; over-pampering of children etc., all in the name of human 

rights promotion and protection. Given the stated problems of the US on one side and, that of the economically 
vulnerable countries on the other, we observe that as a desideratum, America should retrace its steps back to the 

ethical/moral philosophies of their founding fathers or risk global relevance in the nearest future; and for 
economically vulnerable countries like Nigeria, Onwuka (2014) opined that the best way to resist America’s 

obnoxious amoral demands is to evolve means and explore all  there is to achieve buoyant and enticing economy 
like China, Saudi-Arabia, Russia, among others, which have not only refuted gay practice but are totalitarian and 

dictatorial in many human rights issues like using undue force to detain dissidents on peaceful demonstrations; 
cutting of the limbs or killing of those found guilty of minor offences.  

Evidently, China has not only fast-taken-over African market from them (Ogundele, 2014), it is the US largest 
creditor to the tune of $1.317 as at November 2013, (Onwuka, 2014). Another example is Saudi-Arabia which 

the US would not like to be seen as anti-Islam or being ungrateful for Saudi’s highest patronage of their arms 
sales worth $60 billion (largest anywhere till date) the source added. In sum, and indirectly, the main advantage 

of American ideologies ranging from democracy, economic policies, globalization et cetera is in the challenges 
it poses on countries to fight their way through or continue to suffer subjugation in many areas of their existence. 

Possible Pathways to Same-Sex Marriage Practice  
Although there may not be any known available causes of homosexuality or same-sex marriage, available reports 

and confessions point in the following directions:  

Masturbation or Fantasy: In this sexual activity, the victim robs his penis while fancying on his mind a particular 
woman as the object of his affection to achieve stimuli or sexual satisfaction with or without ejaculation. Studies 

shows that many who indulges in masturbation are prone to either being homosexual, bisexual or the like. In the 
same view, the female folk use their fingers and/or artificial penis on their genital organ for same purpose.   

Pornography: This has a lot to do with magazines, films etc. that show sexual acts and images in a way that is 
intended to make people feel sexually excited. There had been major campaigns in recent times against it because 

of its adverse effects on people and children in particular.  

Illegal Human Trafficking: From the United States estimation, human trafficking worth US$5-7 billion annually 
and having over four million persons moved from one country to another and within countries for sexual purposes 

have led to more than 500,000 females being trafficked or exported to Western Europe alone - a serious violation 
of human right (Raymond, 2002 in Ifeayichuhwu and Titus, 2014).   

Bad Company: Many gay escapees testify to the above biblical fact. In terms of homosexuality involving two 
males, this paper is yet to know how long the one playing the female role maintains such status in the union, or 

do they exchange roles and act accordingly? If so, the introduced wife today would possibly become the husband, 
the following day; ridiculous!  

Forced Celibacy: Using the Catholic Church as case study Onwuka (2014:25) observed that “stories of Catholic 

Priests sexually molesting male and female children have been on the increase in recent times” due to forced 
celibacy upon the Catholic Clergy. Besides making Catholic Priests appear unique with less financial need arising 

from no family upkeep-bills, Onwuka, sees celibacy in the Catholic priesthood as a failure which will never 

succeed because like its contemporary abomination in gay marriage, it is against natural law. Onwuka went on to 
posit that “if it is subdued forcefully, it brews like a latent volcano, exploding one day in a destructive and 

embarrassing manner”. It needs to be channelled to a fruitful venture (family) via marriage. The safest outlets are 
neither fornication, masturbation, paedophilia (someone sexually attracted to young children) nor homosexuality. 

Regrettably, the embarrassment is beyond the Catholic Church (for which the Pope has recently apologized to the 
mass public), it is one on the faces of all the stakeholders in Christendom. However, with the coming of radical 

revolutionary Popes like Pope Benedict xvi and his successor Pope John Paul II who broke the tradition of dying 
in office and prefer to retire and be called “Pope Emeritus” the present Pope Francis can change the celibacy 

policy if he so wishes. This is the prospective view of Onwuka which we also affirm at least for the sake of 

homosexuality and same-sex marriage affinity. In the same vein, the Attorney General of Federation of Nigeria, 
Adoke (SAN) looks forward to seeing the appellate courts come up with rulings that will put all issues of 

international treaties and Nigeria’s constitution clear and beyond all doubts (Adebambo, 2014).  



Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) Vol. 15 (1) 

 

pg. 22 

The Positives and Negatives of Same-Sex Marriage  
Like forced celibacy, same-sex marriage makes one appear unique, and since there is no possibility of pregnancy 
(wanted or not) there is no emotional trauma or temptation to commit abortion as it is the case with their 

heterosexual counterparts. Some people see homosexuals and the gay or same-sex marriage folks as saviours or 
potential parents of abandoned babies. And they are reported to be in the habit of celebrating their adopted babies 

with pomp and ceremony.  

From the above seeming merits, demerits cry out to say, the so called uniqueness, is that of aberration, 
abomination and sin against God and man. Their union being prone to short-live, their parenting and celebration 

of abandoned or adopted children do more harm than good at short or long run to those children and society for 

their bad examples. Once again, if all peoples were to be gay how would we have had the George Washington, 
Abraham Lincoln, Helen Sir Leaf or the principal advocate of same-sex marriage Barrack Obama? More so, if 

their argument that gays are born with such sexual preferences or orientation were to be valid, why are they not 
in support of the kleptomaniacs, the nymphomaniacs (i.e. stealing instinct, insatiable sex-driven women 

respectively) and those with obsession to kill without justification, who all claim to be victims of instinctive 
compulsion? Same-sex marriage and its allies are socially confusing, strange and, stigmatizing to most countries 

of the world; legally artificial and ambiguous; spiritually prone to curses and divine judgement as in the time of 
Noah; psychologically, traumatic and suicide prone; scientifically untrue; morally animalistic and depraved; 

medically unhygienic, health hazardous as highlighted below:  

Health Implications of Same-Sex Marriage 
Muanya (2014) corroborates the report of the Coalition of Civil Society Organization (CSOs) of Nigeria that 
illness, chronic disease, psychological problems and early death are the legacies of homosexuals. The author 

quoted Dr. Nkechi Asogwa of the Foundation for African Cultural Heritage as having profoundly stated that 
“Although homosexuality is presented to society as a healthy and sometimes even superior alternative to 

heterosexuality, the truth is that homosexual behaviour represents a serious threat to individual and public health”. 
Apart from the homosexual being more HIV/AIDS prone (due to their reckless sexual tendency and multiple sex 

partners) diseases such as “Anal cancer, Genital Warts and other known 34 ones are prevalent among them” 

(Muanya, 2014). 

Statistically, in 2005 the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that homosexuals accounted for 72 
percent of all HIV infections among men and 53 percent among all individuals hence their being banned from 

donating blood. Moreover, psychiatric and psychological illnesses associated with homosexuality include 
depression, loneliness leading to suicide tendencies, addiction and violence due to the overtly exploitative nature 

of such relationship. Between 1994 and 1997 the Center also reported an increase of anal sex in the US from 57.6 
percent to 61.2 percent while those using condoms declined from 69.6 percent to 60 percent. Most homosexuals 

engage in unprotected oral, anal and vaginal sex.  

If, according to the Center, 43 percent of white male-homosexual (in the 90s) had sex with 500 or more partners 

and, with 28 percent having 1,000 or more sex partners, what would we say of the female? Statistically, according 
to Umoh (2010:5), HIV/AIDS in 1981 started among homosexuals in the US with few cases. By 1999 no fewer 

than 34 million people globally got infected and most of them live in sub-Saharan Africa. The big poser therefore 
is:  

What is the prospect of same-sex marriage pandemic not following suit in Africa?                                              

Selected Countries Study on Same-Sex Marriage  
As earlier indicated in the scope of this study, Britain will represent the continent of Europe; China, Asia; Nigeria, 

Africa and, the last but least the United States of America (USA), North America.  

China  
China recognizes neither same-sex marriage nor civil unions. A poll conducted in 2009 showed that over 30 

percent of the Beijing population supports same-sex marriage while the rest were unsure or opposed. China does 

not have any sex union recognition laws. Beijing and Hong Kong currently provide dependent residency status to 
the same-sex marriage partners of legal residents (Wikipedia April 9, 2014). On January 13, 2010, China Daily 

published a front-page splash photo of a Chinese couple, Zenge Auquan, a divorced architect aged 45, and Pan 



Global Journal of Education and Allied Research (GJEAR) Vol. 15 (1) 

 

pg. 23 

Wenjie, a demobilized PLA solider aged 27, being married at a gay bar in Chengdu. The marriage is understood 

as having no legal basis in the country and the families of both men reacted negatively to the news of the union.   

The marriage law of the People’s Republic of China explicitly defines marriage as the union between one man 
and one woman. However, “the attitude of the Chinese government toward homosexuality is believed to be three 

Nos: No approval; no disapproval; no promotion”. Accordingly, China’s Ministry of Health officially removed 
homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses in 2001. To most Chinese, same-sex marriage is not an issue to 

worry much about because many countries of the West (Principal advocates of the movement) have not 
recognized it (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/same-sex-marriage).  

Nigeria  
A working partner of US-based Gallup Poll, No. 1 Polls Limited, conducted a poll among Nigerians on the subject 

of same-sex marriage between 4 and 6 June 2013. The result showed that 92 per cent of Nigerians supported the 
bill to criminalized same-sex marriage. This means that less than 8 percent of the 170 million Nigerians are against 

same-sex marriage; and the US, European Union and, Canada have threatened to withdraw their supports to  

Nigeria in areas such as HIV/AIDS, research work and anti-malaria programmes. Canada’s Prime Minister, 
Stephen Harper, cancelled President Goodluck Jonathan’s scheduled visit to his country 

(http://dailyindependenting.com/2014/03/same-sex-marriage-nigeria-vs-thewest). In the same vein, no fewer than 

twenty-four leading Nigerian academics, researchers and journalists in Diaspora advocated strong diplomatic 
discipline on Nigeria for the prohibition. To them, Nigeria’s problem is not same-sex marriage but corruption 

which Nigerian leaders have refused sincere fight  (http://nigeriasrenaissance.com.index.php/news/item/3600d-
anti-gay-law...). 

United States of America  
In fact, it is on the backdrop of the results of a recent opinion poll among those aged 18-29 which showed as high 

as 70 percent support for same-sex marriage that informed the decision of the US government in adopting same-
sex marriage. Accordingly, as at May 9, 2014, sixteen countries: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, 

France, Iceland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom 
(Britain), Uruguay, and several sub-national jurisdictions (part of Mexico and the United States) allow same-sex 

couples to marry (enwikipedia.org/wiki/same-sex-marriage).    

United Kingdom  
In May 2012, three religious groups (Quakers, Liberal Judaism and Unitarians) sent a letter to the UK Prime 

Minister, David Cameron asking for permission to solemnize same-sex weddings (en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/same-

sex-marriage). The government’s consultation first came a month after on a permissive basis, and later on July17, 
2013 passed through the readings in The Houses of Commons and Lords (366 votes to 161 and 390 votes to 148 

respectively). Reportedly, the above source adds that the first same-sex marriage took place on March 29 this 
year.  

Popular Opinions on Same-sex Marriage  
Opinions of the world public were sought by the researcher using the internet facilities on the polarized same-sex 
marriage laws between April 1 and May 15, 2014. The single question poll went thus: In view of the controversial 

same-sex marriage laws currently propagated by the US and its allies, do you support the practice? After one and 

a half months, the facilities (using 20 friends within and outside Nigeria to mount the opinion on their social 
media (using 2 platforms) got a total of 2,855 responses from which 2,500 representing 87.56% voted in the 

negative while 355 respondents representing 12.44% voted in the affirmative. The response rate, no doubt, is 
indicative that most people in the world are against same-sex marriage laws. The overriding proposition for this 

study was that threat and/or logic against anti-gay practices, without due respect for the first and original principle 
of the family poses serious challenge to effective implementation of human rights laws across states’ borders. 

Going by the votes of respondents above, it is expedient to say that same-sex marriage advocacy is a product of 
serious ethical/moral depravity in our contemporary society; and stands being rejected by most people and 

countries of the world.   

The following, among others, are the reasons adduced for this position:  



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pg. 24 

1. Beginning with the issue of selected pressure by the US. Right from January 2014 which saw to the signing 

into law of the bill prohibiting same-sex marriage in Nigeria by President Goodluck Jonathan, the media have 
been awash with bullies from the US, EU and UN vowing that they will do everything to see that Nigeria has 

repealed the prohibition. Uganda joined Nigeria a month later to prohibit the shameful act with death penalty. 
Surprisingly, the US and its allies never say anything against China, Saudi Arabia or its own state Arizona which 

also joined the rest of the anti-gay world recently to abhor the practice, all because African countries are 
technologically and economically poor.  

2. The US argument for gay, that they were born with sexual inclination toward samesex hence 

homosexuality and same-sex marriage. The question is, if the pro-gays were to be that concerned for people born 

with natural tendencies, why are they not also fighting to legalize those with instinct to steal (klepmatoniacs), 
(nymphomaniacs) or a woman with instinct to sleep with many a man. Therefore, their message of equality is 

also driven on a vehicle of partiality and falsehood.  

3. The US concept of individual rights as opposed to the collective (exemplified by Maslow’s self-
actualization) promotes homosexuality and same-sex marriage. To them, the intensity or the human sexual instinct 

is shaped more by sexual competition than maintaining a birth-rate adequate to survival of the species. Indeed, 
the difference or missing link between individualist and collectivist societies is the ethical/moral code. The former 

being western operates over-liberalized-indiscipline morality, while the rest of the world remains traditionally 

disciplined in terms of sex and marriage.  

4. Although with the globalization, the superpowers have unlawfully penetrated virtually all sovereign states; 
weaker states are the most vulnerable. Meanwhile every state needs recognition and/or finance which cannot be 

accessed without membership and, submission to international laws. And in the system there are intrigues even 
in the globalization processes to maintain status quo by the Developed Countries worsening matters for the Less 

Developed Countries (LCDs). Indeed, due to the internationalization of human rights, a state is no longer free to 
treat its nationals and aliens the way it pleases as in the recent same-sex marriage controversies.  

5. In spite of the fact that in 1981, HIV/AIDS started in the US through sexual promiscuity and Africa 
becomes the most infected, the same America is once again spearheading another sexual act considered 

abominable by most countries and people of the world with Africa as their main target.  

CONCLUSION  
Same-sex marriage (SSM) laws are violations of God’s original principles for human society - the family. Moral 

decline and eventual depravity is worse than HIV/AIDS infection.  

America’s moral decay started some decades ago when divorce amongst legally marriage couples was not given 

a damn. It penetrated the church and graduated into the current infamy called same-sex marriage. Truly, if God 
allows America to continue to police the world, before the next century, the superpower might legalize boundless 

sexual practices where Plato’s state of nature would return and the Bible’s man of sin in the New World Order 
(Ukpe, 2013) would view America as veritable tool to fight godliness and promote lawlessness to the full. What 

Uwalaka (2014) considers as “Big things start small and small things turn big” with regard to same-sex marriage 
is the pivot around which most of the issues and prospects in this study revolve. Not as though the world had not 

been having cases of homosexuality and the like, but with the unprecedented dimension it is taking, the worst 

may ensue if stakeholders like the Christians, Muslims and other faith-based organizations will not rise to the 
occasion.  

RECOMMENDATIONS  
In order to encourage the fight against same-sex marriage and its related abominable acts, the following 
recommendations are proffered:  

The United Nations should not only recognize that developing countries and countries in transition face special 

difficulties in responding to globalization challenges, and that only through broad and sustained efforts to diversity 

can globalization be made fully inclusive and equitable, but also to have the political will to compel America (and 
its allies) to, concessionally, promote development of African countries as in the Asian Tigers. Indeed, developing 

countries need sustained development not spread of immorality.      



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pg. 25 

Developing countries, like Nigeria, needs to evolve buoyant and enticing economy in order to be freed from 

America’s bullies, and threats of sanctions. With a strong economic base plus tyranny America would look the 
other way and do business with them; and the abominable advocacy would die a natural death.   

Closely related to the suggestion for economic emancipation are those of science and technology. Developing 

countries, like Nigeria, should look inward and stopped being technologically dependent, as this would continue 
to make a mockery of their political independence and sovereignty. With good governance orchestrated by 

exemplary leadership devoid of corruption, brain drain would be checked, patriotism would be encouraged, 
homegrown science and technology would spring up in Less Developed Countries.  

Going by the polarized and controversial nature of same-sex marriage and its allies, the UN charter should be 
amended to accommodate non-western morality.   

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