THIS WAY OUT : THE INTERNATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN RADIO MAGAZINE, PROGRAM NO. 717 (December 24, 2002)
THIS WAY OUT the international gay & lesbian radio magazine Program #717 Program I.D. #02-F72-00052 There will be no "NewsWrap" segment on "This Way Out" programs to be distributed this week and next ON THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM: Gays and lesbians in Nigeria, the African continent's most populous country, are joining in the emerging movement towards democracy after years of military rule. An award winning Dutch journalist talks with 6 men who are in but are trying to live outside of "The Nigerian Closet". * Our "NewsWrap" colleagues are taking this and next week off for the holidays, but we've got some very special programming to end 2001: Homosexuality remains one of the biggest taboos almost everywhere in Africa. NIGERIA, with its 120 million people - the continent's most populous country - is no exception. Like many other former British colonies, Nigeria still has laws dating back to the Victorian era that make sodomy punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Conditions for gays and lesbians in the northern part of the country have worsened over the past few years because of the introduction of sharia or Islamic law, under which at least one man has been flogged for having sex with another man. But since 1999, after years of military rule, many Nigerians are taking advantage of the return to democracy to express their opinions, aspirations and identities. Alliance Rights Nigeria was formed three yeas ago to help advance lesbigay rights and promote greater acceptance of homosexuals. On this special edition of "This Way Out", award-winning Radio Netherlands producer ERIC BEAUCHEMIN shares the stories of six men who are in -- but are trying to live outside of - "THE NIGERIAN CLOSET". (about 26:00)