If the Pope doesn't believe he should judge, then he should be advising Goodluck to act similarly. It's nice talk, but time to see some action.

@1, I don't think GEJ gives much of a shit what the Pope thinks. He's nominally "Christian", but that's Protestant, not Catholic. If indeed he's anything, other than a member of an ethnic group; resemblances to American Christian sects is not evident, however quick American Kook Kristians are to rally to his cause (and inevitably regret it afterwards).

Johnson's real religion is of course "oil state corruption", which is why he's a multimillionaire despite his background in academia and government bureaucracy.

Does this mean LGBT visitors need to beware, too, as they were so advised if they're visiting Russia for the Olympics, and are there any American churches behind the scenes of this?

@2, just how fucking stupid are you, anyways? There doesn't appear to be any bottom there.

@4: I think Nigeria would be a little more cautious of provoking an international incident with one of the world's superpowers than Russia, itself a superpower, would be.

@1: please refer to the Wiki which has a respectable rundown on the demographics, political economy, and religious affiliations in Nigeria.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria

Re: reprehensible American evangelicals getting all post colonial in the Dark Continent.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/glo…

@2: ???

Most Sub-Saharan African countries are experiencing an anti-gay rights backlash because of the appearance (and reality) of continued white colonialism. Nigeria only became independent 54 years ago, long after the AIDS epidemic started there. Before then, Nigeria was essentially a slave state to the UK. It was during colonialism that harsh sodomy laws were introduced, homosexuality became untolerated - by European powers, not natives. Anti-gay bills aren't new; colonial sodomy laws are still in effect for all of Nigeria and an old "kill the gays" law is already in effect in the north half of the country.

http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/infog…

The answer isn't more intervention from white countries - it's less. If you want to support gay/trans rights, support and donate to native gay rights activists. Support direct aid from western governments to people in sub-Saharan Africa. Do NOT support neocolonialist governments or NGO's trying to subvert the people there to show them white people know best.

http://rainbowethiopia1.net/2013/12/22/h…

@7 I came here to say that. The horribly anti-gay laws in Africa often have American Christian Evangelical fingerprints.

We need to have the death penalty for people in favor of deportation or the death penalty for gays.

@2 I'm black, so your argument is invalid.

Better question: why do you assume everyone is white?

@11: HEYOOO!

About 10% of Nigeria's population is Catholic, and I realize the law there is a stunt to get votes in the upcoming election.

My point is that the Pope isn't putting action with the tolerance talk. In fact, he opposed passage of a law in Malta allowing gay couples to adopt.

@
You said the "answer isn't more interventions from white countries—it's less." Do you think the homophobic hatred would go away with the oppressors departure? If so, how so?

@11

Because it's Seattle. Even the black people are white here.

@15, it's funny. Just tonight I was thinking, "You know what this world needs? More non-black folks defining what it is to be black." And, voilà, here you are! Bless your heart, Confluence, you never fail to disappoint.

@11

I don't think he assumed you're white. He probably saw your introductory post. He's one of the racist posters someone referred to on that comment thread.

#8 I vote for drones.

Culture in Nigeria is not the same culture in America.