The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) has annouced the results of the fourth biennial Social Perception Survey on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT+) Rights in Nigeria. The survey was conducted by Vivid Rain Business Resources, a leading resource for research and analysis. This poll was conducted in all the 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.
This year’s survey shows a gradual increase in acceptance of LGBT+ persons. The results show that 60% of Nigerians will not accept a family member who is LGBT. While this is high, it is significant progress from the 83% who said they would not accept an LGBT family member in 2017. Similarly, there is a change in attitude towards the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act (SSMPA) as fewer Nigerians support the law. In 2015, 90% of respondents surveyed supported the law but in 2019, about 75% support it. This shows a significant 15% drop in four years. While most Nigerians still view LGBT rights negatively, the public seems to be moving towards a higher level of acceptance and tolerance. The report also shows that young people are more accepting of LGBT people than the older generation. This follows the trend from the 2013, 2015 and 2017 polls.
In a statement, Xeenarh Mohammed, Executive Director of TIERs said, “Everybody deserves equal rights, and we are very happy that more people are recognizing this, and attitudes are changing. We are very proud of the work everybody is doing to ensure equality in Nigeria – from the NGOs to the Film and Music industries, the Writers, Bloggers and Journalists, and every activist doing their part. There is more work to be done, and we hope that more people will join in the fight against discrimination.”
To read the full report, click here.
