Nigerian lesbian couple, Amara and Olayinka, have bravely tied the knot with a heartwarming post on social media despite the country’s fervent anti-LGBT+ laws. (Instagram/@the_amarion)
A brave lesbian couple has symbolically tied the knot with a heartwarming post on social media despite Nigeria’s fervent anti-LGBT+ laws.
LGBT+ activist and YouTuber Amara shared a series of photos detailing her symbolic marriage to her new wife, Olayinka, on social media. The beautiful couple can be seen gazing adoringly at each other in several photos and celebrating their commitment to each other with a drink poolside.
She also shared a picture and videos of the couple getting a tattoo of each other’s name on their ring fingers as a sign of their love as Nigeria doesn’t allow same-sex marriages.
“The country said we can’t sign our yes on paper, so we tattooed it on our skin,” Amara wrote.
The heartwarming post has gained thousands of likes on Instagram, and several people sent their love and support to the couple.
Nigerian journalist and TV host Arit Okpo simply wrote “you both” alongside several heart emojis.
“Where will one find love this sincere,” another person commented.
The support didn’t stop there as more people on Twitter offered their support to Amara and Olayinka.
“this is amara, amara the lesbiannnnn”
in love w you both and your youtube channel💕 https://t.co/oMU8c9YMoB— Chim💕 (@chimskimilo) September 14, 2021
Love won, as it should ❤️ congratulations https://t.co/8omABXmNJ2
— VOTE ANGEL 💛🏹 (@__E__LU__LA__) September 14, 2021
being openly queer in 🇳🇬 is brave yho https://t.co/hUQ1tbEBYt
— Ye (@mihlemato) September 15, 2021
I appreciate how Amara & Yinka share parts of themselves with us via the YT channel – Amara, the Lesbian. Their openness about their queerness, their love all while living in Nigeria is…beyond bold.✊🏿
These 2 continue to raise a metaphorical middle finger to queerphobia. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 https://t.co/XjCKOwcfvb— Queer Weirdo 🏳️⚧️ (@_JoMaenzanise) September 14, 2021
Congratulations Amara, I am genuinely happy for you. Wishing you all the best in your new beginning.
— HARACHI (@Purpleandflawed) September 14, 2021
In Nigeria, LGBT+ people face a looming threat of discrimination, persecution and imprisonment just for being queer.
In 2014, the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, which criminalises same-sex relationships and has entrenched the condemnation of LGBT+ identities in Nigerian society, was signed into law.
The vile legislation bans same-sex marriage, displays of affection between people of the same sex, according to OutRight Action International. It also imposes a 10-year prison sentence on anyone who “registers, operates, or participates in gay clubs, societies, and organisations”.
Earlier this year, the head of a prominent human rights charity in Nigeria claimed that same-sex relations are an “inch higher than incest” morally earlier this year. In July, five men were arrested in Kano state for suspected homosexuality in a shocking police raid.