LGBTQ+ Drag Party: Homosexuality Has No Place In Our State, C'River Gov't Warns
By Ogbu Kosy
Cross River Government has warned promoters of lesbianism, gay, bisexuality, transgender, queerness and other sexualities to take their pernicious, objectionable and profane business elsewhere as such activities have no place in the state.
Beagle News gathered that the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other sexualities (LGBTQ+) community held a drag party tagged “Pride Ballroom 2023 – Most Beautiful Drag 2023,” on Friday (June 30) in a hotel (name withheld) at Ekorim I in Calabar, with Most Beautiful Drag 2023, Twerk Competition, Sound Beat Rhyme, Vogue Competition, Karaoke Competition and Botch King and Femme Queen alleged to be some of its main features.
Reacting to the distasteful party that was reportedly flooded by teenagers, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development and Skills Acquisition, Mr. Samuel Egbala, said: "on behalf of government, I join every other right thinking individuals and bodies in condemning the act. I call on perpetrators of such abhorrent practice to restrain from it or be made to face the full weight of the law. I also charge the security agencies to swing into action to nib this ugly practices in the bud."
Speaking further, the former Editor-in-Chief of The Nigerian Chronicle Newspaper pointed out that "the Sen. Bassey Otu-led administration is a youth-friendly leadership that has very visionary plans for Cross River youths. So it is callous for young people to indulge in such unwholesome acts.
The technocrat advised youths to imbibe society's high moral standards and shun homosexual activities as such practices are alien to Christianity, Islam and African traditional religion and beliefs, urging them to channel their youthful energies to profitable ventures in order to align themselves with the present administration's deep vision for the state.
He maintained that homosexuality and similar LGBTQ+ acts, apart from being morally repugnant practices and abhorrent to every right-minded person, are also punishable by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, warning that the state would not hesitate to wield the big stick should anyone be found wanting.
"Cross River State is one which is noted for its tourism potentials. We would not allow homosexuality or any other practices capable of debasing the moral fabric of the society to dent our reputation.
"As a government, we would take proactive measures to ensure that perpetrators of these ungodly acts are brought to book, the Permanent Secretary posited.
The Permanent Secretary admonished well-meaning residents of the state to avail the ministry of youths or relevant government agencies of useful information that would unravel the schemes of LGBTQ+ groups in the state in order to enable government to deal with them headlong.
The inglorious party was alleged to have been organised by the Improved Male Health Initiative (IMH-I) in collaboration with Organisers of Most Beautiful Drag.
