Pentecostal Apocalypticism: hate speech, contested citizenship, and religious discourses on same-sex relations in Nigeria

A key issue confronting African Christianity in the 21st century is the way to negotiate the discourses and practices surrounding same-sex relationships against the context of increased advocacy for the rights to sexual expression. Same-sex relationships have found their most scathing criticisms and opposition from within African Protestant communities, particularly Anglican and Pentecostal organisations, where prominent religious leaders have voiced strong opinions in support of legal prohibitions and heavy imprisonment terms for those convicted of homosexual practices. Gay rights activists have repeatedly accused proponents and supporters of legal prohibition of homosexuality of hate speech and homophobic intentions. Drawing examples from the plural, multi-religious Nigerian society, this essay analyses the palpable tension in the debates around claimed rights to free sexual expression and rights to manifest and propagate belief and how these intimately intersect with contested citizenship rights.