THE MENACE OF HOMOSEXUALITY IN ZANGA, SURULERE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The concept of homosexuality is a serious issue that poses great danger and distortion on the moral rectitude of the Youth and individuals in the Nigerian society. This work aims at positing the menace of homosexuality in Zanga which is located at Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State in Nigeria. Both the qualitative and quantitative methodological format were espoused in this work; thus enhancing the effective employment of the primary as well as the secondary means of data collection. This study adopted the descriptive survey research design. A sample of 200 respondents between the ages of 16 and 65 years was selected in a population of 469 from two registered thrift groups in Zanga Community using simple random sampling technique. The instrument for data collection for the study was a self-constructed structured interview items and questionnaire titled “Implications of Homosexuality in Zanga Community Questionnaire” (IOHIZCQ). The gathered data were systematically analyzed via phenomenological and culture centered approach. In testing the hypotheses, the independent t-Test was used. If the calculated value of t (tcal) is less than or equal to the critical value of t (tcrit), the hypothesis is accepted but if the calculated value of t (tcal) is greater than the critical value of t (tcrit), the hypothesis is rejected. The Natural-law theory posited by St. Thomas Aquinas and the stand of the church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion ) in lieu with the christians biblical standard on Homosexuality was adopted in this work to posit that homosexuality is immoral, unnatural and will lead humanity to extinction since scientific process of procreation may not be sustained, appeal to everyone, appreciated byeveryone and acceptable by human kind in general. The findings however, revealed that irrespective of the scientific hypothesis on the basis for homosexuality; it is neither natural nor genetic. Homosexuality equally enforces infidelity in marriages, is highly immoral, it is against the basic culture of Africans, it is a distortion to human sexuality and it fuels the embers of chaos in Zanga community as homosexual adherents are treated with disdain; while they (homosexual adherents) form a defensive league in order to guard themselves, while projecting their sexual preference. Practical ways of combating homosexuality with special reference to its resultant menace in Zanga community and the human race was then exposed in this work.