- Homosexuality
- ⚢✖ Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Banned
- Censorship
- ✖ Imprisonment as punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Single only
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Illegal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (5-year deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- N/A
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Public Opinion
Rivers is lacking public opinion data.
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Homosexual activity in Rivers is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).
Current status
Since 1916
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Male and female homosexuality is punishable by 14 years in prison by the Federal Criminal Code in all Southern States under Section 214. The Section reads "Any person who – (a) has carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature; or (c) permits a male person to have carnal knowledge of him or her against the order of nature; is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years."
Censorship of LGBT issues in Rivers is imprisonment as punishment.
Current status
Since Dec 30, 2013
Imprisonment as punishment under federal Nigeria law
In addition to criminalizing homosexuality, Nigeria has enacted legislation that would make it illegal for heterosexual family members, allies and friends of LGBT people to be supportive. According to Nigerian law, a heterosexual ally "who administers, witnesses, abets or aids" any form of gender non-conforming and homosexual activity could receive a 10-year jail sentence. The censorship was imposed by the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act of 2013.
Right to change legal gender in Rivers is illegal.
Current status
Illegal under federal Nigeria law
Transgender people are not able to change their legal gender, and crossdressing is illegal in 12 states in Northern Nigeria.
Gender-affirming care in Rivers is restricted.
Current status
Restricted under federal Nigeria law
In Nigeria, surgical procedures like orchiectomy, penectomy, phalloplasty and metoidioplasty are not available. Other gender-affirming care services such as laser hair removal, hormone therapy and trachea shave, are accessible in Nigeria, however are often too expensive for the people who need them.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Rivers is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized under federal Nigeria law
You cannot legally identify as non-binary in Nigeria.
LGBT discrimination in Rivers is no protections.
Current status
No protections under federal Nigeria law
Section 17(2)(a) in The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states "every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law."
However, there are no explicit discrimination protections regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria.
However, there are no explicit discrimination protections regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria.
LGBT employment discrimination in Rivers is no protections.
Current status
No protections under federal Nigeria law
Section 17(2)(a) in The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states "every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law."
However, there are no explicit discrimination protections in regards to employment discrimination regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria.
However, there are no explicit discrimination protections in regards to employment discrimination regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria.
LGBT housing discrimination in Rivers is no protections.
Current status
No protections under federal Nigeria law
Section 17(2)(a) in The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states "every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and opportunities before the law."
However, there are no explicit discrimination protections in regards to housing discrimination regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria.
However, there are no explicit discrimination protections in regards to housing discrimination regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in Nigeria.
Same-sex adoption in Rivers is single only.
Current status
Single only under federal Nigeria law
Information regarding same-sex couples adopting children is very limited. According to the US Department of State, same-sex married couples are explicitly not allowed to adopt children in Nigeria. However, they do not mention anything about single gay people adopting children. According to Adoptive Families, single people may adopt a child of the same sex. Regarding same-sex adoption, they say that it is not expressly prohibited, but it is not clear where the government stands.
Intersex infant surgery in Rivers is not banned.
Current status
Not banned under federal Nigeria law
There is no ban on surgeries performed on intersex infants in Nigeria.
Blood donations by MSMs in Rivers is banned (5-year deferral).
Current status
Banned (5-year deferral) under federal Nigeria law
Nigeria's National Blood Service Agency requires blood donors to lead a "sexually safe lifestyle.” In the donor form, it clarifies that you can’t have had "male to male sex" in the past five years.
Conversion therapy in Rivers is not banned.
Current status
Not banned under federal Nigeria law
Equal age of consent in Rivers is n/a.
Current status
Since Jun 1, 1916
N/A under federal Nigeria law
Homosexuality is illegal, so there is no age of consent.
Legal Rights
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This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Rivers to help improve its accuracy.
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