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by GoPride.com News Staff

Nigeria — Nigeria is moving forward with a law that would ban not only gay marriage but also any displays of affection between same-sex couples.

The bill, which passed the Senate Tuesday, would punish gay and lesbian married couples with 14 years in prison. Affection could be punished by ten years.

Some lawmakers wanted the punishments to be far more severe.

"Such elements in society should be killed," said Sen. Baba-Ahmed Yusuf Datti, according to the Associated Press.

On a tribal level, death penalties are meted out; in parts of northern Nigeria ruled by Islamic law, gays and lesbians are sometimes stoned to death.

The new anti-gay marriage law still needs to be passed by the House and signed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

European leaders expressed outrage, but many Nigerians were unconcerned.

"The law prohibiting gay marriage is our own internal law and we expect other countries to understand that this is Nigeria," said National Conscience Party Secretary Yunusa Tanko. "What is peculiar to our expectations, our needs and culture is what is referred to as law."

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