By Frank Ulom
The gay community in Cross River State has held an LGBT drag party in Calabar, the state capital.
The party tagged “Pride Ballroom 2023 – Most Beautiful Drag 2023”, CONVERSEER gathered was held on Friday (June 30) in a hotel (name withheld) at Ekorim I in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area.
The drag party was organised by the Improved Male Health Initiative (IMH-I) in collaboration with Organisers of Most Beautiful Drag.
The event billed for 2 pm featured highlights such as Most Beautiful Drag 2023, Twerk Competition, Sound Beat Rhyme, Vogue Competition, Karaoke Competition and Botch King and Femme Queen.
It was strictly on reservation which could be obtained from the number phone numbers; 07069491258 and 08038575784.
A source identified as Francis who witnessed the party at about 8 pm said most of them are teenagers.
“What I saw now is pathetic. Gay party at a hotel (name withheld). Young boys (Teenagers) with women’s outfits and makeovers. They even kissed my car which got me pissed up and I chased them away. That’s harassment for me.
“Most of the boys are so small (young) with female handbags and they were even kissing mouth-to-mouth. They have been consumed by ignorance because children of this age should be in their homes thinking of a better future for themselves.
“The party was strictly on ticket buying. Imagine what the organisers must have made from these young lads”, Francis said.
Another source identified as Tessy said she saw the flyers earlier without a venue.
“They are partying today. I saw their flyer. They didn’t append the venue”, she said.
The forcing of LGBTQ+ on kids and teens has been questioned by many as they risk mental health derangement.
Recall that on January 7, 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan signed the “Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill” into law.
The law imposes a 14-year prison sentence on anyone who “[enters] into a same-sex marriage contract or civil union,” and a 10-year sentence on individuals or groups, including religious leaders, who “witness, abet, and aid the solemnization of a same-sex marriage or union.” It imposes a 10-year prison sentence on those who “directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationship” and anyone who “registers, operates, or participates in gay clubs, societies, and organisations,” including supporters of those groups.
The month of June has been tagged as “LGBT Pride Month” in the United States of America and is typically dedicated to celebrating and commemorating lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) pride.
According to Wikipedia, Pride Month began after the Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests in 1969, and has since spread outside of the United States. Modern-day Pride Month both honours the movement for LGBT rights and celebrates LGBT culture.