Nigerian parents raise concerns over growing cross-dressing trend

Some parents and guardians in the FCT have decried the growing cross-dressing trend among youths and called for measures to curb it.

The parents, in separate interviews with NAN on Sunday in Abuja, said the call became imperative following the level of popularity and acceptance cross-dressers are gaining from youths.

They lamented that aside from the recently convicted Idris ‘Bobrisky’ Okunneye, the self-acclaimed ‘Mummy of Lagos’, there were other emerging cross-dressers with huge followers.

They said such popular cross-dressers include Jay Boogie, born Daniel Nsikan; James Brown, Miss Sahhar, and Noni Salma, among many others.

According to the parents, the “ Bobrisky menace” is an epidemic that requires punitive measures to effectively check it and a comprehensive value re-orientation among young Nigerians.

Uche Daniels, a school principal, said although Bobrisky was convicted for abuse of the naira note, her statement of being “a social media influencer with over five million followers,” called for concern.

“Imagine Bobrisky having over five million followers on social media, of course, that is a huge number, comprising our children who are gradually drifting towards accepting and following a wrong lifestyle,” Daniels said.

“He said before the court that he was a social media influencer, but the question should be on whether the influence is positive or negative on society and our moral orientations.

“Consider how many of the number are children whose sexual orientations have changed as a result of his influence and how many upcoming ‘Bobriskys’ he has raised?

“Our moral fabric is tearing apart and the future has to be rescued, we must cry out urgently.”

Zainab Ododo, a parent and culture enthusiast said, “I travelled for an event to a part of the country recently and what I saw made me wept.

“You need to see a group of young boys dressed and wearing women’s hair and makeup without any iota of shame, then I wondered if they were Nigerians.

“How did we get here, and this is why I feel the government and law enforcement agencies should come in against this identity crisis menace.

“Many parents are in pain today as a result of Bobrisky’s and his likes’ activities, and we must save ourselves off this drift from morality and godliness.”

Also, a legal practitioner simply identified as Micheal, said: “I have heard arguments that Bobrisky and other cross-dressers have the right to be who they want to be.

“But I have repeatedly asked the advocates of such fundamental human rights if they would allow a cross-dresser to enter the same female toilet with their wives because he dressed like a woman.

“Of course, the answer has always been an emphatic no, and that is why we must do something now to stop every upcoming ‘Bobrisky’, if not an era of confusion awaits us in the nearest future.

“As Africans, our sexual orientation is in two folds; a child is either a male or a female; boy or girl and man or woman.

“I strongly believe that our present situation stems from abandoning everything that makes us unique as a people and embracing practices that are alien to our values.”

Sam Davidson, the cleric, said: “The Holy Books (Bible and Quran) recognise only male and female sexes and explicitly condemn imitating the appearance of the opposite gender.

“I understand that the Police recently said that there is no provision in the law suggesting that cross-dressing in Nigeria is a crime, but something has to be done to save our children.”

However, some youths who spoke with NAN expressed divergent views and appeared unperturbed about the concerns of the parents and guardians.

Some said cross-dressing was just a means to gain popularity and attract teeming followers on social media for monetary gains, adding that those involved were not transgender.

“I think those involved are just ‘catching cruise’ and attracting followers on social media to make money, so there is nothing to worry about,” said Sammy Dan, a skit maker.

“You know Bobrisky has really made a lot of money from this whole cross-dressing thing, that is why others, including James Brown, decided to join the train.

“The country is hard and there is no job for guys, so everyone wants to ‘blow’ by any means oh.”

Esther Danladi, a corps member, said: “ My worry is about the way cross-dressing trend is going and very soon, it may become the norm.

“There are two genders created by God; male and female, and these are identified with how one will dress, any alteration is ungodly and is morally wrong.

“We must do everything possible to stop this bad trend, if not, our collective future will be in danger.”

In April 2022, the house of representatives considered a bill to prohibit cross-dressing in Nigeria.

The bill aims to amend the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act (SSMPA) and defines crossdressing as the “practice of wearing clothes usually worn by a person of the opposite sex”.

The proposed amendment, however, provided an exception that the clauses “shall not apply to cross-dressing in the course of a stage play or any bona fide public entertainment”.

When passed into law, cross-dressers may face up to six months in jail if they continue with their current practice.