UK Judge told Nigerian asylum seeker you are not a proper lesbian

Aderonke Apata

                         

A Nigerian lesbian woman Aderonke Apata, 47 challenged the refusal of her  asylum in Britain  in the High court.Miss Apata  fears imprisonment and death because of her sexuality if she is deported back to Nigeria. She appealed against the decision of the Home Office ’s refusal to grant her asylum in Britain. Ms Apata, who came to Britain in 2004 and has won awards for her gay-rights campaigning, is so desperate to convince the Government of her sexuality that she has submitted a DVD and photographs of her sex life as evidence.

Aderonke Apata and wife to be Happiness Agboro

                         

But the Home Office argues that Ms Apata could not be considered a lesbian because she has children and has previously been in heterosexual relationships. Ms Apata’s barrister, Abid Mahmood, said these were “highly offensive… stereotypical views of the past”.
He told the hearing: “Some members of the public may have those views but it doesn’t mean a government department should be putting these views forward in evidence.”
The Home Secretary’s barrister, Andrew Bird, argued that Ms Apata was “not part of the social group known as lesbians” but had “indulged in same-sex activity”. He continued: “You can’t be a heterosexual one day and a lesbian the next day. Just as you can’t change your race.”
Holding hands with her wife-to-be Happiness Agboro in court yesterday, Ms Apata,  was surrounded by dozens of gay-rights activists.The judge acknowledged petitions signed by several hundred thousands of people in support of her application but said " I do not think that can amount to evidence as opposed to opinion and support (although that support is very impressive)".
Homosexuality is punishable by up to 14 years in prison in Nigeria under laws passed in January 2014 and there has been a spike in violence against gay people.