The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community is being haunted, hunted and extorted by security agencies, and the heterosexual community in Nigeria since the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act (SSMA) was signed into law in 2013. Testing the Media Reinforcement Theory, this research will reveal the influence that LGBTQIA+ scenes and characters in Hollywood television series have on the resistance and survival of the LGBTQIA+ in Nigeria.
Homophobia is still a thing to worry about in Nigeria. However, as several Hollywood television series have been involving LGBTQIA+ characters, which is likely to have soften the violent stance of many towards the LGBTQIA+ community, this study will reveal how the Nigerian LGBTQIA+ community currently perceive the level of hostility toward the LGBTQIA+ movement and its threatened survival. Over the years, Hollywood television series with LGBTQIA+ characters are gradually becoming the succor the Nigerian LGBTQIA+ community seem to get. As Hollywood television series continue the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters, this paper looks into the level of reinforcement that the LGBTQIA+ feel when they are exposed to homosexuality scenes in Hollywood television series.
This study will also report the assessment of the non-LGBTQIA+ community from the lenses of the Nigerian LGBTQIA+ community. This study will be testing the assumptions of the Media Reinforcement Theory.
The research methodology to be adopted for this study will be survey. The study will employ survey in determining the level of perceived level of success of Hollywood television series in reinforcing the identity of the LGBTQIA+ community in Nigeria, thereby supporting its resistance. This is because survey research method focuses on, and can help measure perception and gather opinions.
The study population will be comprising of the LGBTQIA+ community in Nigeria. Hollywood television series are chosen because of their popularity among young people, the easy access young people have to them in Nigeria, and the continuous exposure of viewers to LGBTQIA+ contents in Hollywood television series.
This research uses the purposive sampling method because only people who identify as LGBTQIA+ will be chosen as respondents. Due to the sensitive issue of homosexuality in Nigeria because of extant laws, and homophobia, this researcher partners with The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERS). TIERS is arguably the largest foundation fighting for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ in Nigeria with a known address. TIERS, through its Research and Knowledge Management Department will assist this researcher with the amplification, and distribution the research instrument, while this researcher electronically collects the data. This paper will be revealing the state that LGBTQIA+ resistance is in Nigeria, its challenges, and the possible role that Hollywood television series play in reinforcing homosexuality in Nigeria.
Keywords: LGBTQIA+, Resistance, Hollywood Television Series, Media Influence, Media Reinforcement.