LGBTQ+ activist Bisi Alimi has joined in on Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebrations. He recently prayed for a future where members of the LGBTQ+ community can live freely in the country.
In the message shared on his Instagram page, Bisi highlighted the hardships and insecurities facing Nigerians today, stressing that he hopes poor governance will be a thing of the past eventually.
According to him, he also hopes for a day when the LGBTQ+ community in Nigeria would be embraced without fear or discrimination.
He prayed for Nigeria to be blessed with unity, peace, and prosperity as the country adds another year to its age since independence.
“Happy Independence Day to those who celebrate Nigeria. We hope that one day we will look back and these hardships, insecurities, and poor governance will be a thing of the past. May unity, peace, and prosperity continue to bless our great nation.
“Some day our sun will shine the brightest and our rainbow children will be seen in full colour, in full light, as they were always meant to be,” he wrote.
Under the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act of 2013, same-sex relationships are criminalized in Nigeria, with penalties ranging from 14 years imprisonment to, in some northern states under Sharia law, the death penalty.
Despite these legal restrictions, Bisi remains a steadfast advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
He made history in 2004 by becoming the first Nigerian to publicly come out as gay on national television.
This bold act led to personal repercussions, including being disowned by his family amid lots of societal backlash.
Bisi Alimi currently resides in the United Kingdom and has not stopped advocacating for the freedom of LGBTQ+ members.
