Michael Ighodaro’s world changed when he had to leave his home and all he knew after his sexuality was revealed. Now, he is an Assistant Professor of Global LGBTI Studies at The New School University in New York and the Program Manager at AVAC, Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention. In 2015, he became a White House Honoree and was named World Refugee Champion of Change.
Read our exclusive interview with him below.
TRT: You had to leave Nigeria following threats to your life. How has the journey been since you moved to the United States?
MICHEAL: I guess, for me! Moving to the US wasn’t planned! It happened, and I faced living in a new environment, people, and culture. One of the most important things for me was losing my identity as a Nigerian. I just became a black man in an American society that was about to elect for the second time its first black President. I fell into this burble of thinking everything was all fine in America and that race was a thing of the past. How wrong I was. Don’t get me wrong; I don’t believe all white Americans are racist. But I do think a large part of them are racist. I tried to resist this new identity of being a black gay man in America because of the racial hierarchy ladder in the country. But sooner than later, I realized that my blackness puts me at the very bottom of that hierarchy, irrespective of my sexual orientation, education, or financial status. So yes, the US hasn’t been all that great, but I have also met some of the best people I could ever know here in America. Folks believe the world could be better and give their lives to see it come through. Unfortunately, some of them also happen to be white.
TRT: Do you miss Nigeria? Will you ever come back?
MICHEAL: Miss Nigeria? Big question!! Yes and No. I miss my family and my friends, both straight and gay. But do I miss the homophobic people who happen to live in the country? No, not a bit. Do you know what I miss about Nigeria, though? The hustle. Believe it or not, Nigerians enjoy the hardships in the country. In America, life is very predictable. You can set up meeting times, give or take 5 minutes throughout a day, and you can successfully attend all of them. This is NOT possible in Nigeria; there is no guarantee of anything, such as how long your meeting will take, how long traffic will take, or if there will be electricity to do what you need. This leads to a life of adventure where you do not know what will happen next, and because ALL Nigerians are living this life, we have grown to tolerate our lack of precision as a society and see every day as a surprise. I have witnessed Nigerians say life abroad is too boring because there is no adventure; you know the consequences of all your actions, and they will play out as expected. In Nigeria, you understand life a certain way; you have various principles because that’s how you grew up, and people around you believe the same things you do. It creates a form of bonding with fellow Nigerians when, just by speaking a sentence, other Nigerians can read your mind and understand what you mean by that phrase/sentence to the fullest extent, but that’s not the case here. At least for me, folks struggle to understand what I am saying, just like I struggle to understand them. Would I go back to Nigeria? I don’t know! I have made a home for myself here in New York and really can’t see myself living in Nigeria — and that is not in a derogatory way at all.
TRT: How will you describe your relationship with your family?
MICHEAL: I am in a perfect place with my family right now! We all accept each other; I accept them for being heterosexual, and they take me for being homosexual. We have mutual respect.
TRT: How would you describe the situation in Nigeria presently? Do you feel people are more accepting?
MICHEAL: I can’t tell from afar, but I believe organizations like TIERS are providing facts to people to make their own fact-based decisions—to either remain homophobic or sane! I do think there is a tiny minority of Nigerians who are accepting! Even at the highest level of politics in the country.
TRT: The political climate in the United States is different. How does it affect asylum seekers and the global fight for equality?
MICHEAL: Funny enough— I have a research project in school that seeks to answer this question! I think the world has changed since America elected its newest President. There is a way people see refugees and asylum seekers—like never before, and there are constantly spotlights on refugees and asylum seekers. LGBTI asylum seekers are not excluded from the equation. We must be on our toes, be good citizens, and live by unbelievable standards. Cities like NYC and others have made it easy for asylum seekers and refugees by making their cities sanctuary cities.
TRT: You are currently an Assistant Professor of Global LGBTI Studies at The New School University in New York. Did you imagine your career would take the shape it did?
MICHEAL: It’s my last semester as a Professor, and I must confess I have loved it. You know I am also a student at the same school and get to attend other classes with some students in my class. Did I know I would be a professor at one of the best schools in NYC? Absolutely NOT! But I love what I do, from teaching to my day-to-day advocacy work at AVAC or as an Outright Action International board member. I love every part of it.
TRT: You are also a White House honoree. Tell us about that experience.
MICHEAL: It was one of the proudest moments in my life. After all those years of being told I was not normal or evil, I have been vindicated by the most powerful man on earth.
TRT: What inspires you?
MICHEAL: I’m inspired by risk. Starting something I have no idea how to finish, like ending all forms of discrimination! Witnessing people go for something new – anything with the potential for failure (but not a total disaster) gets my heart and creativity pumping.
A lot of the messages in my speeches and work are hopefully uplifting, positive, and hopeful. I’ve always been a worrier, so I often use my work to reassure myself that everything will be OK.
I’m also inspired by being a figure who lifts other people and reassures them in their lives. People are always looking for more positivity and happiness in their lives. My life and the way I carry myself can be a way of offering that to people. It’s endlessly inspiring to know that I can make some difference [in] people’s attitudes toward themselves and their own lives.
TRT: What is your hope for the LGBT community in Africa?
MICHEAL: I am hopeful for what the future holds! I am very excited and motivated by leaders like Olumide and activists in Uganda. I see a bright future with young people all over the continent opening their hearts and minds and hopefully becoming more accepting.
TRT: A final word to our readers.
MICHEAL: It gets complicated and gets better! Choose the part you want to be. Better or worse?
TRIVIA
Current songs on your playlist
Fela Kuti “The Best of Black President 1/2”
Tiwa Savage “Ma Lo”
Wizkid “Sexy” “All for You”
Rihanna’s “American Oxygen”
Beyoncé “Freedom”
Omawumi “What a Bang Bang”
Sam Smith “Pray”
Sam Smith “Too Good at Goodbyes”
It’s my favorite vacation spot.
Venin, France
Favorite quote from a movie
When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest to start as soon as possible.”
When Harry Met Sally, 1989
Book you are currently reading.
Seeing White. My boyfriend and I are currently reading this together! I think everyone should get a copy of the book.
An Introduction to White Privilege and Race by Jean Halley, Amy Eshleman, Ramya Mahadevan Vijaya.
Guilty pleasure
I have never seen Game of Thrones, and I love that I haven’t and won’t be seeing it! My friends would probably kill me for it, but I am one of the one percent who isn’t interested in seeing it.
