If there is any time for the LGBT community to tell their stories, it is now.
Yesterday, the news of the man who murdered his 14-year-old son because he was gay broke, and there have been reactions online. For example, if you go to InstaBlog9ja’s page on Instagram, you will see offensive comments by Nigerians endorsing murder.
Below is an example.
I had to force myself not to visit the comment section. I am familiar with the homophobia that many of the followers have, so I knew it was a bad idea to look in the first place. How can anyone function in a country where fellow citizens wish you dead? What is there to love about a country when the people in the community do not regard your humanity and expect the worst for you? Is it worth it to live in a society that doesn’t value you?
Still, there is nowhere to run to. Nigeria is our home.
It would be incredible to run away to Canada or Australia, live happily ever after, and ignore the pain of our friends who don’t have that luxury. Gay men are lynched in the streets, losing all they own, and corrupt law enforcement officials blackmail some. We cannot ignore the cries of our lesbian sisters who are forced into marriages and gang raped in the bid to correct their sexuality. This is the time to speak up and let our voices be heard. This is why The Rustin Times is here.
The Rustin Times wants to change the narrative and move the conversation about LGBT issues. We understand that stories are powerful and want to use them to our advantage. We want people to read the Opinion Pieces by writers in the community about some of the issues we are confronted with every day. We want community members to share stories of resilience, hope, and even pain so that the world can understand what it means to be gay. We want to shoot docuseries and documentaries that will document the lives of the community and help our allies know that the fight is far from over. More importantly, we would love to empower LGBTQ writers, filmmakers, and creative people to create art without inhibitions and to push the boundaries that the mainstream media will not allow. That is the core of why we are here. The Rustin Times is one of the tools to achieve this, and we need you to create and share.
If you want to join this journey, fill out our contact form below, and we will provide all the information you need. Also, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates on all our activities and your daily news. Let us make a change, one post at a time.
~ Harry Itie
Do you have questions? Do you want to contribute or share your story? Fill out the contact form below, and let us start the conversation.
