I know I am only 32 years old, but I can honestly say that I have lived many lives. I have been different things to different people at various times in my life. When you have to live like that, it eventually gets exhausting. You get to a point where you begin to wonder why you are here and if there is even any reason to continue to live. You make terrible choices because you are constantly living a lie, forgetting that the lies would end up catching up with you.
I decided to start The Rustin Times in July 2017. I met some activists in Nigeria and across Africa, and their lives and work inspired me. So many of them were taking incredibly uneasy routes, risking their lives in the fight for equality. Interacting with them and learning about their lives and experiences opened my eyes to reality. After some introspection, I realized that I had to do something. No matter how small and the cost – I had to lend my voice to the movement.
I am so thankful for how far I have come, far from the person I was in 2017. I have changed careers, and my dreams have grown. I now love every part of myself with intention, better than when I tried to be someone I was not. I have grown in ways I couldn’t have imagined, learned about empathy — the intersectionality of our struggles — and about what it means to take up space and show up fully. I have found my voice, and now, I am using it unapologetically despite the dangers that may lie ahead. But, even more importantly, I have found community — something I never really had all along.
It is why we are here.
I don’t mince words when I say that this platform has saved me. I continue to find meaning, purpose, and a sense of grounding in my life simply by working on The Rustin Times. It has also shaped me, taught me courage, and connected me with some of the most amazing people worldwide.
2021 has not been easy for the queer community across Sub-Saharan Africa, as the headlines have been alarming. From Nigeria to Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, we are witnessing an intense crackdown on LGBT+ advocacy and communities in real-time. However, now is the time we need to stick together. We need to support activists on the ground working on the front lines and behind the scenes. We also need to intensify our online advocacy efforts to demonstrate our commitment to queer liberation across the continent.
It is another year at The Rustin Times, and we need your support. Now more than ever, we do. We want to collaborate with you, offline or online. We want to share your stories, as our stories have the power to ignite the change that we desire.
Finally, please engage with us on social media. Kindly share our posts and join the conversation on all our platforms wherever you are worldwide.
We have the power to cause the change that we want to see, and we won’t stop till the change comes.
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