At nineteen years old, Joy Brown reached a critical juncture in her life when she seriously began questioning her sexual identity. It was a precarious time as the passage of the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act had caused a hostile atmosphere against the LGBTQ+ community. Feeling isolated, she sought solace and connection through online platforms,…
For Feranmi, the awareness of their gay identity preceded the understanding of the term itself. Initially, they never felt any sense of wrongdoing associated with their feelings. However, during their time attending church while at boarding school they encountered the term “homosexuality” and came to comprehend it as a label for their emotions. This newfound…
Becoming: At 28, I am Agim GeeJay—a Safety and Security expert, community organiser, Human Rights Activist, and a proudly out trans man living in Nigeria. The journey to understanding and embracing my identity unfolded gradually, sparked by my attendance at an event organised by the Women’s Health and Equal Rights Initiative celebrating women’s day. I,…
Transgender Awareness Week serves as an important celebration, drawing attention to the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of transgender individuals worldwide. As this week concludes, it is crucial to reflect on the purpose and impact of this observance. Throughout the week, numerous events, discussions, and educational initiatives have taken place, aiming to promote understanding, awareness, and…
In observance of Transgender Awareness Week, The Rustin Times engaged in conversations with transgender individuals, asking for insights they wished they had at the beginning of their transition and things they’ve learned on their journey. We’ve compiled some of the responses we received. “I wish someone had told me that taking testosterone is not a…
Nosa’s manager found out he was gay after he was kitoed* and his abductors contacted people in his contacts for money. When he returned to work, things felt different with his colleagues and manager. About a month later, he was let go, with the reason given as team downsizing, even though he was the only…
Film has consistently served as a vital sanctuary for the authentic expression of queerness. Recently, African storytellers have taken centre stage, sharing narratives of queerness with unparalleled authenticity. The Rustin Times has thoughtfully curated a selection of new films by African creators that wholeheartedly prioritise the LGBTQIA+ narrative. 14 Years and a Day: This…
Pride month is almost coming to an end. We have seen corporations eager to show how supportive they are of the queer community by either changing their logos to rainbow colours or putting out pride merchandise. Sadly, we have seen how these performances of allyship end quickly after pride month. For many queer individuals in…
On the second week of Pride, The Rustin Times has compiled a list of movies, shows and tv series where the queer characters aren’t either an afterthought or killed off after a few scenes. The Legend of the Underground: First released in 2021, this documentary follows the lives of several non-conforming young Nigerians. It…
You know what is better than Christmas? Pride month. And what is pride month without music that sparks unadulterated queer joy? Consequently, for the first week of pride, we (Harry and I) have made a list of artists we think you should be listening to and supporting this month of pride and every other month….
In a country that criminalises the existence of members of the LGBTQ+ community, it is hard to imagine that queerness was and is a huge part of Nigerian society. Consequently, the need for personal stories of lived queer experiences have never been more crucial in challenging erasure and falsehoods directed at the LGBTQ+ community. Nigerian…
International day against homophobia, biphobia, intersexphobia and transphobia (“IDAHOBIT”) is observed every year on May 17. The day aims to raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate discussions about LGBT rights work across the globe. In so many countries like Nigeria, queer existence is policed with laws like the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition…
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