Yesterday, I read yet another story from the land of my ancestors about how ‘gays were a Western phenomenon’.
Today, I saw yet another comment on a blog, from a concerned Nigerian saying that ‘gays were an abomination, and should keep their business behind closed doors’.
I have visions of a tomorrow where the stories from the land of my ancestors celebrate the lives of everyone, regardless of them being gay or lesbian.
I have visions of a tomorrow, where parents, uncles, aunties and neighbors stand and speak up against any form of homophobia that is uttered in their presence.
I have visions of a tomorrow where my fellow Nigerian gay men and lesbian sisters will come out with Pride and let everyone know that we are no abomination and certainly not a Western phenomenon.
A tomorrow, where we will be welcomed to sit at the family table, with our husband, wife, partner, lover or companion.
A tomorrow, where my sexuality is accepted, the same way my being left-handed is now accepted, in a culture that once considered this a sign of evil.
But, it is not yet tomorrow. Today, I will simply sit and compose my response to yet another homophobic comment on a blog, from yet another concerned Nigerian, and let it be known that I am not an abomination and that my sexuality is a human right.
OutTales around the Fire 
Dec 22, 2011 @ 17:03:57
I’m with you today and when tomorrow comes I will be with you still. We all have the right to be even if the people around us seem to think we don’t. Its the way of the world to be cruel and it is the way of man to fight against all odds. Here’s to speaking up, showing up and raising a tiny fist to the monster of homophobia.
To borrow from my favorite play (Angels in America) The world only turns forward dear, tomorrow will be here soon enough.
Dec 22, 2011 @ 18:20:27
well said, Kevin, well said….. yes, tomorrow will be here soon enough.. for now, ‘here’s to speaking up, showing up and raising a tiny fist to the monster of homophobia’.