OutTales around the Fire

The removal of fuel subsidy is the latest news gripping the citizens of Nigeria. So for now, that homophobic piece of legislation – The Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill – appears to be the last thing on the mind of everyday Nigerians (as it should be!).

Nonetheless, it is important for us as same gender loving people to remain vigilant and not be distracted. We must continue to remind our family, friends, neighbours and the Legislators, that our Sexuality is a Human Right, and we will not be distracted from standing up for our fundamental right.

Fellow blogger, Adaku Utah at  SouLar Bliss, recently shared a prayer ‘in solidarity with fellow queer Nigerian kin…… as a remedy to heal all that has attempted to silence our powerful selves’. With her kind permission, I share the prayer with you:

Beloved Naija kin and fierce allies, I stand with you as a proud Queer Nigerian. Rooted in Igbo soil, Abia from my father’s side, Imo from my mother. Face carved in the likeness of my ancestor’s stories. Heart lined with freedom fighters and healers. I am OUT (Opened Up Truth)!!!

I stand here as a living spirit, holding you with all the love I can muster, face to face, hand in hand, heart to heart as we evolve what home can embody when its built with the ingredients of our fullest expression and transform spaces that would rather kill us than risk the release of the ignorance they hold so dear.

In light of all the fear and ignorance and hatred that continues to plague our beloved country. I cradle my heavy heart with palms full of prayers, each one bearing our names and the vastness of our spirits. This prayer is an invitation to the power within us and a celebration of the intentions we bring to life. It is a call for healing and transformation. A reclamation of the truth of who we are.

I share this with you as a love offering, with humble reverence for all that we courageously are. Our ferocious power and beauty illuminates Naija, unfolds her into the beauty she is meant to be. May these intentions carry us as we heal our nation and kiss homophobia, transphobia, biphobia, queerphobia into oblivion.

(((Centering myself, closing eyes, opening up heart as wide as possible, breathing deep)))

Blessings to every part of us!!!Every part that has walked with us since the beginning of creation. Every part that will birth our future bright. Blessings to our ancestors who have illuminated our paths with their love, blessings and wisdom.

May we always know love as our birthright and transformation as our mother tongue. May we endlessly and infinitely be in love with all that we are.

May we honor what lives within us, bear witness to our wounds, acknowledge the deep roots of  colonialism, of post traumatic slave syndrome, of internalized racism, of trauma from our lives and the lives of our families and our ancestors. May we honor these sites with the deepest compassion and courageously walk in our healing.

May we know that our truths are sacred, vital to our living, healing to our world. May we always walk our truths, embody them fiercely and authentically, use them to break the fever of isolation, fear, depression, manipulation, deception, and oppression.

May we use pain and suffering as sites for deep and creative healing and transformation.

May our love always be held with compassionate hands and hearts, where all of who we are is seen, nurtured and celebrated.

May our haters recognize their hate as fear and ignorance waiting to come out the closet. May the closet become too claustrophobic and uncomfortable to stand in. May coming out be fast and contagious.

May we remain open, questioning, focused, honest, fearless, consistent, hopeful, courageously tender, loving, compassionate, playful, and delicious as we live through the many casings and seasons of truth-telling, movement building, and healing.

May we always know we are held and protected by loved ones, blood and chosen family, our ancestors, our children, the vitality of fire, the peace of air, the strength of earth, the freedom of wind and the vast ever expanding heart of the Universe.

May our communities hold the depths of all that we are with integrity and unconditional love. May we reciprocally honor this respect and reverence given to us. May the spaces we build be large enough to embrace us all.

ASEEEEE-OOOOO …..and it will be so

with all my love,

Adaku Chinenye Utah