“Coming out” as homosexual to ones loved ones, community, friends and family can be a nerve wracking experience for many members of the LGBTQ+ Community. Some fear that once they come out, they mightn’t be accepted, or perhaps treated differently, but for Bisi Alimi he could not have predicted what would happen next. 

Bisi Alimi is a Nigerian gay rights activist, story teller, public speaker and HIV/LGBT advocate who gained international attention after coming out as homosexual on National television - making him the first ever Nigerian man to openly declare his sexuality on TV. Within a matter of minutes of the interview airing, the community were outraged, ordering the long-standing morning show that Bisi was a presenter for to be axed. And on the same day, the Nigerian Government were drafting legislation to criminalise practicing homosexuality or providing any services to members of the LGBTQ Community. 

After fleeing Nigeria due to the discrimination he faced,  Bisi founded the Bisi Alimi Foundation - a charity that advocates for the rights and dignity of LGBT people in Nigeria. 

Additional Resources: 

• 🌐  https://www.bisialimifoundation.org/
• 🎦 TEDTalk: “How I became an angelic trouble maker”  
• 🎦 TEDTalk: “There should never be another Ibrahim” 
• Twitter: @bisialimi 

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