Nigerian fashion writer and editor Vincent Desmond has shared his experience living as an openly queer person in Nigeria.
By Mike Daemon
Vincent Desmond. Photo Credits: Hints Mag.
Nigeria isn’t an easy place for sexual minorities, given the homophobia, discriminatory laws, and ignorance of many Nigerians about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer [LGBTIQ] issues. However, many LGBTIQ Nigerians, especially younger ones, are gradually becoming more visible and changing the society’s negative perception of homosexuality.
Desmond is one of those. In a short exclusive interview for the September edition of Hints Mag, a Lifestyle Nigerian magazine, the 20-year-old writer spoke about dealing with homophobia, femininity and finding his place in the fashion industry as a writer and editor.
Speaking about living openly as queer in Nigeria, he said:
“Being openly but most importantly visibly queer in Nigeria means being ready for homo/queerphobia in real life and online. It is scary. I constantly have Nigerians clogging up my notifications on Twitter telling me vile and homophobic things and most days I don’t care but somedays what they say strikes a nerve. Other days, they take it up the notch and make threats that leave me worried.”
Desmond, an accomplished writer, has become a person to reckon with. As a freelancer, he has written for various well established Nigerian platforms.
But that’s not all. Daringly, he publishes LGBTIQ-focused contents through ‘Dear Queers,’ an online platform for the LGBTIQ+ community. The platform is aimed at highlighting the experiences of LGBTIQ+ Nigerians through stories and essays.
“When I started Dear Queers, I wanted to create a publication that helped other queer people, especially younger queer people, navigate this predominantly cis and straight world — even if it’s just by putting them on a playlist of music by other queer people, or uplifting voices of other LGBTQ+ people or starting conversations. Our lives are hard enough, I want to make it easier, so I created Dear Queers,” he said.
To read the full interview, click HERE.
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