Two African activists, one Nigerian, the other Ugandan have been named as the most influential in a yearly poll released Sunday.
Nigerian gay activist, Bisi Alimi made it to the Independent on Sunday’s (IoS) Pink List 2012 of the most influential persons in Britain at number 90 while Ugandan Frank Mugisha was featured in the IoS International Pink List 2012.
Alimi, speaking to Identity Kenya, said, ‘Being named as one of the most influential LGBT people in the UK is greatly humbling’ and added that ‘Joining Kaleidoscope Trust in 2011 was one of the best thing that ever happened to him.’
‘With the help of the team in Kaleidoscope and most importantly Lance Price the executive director and Rev Ijeoma Ajibade (who initially introduced me to Lance), I have been able to project the great works of African LGBTIs.’
Alimi believes the listing is crucial in placing Afruca LGBT on the global mark.
‘This listing showed that African LGBTI struggle is an international struggle, it also showed that we can impact anywhere we find ourselves. I personally dedicate this to the great African LGBTI people I have met in my life, from Uganda to Kenya, to Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa and even Zimbabwe. The story of these people not only push me to do more with my advocacy, but it gives me a platform in the UK and Europe to push for partnership and more progressive advocacy.’
He further hopes to undertake several projects that will address homosexuality and aimed at promoting business ethics in work places and companies in the UK with African countries.
‘I am hoping to start a project working with young Black kids in the UK. I hope to use this listing to demystify homosexuality within the black community here and also encourage young black LGBTI that they can make a difference. I also hope that I can find my ways into working with multinational corporate businesses in the UK on how to do business ethically with African countries while they promote equality in all areas.’
Bisi is a Nigerian gay rights activist, public speaker, blog writer and HIV/LGBT advocate who achieved notoriety when he became the first Nigerian to come out of the closet on television.
Frank Mugisha (inset) was named alongside musicians Frank Ocean, Diana King and CNN anchor Anderson Cooper as having made the ‘most impressive contributors to world LGBT harmony’ and is most noted for his international work to forestall the anti-gay bill in Uganda.
by Brenda Sausage
Source – Identity Kenya
