Homophobia in Nigeria, Rev. Rowland Jide Macaulay interview

As an update to the story of Nigerian homophobia, listen to the radio interview with Rev. Rowland Jide Macaulay -- founder of the House of Rainbow MCC in Lagos, Nigeria -- by Betty Couvertier of Alternative Perspectives, WRFG 89.3 FM  in Atlanta. Joining the reverend's call from London, UK, was Timothy Obiole, an Atlanta resident, who forwarded the story to radio producer Couvertier. Recorded live on Apr. 27, 2010, the podcast is available to stream online or as an MP3 download by clicking here.

Marching for LGBT youth, Shirt Off My Back

PHOTO BY KNYCKOLAS DAVIS

UPDATE: Details about the march starting at 5 p.m. -- Take the Shirt Off Your Back to STOP Homophobia! -- is on Facebook. Click here.

On Monday, May 17, the Shirt Off My Back group will march to heighten awareness about the plight of homeless LGBT youth during Atlanta's International Day Against Homophobia (ATL IDAHO).

Organized by Laura Gentle, she explained their purpose:

Shirt Off My Back Campaign came into existence because of the immense support of Atlanta's LGBT community in starting this new organization. Through our work with service providers, we see every day the impact that homophobia and transphobia have on LGBT persons.

There are an extraordinary percentage of LGBTQ persons experiencing poverty and homelessness in Atlanta, especially youth, simply because of intolerance. Shirt Off My Back is about raising awareness and helping all people in our local communities.

We are proud to join ATL IDAHO this year in calling for an end to homophobia and transphobia in Atlanta and beyond.

Demonstrating unity with Atlanta IDAHO, Shirt Off My Back (SOMB) team members and campaign supporters will march down the streets around Midtown up to the event venue at Virginia-Highland Church to arrive shortly before the 6 p.m. event meet-and-greet gathering. Some marchers will go shirtless while others will hold signs relating how dangerous homophobia is and statistics tied to LGBTQ persons experiencing extraordinary rates of discrimination, poverty, and homelessness as a result of hate and intolerance.

If you haven't heard of or seen the SOMB campaign, prepare yourself for breathtakingly poignant portraits that dramatize the need for clothing donations to assist low-income and homeless service providers in metro Atlanta. To view the campaign, visit the SOMB website.

Jaysays recognized Laura Gentle -- a straight ally -- as an LGBT Hero, a well-deserved distinction for her activism. In September 2009, when police raided the Eagle bar in Midtown Atlanta, Jay quoted Laura who "helped organize many protests and community events to fight back against such discrimination." She said:

I felt I needed to stand up as an ally to draw the straight community into this issue as I feel it effects everyone who loves Midtown and doesn’t want it change for the worse.

On May 17, we will come together -- gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people with our straight allies -- to march, to educate, to learn, and to stand up.

Atlanta IDAHO organizers welcome Laura Gentle and the efforts of the Shirt Off My Back organization.

Anyone interested in SOMB can follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/ShirtOffMyBack or join the campaign at SOMBcampaign.com.

Homophobia in Nigeria, Rev. Rowland Jide Macaulay

Click image to watch Rev. Macaulay's interview with Ana Hernandez in a new window.

Like so many African nations -- Uganda offers a high-profile example -- the scourge of homophobia also afflicts Nigeria. When Rev. Rowland Jide Macaulay endeavored to establish an LGBT-inclusive church in Lagos, Nigeria, he encountered threats on his life. Ultimately the church closed, according to the reverend, "because the violence was extreme and our properties were attacked, vandalised, looted and a few of our security guards were wounded."

Undaunted, Rev. Macaulay took to the Internet with a "virtual mission" by using online forums and YouTube videos to post inclusive messages, "to encourage LGBT people in Nigeria and other developing nations." He now lives in London where he continues his online ministry and speaks out against homophobia as antithetical to Christ's teachings.

In his Apr. 17, 2010, video, “A Response: Love Not Hate, at about the 3:15 time mark, Rev. Macaulay relates how he has “continually received death threats” in his mailbox and “directly” to him in person. His response is clear, “I am not moved." And he declares:

I am not ashamed of being a gay man nor I’m not ashamed of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

What I truly believe is that there are many people out there, all over the world especially in the continent of Africa, that truly and honestly need the gospel of inclusion. And unless we can continue to be good Christians and include everybody in the circle of love that Jesus Christ continued to promote through the Scriptures, I think that we will fail. I continue to be the face of the faceless and the voice of the voiceless. And I trust that God will be with you.

In an interview, Anene Ejikeme, assistant professor of African History, Trinity University in San Antonio, TX, discussed homophobic conditions in Nigeria and outlined how Rev. Macaulay "started a church: The Church of Rainbow, which was affiliated with the Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC)." She spoke with church members who were attacked, recounted the violence, and the reverend's legal defense fundraising for Nigerians who have been imprisoned "for such things as impersonating a woman, for conducting a same-sex marriage or other such charges."

Timothy Obialo, who lives in suburban Atlanta, provided information about Rev. Macaulay. One source from the U.S. State Department, a 2008 Human Rights Report on Nigeria, reiterated that homosexuality is illegal in the country with severe penalties of up to 14 years in prison. Plus:

In the 12 northern states that have adopted Shari'a law, adults convicted of engaging in homosexual intercourse are subject to execution by stoning, although no such sentences were imposed during the year. Because of widespread taboos against homosexuality, very few persons were openly homosexual.

The document also mentioned the outing of Rev. Macaulay's church that put the small Nigerian congregation in danger:

On September 12, local newspapers Nation, Vanguard, PM News and the Sunday Sun published photos, names, and addresses of members of the House of Rainbow Metropolitan Community Church, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered-friendly church in Lagos. Following publication, persons started harassing the 12 members. One woman was attacked by 11 men, while others were threatened, stoned, and beaten. No investigation was initiated by year's end.

The U.S. State Department's 2009 Human Rights Report on Nigeria dated Mar. 11, 2010, noted, "No action was taken against persons who in 2008 stoned and beat members of the House of Rainbow Metropolitan Community Church, an LGBT-friendly church in Lagos."

"HOMOSEXUALS ARE CRIMINALS"
In March 2009, the BBC reported that Nigerian gay activists -- while protesting a proposed law that would criminalize same-gender people living together, "and anyone who 'aids and abets' them," and give police greater power to make arrests including "anyone working in a human rights organisation that dealt with gay rights"  -- were met with the kind of condemnation aimed at LGBT folks in the U.S.

"In the Bible it says homosexuals are criminals," Pius Akubo of the Daughters of Sarah church told lawmakers. . . Rev Patrick Alumake told the National Assembly the top leadership of the Catholic church in Nigeria supported the bill wholeheartedly.

"There are wild, weird, ways of life that are affecting our own culture very negatively, we have people who either by way of the media or travelling around the world have allowed new ideas which are harmful to our nation and our belief," he said.

The bill's sponsor, House of Representatives member Mayor Eze, said the bill was necessary to protect the family. 

"If you are not careful and allow the family institution to break down, and the consequences will be on all of us," he said.

Sound familiar? Hate speech unfortunately also abounds in America. However, unlike in Nigeria and in similar places around the world, U.S. citizens no longer fear criminal prosecution for being LGBT. The common ground we all share is living in a homophobic society that oppresses, discriminates, marginalizes, dehumanizes, and denies us equality. And in government that fails to stop it.

MACAULAY'S UPCOMING INTERVIEW -- AN APPEAL FOR HELP
On Tuesday, Apr. 27, Rev. Macaulay will appear on Alternative Perspectives by Betty Couvertier (WRFG.org, 89.3 FM) to discuss his situation and the blight of homophobia in Nigeria. Air time is 7–8 p.m. Eastern.

Additionally, the committee for Atlanta's International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) invited Rev. Macaulay to come speak during the May 17 event. Unfortunately, travel expenses present an obstacle in bringing his story to Atlanta.

If you or someone you know could possibly donate roundtrip airfare and accommodations for Rev. Macaulay from London to Atlanta, please contact Betty Couvertier at betlear @ yahoo dot com as soon as possible.

It's official! It's Atlanta IDAHO!

We have just learned some exciting news! The City of Atlanta will officially proclaim May 17 as its International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO).

The news came to us via the Honorable State House Rep. Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) who will attend the annual event and present the city's proclamation.

Drenner was the first openly lesbian elected to the Georgia General Assembly. In 2004, she opposed Georgia's pernicious constitutional ban on same-gender marriage, one of many forms of homophobia that LGBT people face in the political arena, in government, in laws that disadvantage us, and institutionalize discrimination and hate.

During Georgia's battle over marriage equality, The NYTimes described Drenner as a gay legislator who had "become the most visible — and derided — opponent" of the state assembly's effort to codify discrimination against LGBT people. For her stand, she received "a torrent of venomous e-mail and telephone calls." Despite the attacks, Drenner offered these encouraging words still relevant for today:

"When it gets real bad, I think about the 24th mile, the come-to-Jesus mile, when you've got blisters on your feet and your whole body aches," said Ms. Drenner, a Democrat from suburban Atlanta. . ."For me, the finish line here is when this country doesn't care who you love." [Emphasis added.]

Well said! We may not see change immediately but the time to act is now. And each of us can make a difference. Let's encourage each other to act boldly, to keep going.

We welcome State Rep. Karla Drenner and admire her public service.

The City of Atlanta's proclamation represents a step toward the recognition that we, as a community, as an international city, must publicly address homophobia in all its life-denigrating and equality-denying forms.

Please join us, speak up, and stand up with us on May 17.

UPDATE: We learned, due to new procedures not published on the City of Atlanta website, that an official proclamation cannot be obtained in time for the event. However, Alex Wan of the Atlanta City Council is working on a proclamation so stay tuned!

Calling all Atlanta videographers

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Betty Couvertier taking LGBT action in Atlanta

Betty Couvertier isn’t new to LGBT grassroots organizing. She served as the Community Chair for Atlanta Pride for six years, was the Diversity Co-chair for the Atlanta Steering Committee of the Human Rights Campaign for four years, acted as Community Liaison for Fourth Tuesday for two years and also spent a year on the Trans-Action Board of Directors. For her activism, she received several accolades including the prestigious Bayard Rustin Leadership Award for Black Pride.

Live from Atlanta, Betty produces Alternative Perspectives, a one-hour radio program dedicated to the LGBTQI community and allies that airs every Tuesday, 7-8 p.m. Eastern on WRFG, 89.3 FM (Podcasts available here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and mid-January 2010 begins here).

This year, Betty decided to take action and organize an Atlanta event for the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) on May 17. She first learned of IDAHO in 2006 and discovered it was observed globally but not in the U.S.

"In 2007, I was the community chair for Atlanta Pride and I suggested to our Executive Director, Donna Narducci, that we should have something to observe IDAHO in Atlanta, GA. It was a time when LGBTQ folks were struggling around the world to speak up and stand up, to gather as a community and be who they are.  It was extremely difficult for those in Russia, Bulgaria and other places unlike our community here in the USA where we could march down the main streets of America without fear of death. We had a breakfast here in Atlanta with organizational and community leaders that attracted a good turn out."

What prompted Betty to take action this year?

"Equality Across America was asking cities to participate and to send a description of the action to them for listing. I did and Atlanta IDAHO was born."

Equality Across America listed the event on its home page along with other LGBT-grassroots organizing activities that begin on May 17, 2010 — International Day Against Homophobia — and conclude on May 22, 2010 — the anniversary of Harvey Milk's birthday.

"No one else in Atlanta or Georgia, or for that matter in the USA, had picked up the banner for IDAHO and I hope that Atlanta IDAHO will be a annual event," Betty explained. "This year we will have several speakers to include youth, politicians, soldiers, activists, clergy, transgender spokespeople, and LGBT sports athletes. The theme this year is Silence in Sports."

But the sports theme doesn't preclude a discussion of the overall subject of homophobia. "Silence anywhere about fear, hate, injustice and ignorance is dangerous," Betty says. "It propels actions that are harmful. When ignorance is stirred in with fear and hate of anything, the outcome allows one individual to condemn another and feel that he or she has the right to do so. And we must change that."

The first step in getting the Atlanta IDAHO event going involved the selection of a venue. "Virginia-Highland Church agreed and we were off and running," Betty said.

The progressive, inclusive Virginia-Highland Church has hosted many other LGBT-community gatherings. A few weeks ago, the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus performed their "Georgia On My Mind" concert there during which the gay teen, Derrick Martin, "who has made international headlines for planning to take his boyfriend to his high school prom," was guest of honor. Last year, Virginia-Highland Church partnered with Atlantans Together Against Crime to co-sponsor a public forum about the Atlanta Police Department's raid on one of the city's oldest gay bars, the Eagle. Atlanta Pride also honored the church's interim pastor, Chris Glaser, as one of two grand marshals during the 2009 parade.

"We want folks to know they are entering a welcoming and friendly environment for Atlanta IDAHO," Betty continued, "and we got that with this church."

In the midst of planning, two other organizations joined Betty's efforts for marketing purposes -- The Lovers & Friends Show, a new lesbian Web series that debuted in January 2008, and the non-profit South Georgia Pride that promotes the "equality and well-being of the LGBT community" in South Georgia and North Florida areas.

Betty extends an open invitation to all.

"We welcome any individual or organization to join us as we move forward this year and hopefully many more will come."

Contact: betlear @ yahoo dot com.

Follow Atlanta IDAHO on Facebook.