With the exception of Bobrisky, do you know any open LGBT persons? This seems a question that comes up fairly regularly when the LGBT law passed in 2014 is brought up. People suggest that they know no LGBT persons, and they cannot understand why there is so much activism around LGBT issues. The reality is, in response to the law in 2014 and homophobia that followed, more people have become deliberately visible. They are saying, ‘I am here, and I am not that different from you.’

A number of high profile persons have opened up about their sexualities, in Nigeria and abroad. One of the most recent people to do this is Dewy Oputa, the daughter of activist and musician Charly Boy. While rumours had swirled for years about her sexuality, Dewy decided to take things into her own hands. She came out via an Instagram post, introducing the world to her girlfriend and the Instagram profile they were running together. It takes a lot of courage to live your truth in a highly prejudiced society like Nigeria, and people like Dewy Oputa coming out forces people to reevaluate their preconceptions about homosexuality.

I was kind of nervous about this but fuckkkkkkkkk ittttttttttt! …….Clears throat sooooooooooooo I and my Girlfriend decided to create a couples page because why not ?‍♀️ go follow @dewyandsj … ❤️

A post shared by Dewy Oputa ??? (@dewyoputa) on Jul 16, 2018 at 12:07pm PDT

As more people with the economic and social standing to buffer some of the violence and negativity that comes with coming out in a homophobic society like Nigeria, they will need allies, some times in the form of the strangers who offered positive comments to Dewy’s coming out and challenged homophobes on her timeline, and sometimes in the form of family members publicly supporting their decisions. After gossipblog InstaBlog9ja picked up Dewy’s Instagram post and publicized it to their audience, Charly Boy took to his social media channels to release a statement supporting his daughter’s decision to publicly reveal her sexuality.

For Those going Gagas over my Princess Dewy’s post. Hear This. The best thing about being true to yourself is that nobody can insult you by telling you what you have just told them. Acceptance has to come from, Within. I am blessed with beautiful Children and grand children. Love ❤️ em All. Thank you God.

A post shared by CharlyBoy Oputa (AreaFada) (@areafada1) on Jul 17, 2018 at 7:35am PDT

While Dewy has spoken up in interviews about how it was difficult for her parents to accept that she was lesbian, it is great to see a person of Charly Boy’s standing openly support her decision to live her truth and deny homophobes any ground to persecute his daughter. These are the kind of allies we need.

Edwin Okolo

Edwin Okolo is an author and journalist who has worked with YNaija, TheNativemag and the Naked Convos.