A prominent British-Nigerian gay rights activist and public speaker, Bisi Alimi has opened up about the difficulties he faced when coming out as HIV positive.
Alimi, who gained international attention in 2004 as the first Nigerian to publicly declare his sexuality on national television, revealed that disclosing his HIV status was even more challenging than coming out as gay.
In an interview with Pulse Nigeria, Alimi stated, "Coming out as HIV positive was harder than coming out as gay." This revelation highlights the stigma and discrimination that still surround HIV/AIDS, particularly within African communities.
Alimi's journey began in Lagos, where he was born to Raski Ipadeola Balogun Alimi, a Nigerian police officer and Idiatu Alake Alimi, a university clerk. Despite facing significant backlash, including being disowned by his family and receiving death threats, Alimi has remained steadfast in his advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and HIV awareness.
After being diagnosed with HIV in 2004, Alimi used his platform to address HIV concerns among Nigerian gay men, attending the 4th National Conference on HIV/AIDS in Abuja. His activism led to the founding of The Independent Project for Equal Rights-Nigeria in 2005, where he served as executive director until 2007.
Now residing in London, Alimi continues to champion gay rights and HIV awareness within migrant African communities. He founded the Bisi Alimi Foundation in 2015 to promote social acceptance for LGBT individuals in Nigeria.
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