Bisexuals know which common misconceptions annoy us. It’s time for articles on Bi Visibility Day to highlight other issues.

Words by Matt Moore

If you’ve been paying attention, today is Bi Visibility Day and the end of Bi Visibility Week, and the media has been working overtime to give us pieces like ‘Busting Myths about Bisexuality’ and ‘Here Are the Things NOT to Say to a Bisexual’ which are fine, other than the fact that this is what was done last year, and the year before that, and the year before that.

There is nothing inherently wrong with these pieces, as somehow in 2020, bisexuals are still striving to have our existence acknowledged. But it feeds into the issues with how Bi Visibility Week and Day are treated outside of the bisexual community. By only focusing on articles that set out to debunk popular misconceptions or aid in ways to avoid offending us in conversation, we end up airbrushing away the other issues that we, as bisexuals, face.

Yes, gay rights and bisexual rights often go hand in hand; legalisation of same-sex marriage or allowing same-sex couples to adopt children has benefitted bisexual people; when we finally remove the scourge of ‘conversion therapy’ that will have a positive effect on bi+ lives. However, just because we go hand in hand in some areas, it doesn’t mean that we still face the exact same challenges.

Outside of Bi Visibility Week, the media is hardly rushing to cover stories affecting our community.

Bi-erasure is still a massive issue faced by us, and while it is still great to see many publications trying to help with this, it’s not the only issue that we face. When we only focus on this one particular aspect, it doesn’t feel like you’re trying to help bisexual people, but more you need some think-piece for a day on the LGBTQ+ calendar.

We all know the issues that the LGBTQ+ community face when it comes to mental health, but a 2018 Stonewall study found that mental health outcomes are worse for the bisexual community. More bisexuals having thought about ending their lives than their gay or lesbian counterparts, with 50% of bisexual women and 43% of bisexual men having considered it in the past year, compared to 37% of lesbians and 32% of gay men. Another study published this year found that bisexual people were four times more likely to self-harm than gay people and twice as likely than lesbians.

When it comes to Bi Visibility Day, this is what we should be focusing on, rather than putting out another piece about bisexuals being real and calling it a day. Especially when outside of Bi Visibility Week, the media is hardly rushing to cover stories affecting our community.

Sure, we get articles about x celebrity coming out as bisexual, but it’s a general ‘Oh, this person isn’t straight’ and most of the time doesn’t actually address any issues, maybe touching upon bi-erasure if we’re lucky. This year, one of the stories about the bi+ community that received the largest amount of media coverage was a study proving that bisexual men exist, and although it was well-intentioned, the media coverage was almost demeaning.

It was presented as a massive victory for the bisexual community, but like, I’m a bisexual man, I know I exist. I don’t need some study from a scientist who went into it not supporting male bisexuality to know I’m real. It should be laughable that this became a big LGBTQ+ story, but really it’s just depressing that once again our identity is up for debate just because someone who isn’t bi has decided we can’t possibility exist. And let’s face it, if you’re up against a biphobe, presenting one scientific report is hardly going to make them recount their ways.

Of course, we made endless memes and jokes about it, but when something that couldn’t just be laughed off and had a palpable negative impact, everything went silent. If you talk to someone outside of the bi community, they’d probably have no idea how this year our leading advocacy organisation, BiNet USA managed to completely implode.

Bi-erasure is still a massive issue faced by us, and while it is still great to see many publications trying to help with this, it’s not the only issue that we face.

In a series of posts in April, the organisation’s president wrote that BiNet USA was claiming ownership over the bisexual pride flag, and began targeting independent bisexual creators and the Human Rights Campaign for using the flag. Furthermore, the Twitter account is now advocating joining the #WalkAway campaign and Parler, the social media app where all the far-right people flock to when Twitter finally takes action against them.

This might sound like one organisation getting too big for itself and overextending, but for us in the bi+ community, it’s the equivalent of if Stonewall claimed ownership of the rainbow flag and pursued legal action against anyone using it. This organisation, which dates back to 1990, played pivotal roles in increasing bi visibility, especially in America. It should’ve been one of the biggest queer stories of the year, instead it received limited coverage that barely penetrated outside of bi+ circles.

Coming into this Bi Visibility Week, some areas of articles topics have gotten better, with there being more nuanced takes from actual bisexual people talking about their lives further than what popular misconception annoys them the most. Hopefully this will be the norm going forward, because otherwise the thing that will be annoying this bisexual the most is having to debunk another lazy stereotype for someone’s last-minute Bi Visibility Day post.

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Previous court rulings have been against gender-neutral markings.

The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom have announced they will begin hearing a case for whether gender-neutral markings, like ‘X’, should be allowed on passports.

The specific dates that the court will hear the case are on the 12/13 July.

The case is being brought by Christie Elan-Cane, who has fought for legal recognition of a non-gendered identity for the past 30 years.

Elan-Cane identifies as non-gendered and uses per/perself pronouns.

Elan-Cane argues that it is discriminatory for passports to be issued without an ‘X’ gender marker, as it excludes people who do not identify as either male or female.

Previous court rulings have been against introducing an ‘X’ gender marker, with senior judges in the High Court saying the current policy isn’t unlawful. The Court of Appeal also ruled against the move, but in their judgement said that non-binary and non-gendered people had a right to respect.

This ruling was the first time that a British court had found that Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights included people who didn’t identify as male or female.

In a statement, Elan-Cane said: “Legitimate identity is a fundamental human right but non-gendered people are treated as though we have no rights.

“The UK Government refuses to acknowledge our existence as it continues to ignore our disenfranchisement while its systems and bureaucracy render us socially invisible.”

Per added: “The case for ‘X’ Passports will now be heard before the UK Supreme Court in July 2021 where I hope finally to get justice on this matter.”

The case is being supported by Clifford Chance, one of the largest law firms in the world. In a statement last November, Jemima Roe, an associate of the firm, said: “This case raises important questions regarding the right to respect for individuals’ identity, specifically for those who identify as neither or not exclusively male or female.

“Access to X passports is crucial for the protection of the human rights of this demographic, who are otherwise forced to use a passport which misrepresents their identity.”

Passports with an “X” gender marker are available in several countries around the world including Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, India, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nepal, Pakistan and Uruguay.

The United Kingdom also recognises an ‘X’ gender marker as valid when people from those countries arrive.

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The Polish town of Nowa Dęba has rescinded its previous declaration against “LGBT ideology.”

Nowa Dęba, a town in the southeastern part of Poland has removed a resolution that set it up as an ‘LGBT-free zone’ after claiming the resolution had been “misunderstood” and “exploited” to harm the town’s image.

Parts of Poland have been declaring themselves as an ‘LGBT-free zone’ free from “LGBT ideology.”

Local authorities are refraining from actions that could be seen as tolerant of the LGBTQ+ community, and are working to prevent financial aid for non-governmental organisations helping to promote equal rights.

A conservative newspaper also printed “LGBT-free zone” stickers for readers to publicly display in their homes.

Nowa Dęba was one of those towns, and as such it lost access to certain EU funding when they adopted resolutions against these “LGBT-free zones.”

The town also lost its twinned status with the town of Fermoy in Ireland last October. At the time, the mayor of Nowa Dęba, Wiesław Ordon, claimed criticisms were “fake news” and that the declaration had no actual legal effect.

At the time, he claimed that the town would “continue to undertake measures to prevent any behaviour discriminating against any minority, including LGBT people.”

Seemingly in a response, Nowa Dęba has now become the first town to withdraw from this anti-LGBTQ+ declaration, voting in favour on Thursday (28 January).

Notes from Poland reports that ten councillors voted in favour of rescinding, while one abstained and the other four didn’t take part.

Damian Diektiarenko, the head of the Nowa Dęba council said that the initial reaction to the declaration “have been misunderstood”, adding: “We cannot allow anyone to use this [issue] against our municipality. We cannot allow anyone to tarnish [our] image by exploiting this declaration.”

In recent years, the Polish government have targeted sexual minorities and supported organisations that spread homophobia.

The ‘LGBT-free’ zones came to fruition after the country’s ruling Law and Justice Party inspired several towns in Poland to be free from “LGBT ideology” – putting vulnerable LGBTQ+ citizens at risk of discrimination, prejudice and violence.

Fifty countries from around the world recently signed an open letter calling for Poland to “protect all citizens from violence and discrimination and to ensure they enjoy equal opportunities.”

“To this end, and in particular to shield communities in need of protection from verbal and physical abuse and hate speech, we need to jointly work on an environment of non-discrimination, tolerance and mutual acceptance,” it reads.

“This includes in particular sectors such as education, health, social affairs, citizenship, public service and public documents.

US president Joe Biden also quote-tweeted an article from ABC News, in which Ursula von der Leyen – the head of the European commission – criticised Poland’s ruling party for their anti-LGBTQ+ approach to policy and human rights.

“Let me be clear: LGBTQ+ rights are human rights — and “LGBT-free zones” have no place in the European Union or anywhere in the world,” Biden wrote.

Related: French cabinet minister comes out as gay and vows to fight ‘LGBT-free’ zones in Poland

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The app is banning all forms of derogatory language in both user profiles and messaging.

Bumble, the dating app originally marketed for women to make the first move, has announced that it has banned all forms of derogatory language, including homophobic, biphobic and transphobic speech.

Although the app was originally just for straight people, in recent years it has expanded to cater for the LGBTQ+ community.

The move was introduced on Thursday (28 January) and bans derogatory language being used on either a person’s profile or in their messages to someone else.

Warnings will be given to users who violate the rules, and repeat offenders or someone who has made “particularly harmful comments” will be banned from using Bumble.

The dating app took the move after research it commissioned found that a quarter of people had been body-shamed on an app, while a half had had someone they were dating make an “unsolicited comment about their body either on a date or online.”

Posts of this nature will be flagged by automatic safeguards before being reviewed by a human moderator.

Dating for LGBTQ+ people can be hard, and it’s not made easier when certain profiles on apps contain phrases like “No fats or femmes” or “No Blacks or Asians.”

Many a social media post has gone viral after someone shared abusive, homophobic or racist abuse they had received while messaging someone on an app.

In a statement, Naomi Walkland, the head of Bumble in the UK and Ireland, said: “At Bumble, we have always been clear on our mission to create a kinder, more respectful and more equal space on the internet.

“Key to this has always been our zero-tolerance policy for racist and hate-driven speech, abusive behaviour and harassment.

“We believe in being explicit when it comes to the kind of behaviour that is not welcome on our app and with these changes, we’re making it clear that body-shaming is not acceptable on Bumble.”

She added: “We always want to lead with education and give our community a chance to learn to recognise this language and improve.

“However, we will not hesitate to permanently remove someone from the app if there are repeated incidents or particularly harmful comments.”

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The children’s book which teaches the alphabet was released earlier this month.

Not content with conquering the music scene, earlier this year Lil Nas X branched out into the world of children’s books, as he released C is for Country, a cute book that teaches children the alphabet.

When the superstar released the book on 5 January, he showed off certain pages from the book, highlighting his camp and country persona.

“F is for fringe. And feathers. And fake fur. I love that for me!” read one adorable page, while another had: “P is for Panini. Night night, little pony.”

The book, which was illustrated by award-winning artist Theodore Taylor III, also promotes a message of love, equality and family through the adventures that the young cowboy and Panini the Pony go on.

And in the three weeks that C is for Country has been available, it is already on the New York Times Bestseller list.

When Lil Nas X released the book, he said: “C IS FOR COUNTRY goes out to every amazing kid out there who sang along to ‘Old Town Road’ on repeat and helped change my life forever.

“I hope this book inspires them and makes learning the alphabet a thousand times more fun. I’m so happy with how it turned out, and I can’t wait for the world to see it.”

He also joked on Twitter: “MY CHILDREN’S BOOK “C IS FOR COUNTRY” IS OUT NOW!!!! GO GET IT PLEASE I REALLY NEED TO PAY MY RENT!”

Related: Lil Nas X’s Old Town Road is now the highest certified song of all time

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The YouTuber has over 800,000 followers.

Abigail Thorn, the woman behind the highly popular Philosophy Tube YouTube channel, has come out as a trans woman. Philosophy Tube is known for exploring philosophical issues, and was set up in 2012 after student tuition fees were increased.

In her coming out announcement, Abigail also delivered a powerful message about some of the difficulties that trans people face in the United Kingdom, in both a Twitter posting and a YouTube video.

In the statement, Abigail explained that she now uses she/her pronouns, and thanks the people in her life while she prepared to come out.

“It’s so lovely to finally relax, to sleep well with sweet dreams and be at home in myself!” she wrote. “But I’m also scared. Things are very, very bad for trans people in the UK and they’re getting worse.”

https://twitter.com/PhilosophyTube/status/1355577911949070341

She added: “My existing following means I have now instantly become one of the most recognisable trans people in the country and I feel an enormous pressure to be ‘good at it’, like if I could only be clever enough, or pretty or funny or articulate enough, things would magically come right!

“Alas, I can’t be a perfect paragon of trans Britain, I’m just an actress, but I can relay the following facts.”

She explained: “Trans people have existed for as long as there has been a Britain (longer!) but even after a century of feminism the government still dictates what we may do with our own bodies.”

Abigail continued, pointing out how there had never been an elected trans person in any of the parliaments across the United Kingdom, none of the major political parties have equal rights for trans people as a policy goal and how trans people face discrimination in getting medical treatments that cis people are able to easily access.

She wrote: “Trans people, especially trans people of colour, are hit hardest by unemployment, homelessness, and domestic, sexual, and police violence, but the conversation always focuses on wealthy white cis women tweeting about toilets.”

Abigail then went on to address the transphobia that runs rampantly through the British media, saying: “Overworked journalists often don’t know much about our lives, so antifeminists and religious extremists feed them pseudoscience and fear mongering.

“Antisemitic conspiracy theories about a mythical ‘trans lobby’ controlling universities or government are printed without criticism alongside calls to have us ‘cured’ with conversion therapy, which, shockingly, is still legal.”

She added: “Like Suffragettes and and black civil rights movements before us we are told to watch our tone lest the people denying us the means to live get hurt feelings.”

Ted Eytan via Flickr

Abigail finished her coming out announcement with a call for action, saying: “Today I’d like to add my voice to the many demanding new legislation for trans equal rights: an informed consent system of medical transition and self-ID system of legal transition for all desire it, including nonbinary people.”

She also addressed common transphobic arguments about ‘valid concerns’ by saying how there wasn’t a so-called legitimate “debate” about denying other members of the LGBTQ+ community equal rights, or how flat earthers aren’t “silenced or cancelled” when people actually listen to the experts.

She finished by saying: “These are scary times, but ‘courage calls to courage everywhere and its voice cannot be denied.’ Even when other people make it hard, being trans is a gift.

“My love goes out to every trans person reading my words in Britain or overseas, especially those who can’t come out – yet!”

You can read Abby’s full coming out statement in the Twitter post near the top of the article, or the YouTube video that is linked to at the beginning of the article.

Related: Nats Getty comes out as trans and non-binary in emotional post

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Luke Evans is returning to Disney as a villain once again.

Luke Evans is returning to Disney live-action films as he joins the cast of the upcoming Pinocchio film, a remake of the 1940 classic.

Deadline reported the news that he was joining the cast as The Coachman, who in the 1940 film lured young boys to Pleasure Island, where they transformed into donkeys and forced to work.

This will be Luke’s second appearance in a live-action Disney remake after he played Gaston, the main villain of 2017’s remake of Beauty and the Beast. Luke won a Teen Choice Award for playing the role, and was nominated at the MTV Movie and TV Awards.

The cast for the film is yet to be fully announced, but Luke will be joining Tom Hanks who has been signed on to play woodcarver Gepetto. Young actor Oakes Fegley (Pete’s Dragon, The War with Grandpa) is reportedly in talks to play Lampwick.

Also tied to the project are Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?) as director, with a script co-written with Chris Weitz (About a Boy, Cinderella).

Weitz and Andrew Miano (The Golden Compass) are serving as producers through their Depth of Field company, and there’ll be new music from Alan Silvestri (Forrest Gump, Marvel Cinematic Universe) and Glen Ballard, who has written for stars like Michael Jackson, The Pointer Sisters and Christina Aguilera.

The film currently doesn’t have a release date, but it’s expected to be released on Disney’s streaming service, Disney+.

Related: Luke Evans to reprise role as Gaston for Beauty and the Beast spin-off

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However, some on social media are questioning why he’s got that status.

In an interview with GLAAD, Justin Timberlake said that it was a “true honour” for him whenever someone called him an LGBTQ+ ally.

Justin is currently starring in Palmer as an ex-convict who strikes up a bond with a gender-nonconforming child who has been abandoned by his mother.

During the interview with GLAAD, Timberlake was asked about the film taught him about gender expression, to which he replied saying it was “special about what Cheryl [Gurriero] crafted, to begin with — and what we wanted to hold so dear and really try our best to not preach but be the most careful and respectful — is that this is an eight-year-old boy and he likes what he likes.”

And when called an ally, Justin said: “Thank you for saying that. I very much enjoy being an ally, and it’s a true honor anytime someone addresses me that way.”

When SNYDE, part of the New York Daily News, ran an article about the subject, many responses questioned Justin’s allyhood. Their article currently has over 1,100 quote tweets responding to it.

One person wrote: “who tf considers him an ally? what tf has he done to earn that title???”

Another added: “Nope. Never have. What’s he done for us? Honestly.”

And a third said: “which one of y’all lied to him?”

It should be noted that Justin has been awarded an Inspiration Award from GLSEN for work he’s done for the LGBTQ+ community, and vocally supported same-sex marriage when it was made legal in New York.

In the past, some celebrities were considered to be allies simply because they spoke about supporting the community, but nowadays discussions have shifted and questioned whether vocal support is enough if someone isn’t actually doing work that benefits the LGBTQ+ community.

So, do you think Justin has done enough to be considered an LGBTQ+ ally?

who tf considers him an ally? what tf has he done to earn that title???

— 😈 GrandMaster Jay 😈 (@MulahSam) January 28, 2021

The fans of an actual ally are wondering who told him this pic.twitter.com/KYpXqEW4nG

— Amanda Nicholls (@AmandaNicholls6) January 29, 2021

No LGBT people consider this guy an ally.

— Breath Of 🌹 (@JeSuisGodney) January 28, 2021

https://twitter.com/jakeyoncetv/status/1354901196792864774

https://twitter.com/IAmTravieAustin/status/1355166790150737923

Ain’t no gay person claim that pic.twitter.com/6wIbA7d7rV

— CLUB MINOGUE (@misterfahmi_) January 29, 2021

Justin Timberlake is an ally because he’s playing someone in a movie who befriends a boy who plays with dolls? Wtf?

— Michael the ★ ★ ★ (@michael_the_iii) January 29, 2021

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The musicians’s management confirmed that she died this morning (30 January).

Scottish musician and producer SOPHIE has sadly died in a “sudden accident” it’s been confirmed. The musician’s management confirmed the news in a statement.

“It is with profound sadness that I have to inform you that musician and producer SOPHIE passed away this morning around 4am in Athens, where the artist had been living, following a sudden accident,” they said.

“At this time respect and privacy for the family is our priority. We would also ask for respect for her fanbase, and to treat the private nature of this news with sensitivity.”

The statement added: “SOPHIE was a pioneer of a new sound, one of the most influential artists in the last decade. Not only for ingenious production and creativity but also for the message and visibility that was achieved. An icon of liberation.”

SOPHIE, aged just 34, was known for her electronic music and in 2018 released her only studio album, OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-SIDE, which was nominated for a Grammy and a Libera Award, both in the Best Dance/Electronic Album category.

At the 2018 AIM Independent Music Awards she won the Innovator Award and was nominated for the UK Breakthrough of the Year Award.

Alongside her own music, SOPHIE also wrote and produced for other artists including Madonna’s Bitch, I’m Madonna and Charli XCX’s After the Afterparty, No Angel and Girls Night Out.

After coming out, SOPHIE spoke about her trans identity, and in a 2018 interview with Paper explained: “Transness is taking control to bring your body more in line with your soul and spirit so the two aren’t fighting against each other and struggling to survive.

“On this earth, it’s that you can get closer to how you feel your true essence is without the societal pressures of having to fulfil certain traditional roles based on gender.”

Tributes have been paid to the musician online, with Monroe Burgdrof writing: “Our community has lost an icon, a pioneer and a visionary bright light.”

Shon Faye wrote: “I was devastated when I heard of SOPHIE’s death. Her music was the soundtrack to so many important parts of my recent life. She was a visionary and this world is just a bit less spectacular without her creativity in it.”

In a tribute, Christine and the Queens wrote: “Sophie was a stellar producer, a visionary, a reference. She rebelled against the narrow, normative society by being an absolute triumph, both as an artist and as a woman. I can’t believe she is gone. We need to honor and respect her memory and legacy.”

https://twitter.com/MunroeBergdorf/status/1355473604834697219

https://twitter.com/shonfaye/status/1355481247200518159

Today our community lost a true icon. A role model and a legend, rest in peace, SOPHIE ❤️

Sending love and light to her family and friends through this difficult time. https://t.co/9CKDPy1xOV

— Stonewall (@stonewalluk) January 30, 2021

https://twitter.com/jodieharsh/status/1355470936716226563

Sophie was a stellar producer, a visionary, a reference. She rebelled against the narrow, normative society by being an absolute triumph, both as an artist and as a woman. I can’t believe she is gone. We need to honor and respect her memory and legacy. Cherish the pioneers. pic.twitter.com/3kyRl1KabY

— 🫵🤩 (@QueensChristine) January 30, 2021

SOPHIE is incredible and her legacy will live on in the groundbreaking music she created and will continue to influence

I can’t imagine what her young trans fans will be going through. It’s so sad and such a loss, the industry is so lucky to have been blessed by her talent 🤍 pic.twitter.com/08xyqXSlBQ

— matt horwood (@matthewhorwood) January 30, 2021

Absolutely devastated. Sophie will always be a visionary pic.twitter.com/Vd2cti9EiD

— cassidy xcx (@olsencassidy) January 30, 2021

Play her music extra loud today

— SOPHIE XEON UPDATES (@XeonUpdates) January 30, 2021

It’s okay to cry. RIP SOPHIE. 💔 pic.twitter.com/Ma6AuzOtY2

— Primavera Sound (@Primavera_Sound) January 30, 2021

https://twitter.com/RblxCora/status/1355478746296446979

my heart is heavy. one of my biggest influences in production and had a profound impact on me when I first started learning my craft. Thank you for always shifting the limits of what it meant to make great music and inspiring so many people along the way. Rest in peace SOPHIE x pic.twitter.com/sg0kMsDJv3

— KINGKHAN / الملك خان (@kingKhan_music) January 30, 2021

No Angel was my favourite SOPHIE production, as well as my favourite pop song. It seems massive, so big and sprawling it creates its own galaxy. A legacy so perfect https://t.co/mMFP6p04q3

— george griffiths (@georgegriffiths) January 30, 2021

Sophie's music meant so much to me when I was just finding my feet as a baby queer I'm absolutely heartbroken

— Corn! (@sexycorn69) January 30, 2021

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The Nollywood actor came out in an Instagram video.

Nigerian actor Uche Maduagwu has come out as “proudly gay” in an Instagram video, and in subsequent posts has urged other people to come out.

In a post yesterday (29 January), the actor uploaded a picture of himself alongside a caption saying “proudly gay” while upbeat music played in the background. He captioned his post, saying: “Appreciate others and #share only love we need to respect peoples choices not to judge them so lets practice jesus kind of love.”

In a follow-up post, he urged others to come out and share their identity, saying: “Don’t let anyone intimidate you. Come out, show your identity, you are who you are, boy, you’re who you are. Don’t let anybody intimidate you. I be gay, I be no herdsman, and I am proud.”

A third post then urges newly elected President Joe Biden to take action against Nigeria for its anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes, and claimed that up to 40% of the current legislators in the country were gay.

Uche wrote: “Dear President Joe Biden i am proudly gay and i beg you to place sanctions on Nigerian government for its inhuman laws against law abiding homosexuals yet this same government pampers wicked fulani herdsmen who kidnap and cause trouble in southern part of nigeria we are tired and scared despite the fact that more than 40% of current legislatures and over twelve governors are homosexuals in naija why the hypocrisy.”

Uche’s coming out comes one week after Bolu Okupe, the son of a homophobic Nigerian politician also came out as “Gay AF” while in a pair of rainbow shorts and holding a Pride flag aloft.

Since coming out, Bolu has had to fight off homophobic comments, with one saying he’d “be a corpse” if he tried returning. But hitting back, Bolu said: “Your whole mentality is tragic.

“I feel sorry for you. Your religion has turned you into a psychotic imbecile that you think it’s okay to kill people?”

And while Uche has had to deal with some negative comments, he has also met support, with one commenter saying: “Yes, respecting people chose is love.”

And another added: “I love your courage dear.”

Others however believe that Uche hasn’t come out and is simply “clout chasing” given that the actor has a history of trolling his fellow artists and public figures within the country.

Nigeria is one of the most dangerous countries for the LGBTQ+ community, and has been ranked as the worst place for LGBTQ+ safety, due to the prospect of 14 years in prison or the death penalty for homosexuality, as well as the criminalisation of LGBTQ+ rights discussions.

Homophobia is rife throughout the country, and in 2019 an influential police chief, Dolapo Badmos, told LGBTQ+ people to leave the country or face prosecution.

“If you are homosexually inclined, Nigeria is not a place for you. There is a law (Same-Sex Prohibition Act) here that criminalises homosexual clubs, associations and organisations with penalties of up to 15 years in jail,” she posted on Instagram.

Related: End SARS: How police brutality is impacting Nigeria’s LGBTQ+ youth

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