LGBTQ and HIV Activist Escaped Nigerian Homophobia to Build a New Life in America
BY MORDECAI HAZELWOOD
DETROIT – After spending nearly his entire life in his home country of Nigeria, LGBTQ and HIV activist Mayomi Fowowe-Makinde now finds himself having to adjust to a brand-new home nearly 7,000 miles away from where he grew up. This wasn't immigration for fun, though — he had little say in the matter.
Escape
Fowowe-Makinde, a gay man, had been outed after his stepmother broke into his apartment in Lagos, the country's largest city, and found gay literature there.
He went into hiding after being actively pursued by the police, and then kept for days in a local church.
"I was held in the church for seven days straight," Fowowe-Makinde said. "I didn't drink water or eat. I was told I should fast and pray for the demons to get out."
That's when he reached out to Rainbow Raiload for help — a Canada-based organization that works to remove LGBTQ people from dangerous homophobia in their native countries.
"If you're gay and caught, it's 14 years in prison. Public displays of affection can mean 10 years," Fowowe-Makinde said. "Also, if you have a friend, family member or neighbor who is gay, you must report them to the police. If you don't, it can mean 10 years in prison as well."
Since 2013, Fowowe-Makinde worked at the Access to Health and Rights Development Initiative, the nonprofit he cofounded with his close friend Peter Kass. Together, they helped provide sexual education, psychological and social support for LGBT and HIV positive individuals, temporary housing for LGBTQ people fleeing the police and resources for access to medication. His activism was dangerous, however. It painted a target on his back.
That heis alive to tell his tale today is due in a large part to Fowowe-Makinde's cousin, who is also gay and fled to America via the Rainbow Railroad in 2014. His cousin relayed his story to case and project managers for the Rainbow Railroad, who, in turn, managed to get Fowowe-Makinde's case going and let him start the application for a visa to the U.S.
It might be difficult for Americans to imagine, but during the one-month application process, Mayomi lived in constant fear for his life. Going out during the day wasn't safe, as the police had circulated his picture around Lagos and across the country, offering a reward for information about his whereabouts. He briefly fled to neighboring Ghana as his application was processed. He couldn't stay in his apartment, either, and instead lived with Kass.
"I wouldn't open the door for anyone. The risk was too high," Fowowe-Makinde said.
"If you're gay and caught, it's 14 years in prison. Public displays of affection can mean 10 years," Fowowe-Makinde said. "Also, if you have a friend, family member or neighbor who is gay, you must report them to the police. If you don't, it can mean 10 years in prison as well."
Freedom
Finally, in early May, visa was processed and he boarded an 11 p.m. flight to the U.S. Following the instructions of the Rainbow Railroad case managers exactly, he didn't tell anyone he was traveling, and didn't say goodbye to anyone. It wasn't until he was safe in the U.S. that he could contact his family.
Fowowe-Makinde had travelled around Africa for his activism work, but he'd never been to the U.S. Although he landed in Chicago initially, the local LGBTQ organizations there already had a substantial backlog of asylum seekers. So, he was directed east to Detroit. It is there that Mayomi has started building a new life for himself.
"When I came here, there's so much more freedom. It is easy for people to show affection for one another," he said. "I see guys hold hands and kiss. You can visit gay clubs; there were no gay clubs of any kind in Nigeria, none that I knew of, anyway. It's amazing."
Fowowe-Makinde is able to continue his activism work with the AHRDI remotely. In fact, he said, that's a common way that LGBTQ organizations are run in his native country.
"If you were an organization that worked with LGBT people, you couldn't put that on your application or let the government know," he said. "You have to say it was for HIV and reproductive health. It's all a front to get registered. Most activists in Nigeria … they left for the U.K. or U.S. The threat of prison is enough to make them leave."
While his work to benefit LBGTQ people in his native country continues, he has developed goals for his new home. Fowowe-Makinde received a college degree in food science and technology in Lagos, and wants to work in the medical field here in the U.S.
"I'd also love to be on the radio at some point to present African food, music, politics and culture," Fowowe-Makinde said. "I want to reach out to Africans here and grow the community."
Finally, he said he wants to continue his LGBTQ and HIV outreach abroad, but expand it in his new home, too. Despite not being able to apply for work authorization until January, he volunteers his time at LGBT Detroit and Affirmations in Ferndale.
Fowowe-Makinde won't be allowed to visit his native country for up to 10 years, according to U.S. asylum regulations. However, he is adamant that Detroit is his new home now.
"Even if I wanted to go, I would need to inform the U.S. government," he said. "Coming back may not be so easy."
Aftermath
His family is still very much in denial about his homosexuality. The phone calls he had with his mother's family all ended in discussions of when Fowowe-Makinde plans on settling down with a woman. His father's side of the family has shunned him.
"I would rather stay where I am now," Fowowe-Makinde said. "I may visit Nigeria when I'm able to. When I get a job, I will be able to financially support any activism in Nigeria to the best of my ability. I'm looking forward to doing that."
For now, he is growing accustomed to American culture and becoming a part of the local LGBTQ community through volunteering. While the plight of LGBTQ individuals in Nigeria is still grim, Fowowe-Makinde remains hopeful that he will continue to make a difference from his new home.
More information about Rainbow Railroad can be found online at rainbowrailroad.ca. Justice For Our Neighbors in Michigan provides free immigration legal services to those who cannot afford an attorney. Find more information about JFON here. While Freedom House Detroit is not providing support for Mayomi Fowowe-Makinde specifically, the organization works with similar cases, and can be reached online at freedomhousedetroit.org.
