“Africa is not safe for us” | Why Proud Feathers march at London Pride

[00:00:00]Africa is nowhere safe. I'm not sure anyone who is a lesbian want to come out in Africa because you'll be killed. I ran for my life and even as a female, I would even be to know how a male tastes.

[00:00:11]This is who we are and we can't hide from ourselves. I am a Christian and I'm a lesbian >> [music] >> and I'm happy to be one. Come and become a human. That's all I have to say.

[00:00:23]>> Good morning.

[00:00:24]>> Good morning.

[00:00:25]>> Right, you're here with Proud Feathers.

[00:00:28]>> Yes, this is Proud Feathers Initiative and at London Pride 2026. We're here to support the African community such as Nigeria, West Africa the whole. Mostly we focus on Nigeria. We have some members from Ghana, from Senegalese. We are a charity organization. We help immigrants like us have their freedom because back in Africa we are always locked in the bus and here we're here to showcase ourselves to love each other because we know pride is all about love and even if it's same sex which is not accepted back in Africa, we're here to say yes, there's a home for you here in London, in United Kingdom and here at Pride London 2026, we're here to showcase how we we come together as a community to say yes, you are accepted here. You don't need to be in the box anymore. You should just come as you are. There's no discrimination. Everyone is loved here and we're here to support you. As many as much as you can join Proud Feathers Initiative, you're welcome. It's a home for all.

[00:01:30]>> This year that at least in four different African countries you've seen laws either being restricted or put in place that criminalize same-sex sex and gay marriage. What is driving this in these different African countries?

[00:01:45]>> Um, it's actually the political leaders.

[00:01:47]These are not accepted because our culture and norms says no same-sex marriage. It says we are sinners, we are cursed, we're not accepted where we are coming from, which is unfair. I mean, we have to live what we are truly are. This is who we are, and we can't hide from ourselves. We are actually lesbian. I am a lesbian. We have people bisexual. We have people transgender. Allow people to live the way they want to live. And that's why here in the United Kingdom, the UK has embraced us as a whole to say, "Come out and live the way you want to live." And we're so happy to be here to advocate for every brother and sister of us that are here to say, "Yes, come.

[00:02:26]The UK is here. We will help you. We'll see how you can we can guide you. You don't need to be in the box anymore. You don't need to be intimidated that you'll be locked up in one prison, or you'll be mobbed, or you'll be discriminated, or you'll be killed." Because back in Africa, yes, this is a sin. You go to church about it. You pray. I am a Christian, and I'm a lesbian, and I'm happy to be one. I also pray. God also answers my prayer. Doesn't mean because I'm a lesbian doesn't mean I shouldn't live my true self. I have my partner.

[00:02:53]I'm happy to be able to express myself in whatever way I can. And that's why I'm here today to say to you, "Love is love, and God loves us." In In In We We don't have to say because we have cultural beliefs and we are not human. I mean, I'm a lovely person, as you can see, >> [laughter] >> and that is why I'm also advocating for for LGBTQI. Africa is not safe for them.

[00:03:17]>> Mhm.

[00:03:17]>> Africa is nowhere safe. I'm not sure anyone who is a lesbian want to come out in Africa because you'll be killed. It's not safe. It's not a safe place. This is the only safe home I know at the moment.

[00:03:28]While I was in Africa, it was terrible.

[00:03:30]I ran for my life, and even as a female, I would even be raped to know how a male tastes. But here is is is is different.

[00:03:39]There's no inhumanity here. It was inhumane for me to live back in Africa.

[00:03:44]I'm not saying I'm not I'm not happy I was born in Africa.

[00:03:48]Yeah, maybe for some reason I was, but for the reason that I have to be my true self, I don't have to be caged, I don't have to be in the box.

[00:03:57]It makes it very, very easy for me to live here.

[00:04:00]I'm not scared that if I turn my back, I'm going to be killed. No. I'm not scared if I turn my back, someone is going to throw something at me. I'm not scared of coming out of my house. I'm not scared of going to work. I'm not scared of living my true self. I mean, you just have to hide. You just have to be like the way you want it to be. I understand African people who know what I mean, where you know your elders are talking, oh, you just have to be there.

[00:04:24]Like a robot. You're no more a robot, you're a human. Come and become a human.

[00:04:29]That's all I have to say. Thank you.

[00:04:31]>> Where can people find Proud Feathers online?

[00:04:33]>> Okay, we are on Instagram. We have a website called Proud Feathers Initiative. You're welcome. Come and find out about us.

[00:04:41]You are much welcome. We preach about love. Thank you.

[00:04:45]>> And there they go. Now, notice how none of them are walking around in fetish and gear, because they are marching for something much more basic. The freedom for a woman to love a woman, and for a man to love a man. And for all that's wrong with pride, I'm glad it's giving them a chance to do this. That's it for me for now. I shall see you in the next one. Ciao.

[00:05:11]Thank you so much for watching, and thank [music] you to my PayPal and Patreon supporters. Because of you, I can make videos like this. Special shout-out to my [music] big spenders, Halper Open, Mama Turf and the Turventines, Mijuli, the lovely Mary, Julia, Dusty, >> [music] >> Judles, Leffy, Dorothy, Wildfire, Esther, and Martha.

[00:05:36]Thank you.