Qtalk: Gay actor is tired of staying in the closet
LGBTQ+ Nigerians benefit from the support provided by volunteer counselors via the Qtalk app, which is supported by this site and by the St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation.
The Qtalk user’s name has been changed in the following writeup, which is one of many contributed by the counselors who provide advice to LGBTQ+ Nigerians via the free Qtalk app:
Gay actor says he is tired of staying in the closet
Fidelis, a 28-year-old up-and-coming Nigerian gay actor, says he is emotionally exhausted from trying to hide his sexuality and wants to come out.
In his support request, he wrote:
“This hiding thing sef tire me. I think I’ll like to come out of the closet. It is just so exhausting trying to be who you are not. I am just so tired, I just want some helpful information on how to do this.” [Editor’s note: The word “sef”, a Nigerian word recently accepted in the Oxford English Dictionary, is “used for emphasis after a statement or rhetorical question,” the OED states.]
In a response to Fidelis’s support request, the counselor acknowledged that it could be indeed emotionally draining trying to hide one’s sexual orientation and pretending to be someone you are not. Whilst pointing out that living authentically was more freeing, the counselor also made him understand that there is no standard formula for coming out, adding that everyone’s situation is unique and the outcome is largely unpredictable. The counselor also explored the risks and the possible damage that it could do to his personality and his career since homosexuality is currently criminalized in the country and many people’s overall perception of homosexuality is negative.
In conclusion, the counselor shared some links to helpful online resources about coming out as gay.
This article is one of five that comprise Part 14 of the Qtalk series.
To download the Qtalk mobile app, click HERE.
To support the Qtalk project financially, click HERE.
