Nigeria Gay rights activist Bisi Alimi talks about the very first time he tries on female clothing as he counts down to his wedding....
Day 13 of 30 days to my wedding of 30 things to be grateful for. The
first time I put on a dress was at university of Lagos. I was drafted to
act a role at the last minute as the character did not turn up. I am
sure @denrele_edun will remember this event.
We were acting for Atiku's wife while she was
visiting. Many times after that, I have dressed up. I dressed up hosting
many gay parties in#Lagos. In 1999, as a very young 24years old, I won
the glamorous Miss Gay Lagos. It was an honour. As a man (yes, just in
case some of you are confused) wearing a dress and heels and stockings
is liberating for me. I am not a woman and I do not want to be a woman.
When I wear dresses, I wear them as a man and this is why it is very
liberating for me. It connects with my vulnerability. As an African man,
there is an expectation of what it means to be a man. Wearing a dress
is also a statement of fuck you to patriarchy. I don't do conformity. I
live in my head and in my world. I would go naked and take a picture of
it if I feel so good about it. Then came last year and I met @msposhp
and she changed my world. She made me understand that beauty has no
gender and a dress is a dress is a dress. The joy I feel when I take on
the character of Ms Posh is overwhelming. She takes me to another level.
Also when@obehinoir makes her up, she transforms into this beautiful
woman I have been dying to meet and know. Ms Posh is an act, she is only
real in my head and in your imagination. That imagination if you let it
loose will change the way you see women and treat women. As a man in a
dress, I have experience sexual harassment and verbal abuse and to me it
is interesting how just a dress changed the way people treat me.
Unfortunately, Ms Posh is not invited to me wedding, but I am sure, she
will be standing next to me in my head when I say 'I Do' to my
man.#samesexmarriage #samesexwedding#30daysofthankfulness#equalmarriage
#weddingday#dragqueen