Bisi Alimi took to his Twitter page to reveal that he used to be a homophobic pastor.
Bisi Alimi (born Ademola Iyandade Ojo Kazeem Alimi, is a Nigerian gay rights activist, public speaker, blog writer and HIV/LGBT advocate who gained international attention when he became the first Nigerian to come out on television.
He wrote:
“Will you believe if I tell you I used to be a very homophobic pastor back in the day. So I have been on that journey.”
Will you believe if I tell you I used to be a very homophobic pastor back in the day. So I have been on that journey. https://t.co/Z6tE3NxtcN
— Lucifer (HE/HIM) (@bisialimi) August 14, 2020
When asked why he changed, he explained that a suicide attempt at the age of 17 made him decide to stop hating who he is.
He wrote:
“Thanks to the people that never gave up me and walked the journey me. However, it was a failed suicide attempt at 17 that started my journey to self love.”
Thanks to the people that never gave up me and walked the journey me. However, it was a failed suicide attempt at 17 that started my journey to self love
— Lucifer (HE/HIM) (@bisialimi) August 15, 2020
Alimi was born in the Mushin district of Lagos to father Raski Ipadeola Balogun Alimi (a Nigerian police officer) and Mother Idiatu Alake Alimi (a university clerk). Alimi was raised in Lagos, where he attended primary and secondary school. He was the third in a family of five children from his mother, and sixth from a family of ten children from his father. He later changed his name to Adebisi Alimi.