By Fausto Fernós on June 4, 2007 | Share & Save | Link | Print |
What is it like to live in Nigeria, where you can be sent to prison, tortured and killed for just being gay?
Believe it or not, it doesn’t stop people from living out their lives and fighting for change.
On todays gay fun show we’re joined by the Mac Daddy of Gay Activism in Nigeria- Davis Mac Iyalla.
Davis is on a tour of the U.S in hopes to raise awareness of the lack of GLBT rights in Nigeria, and why this is a problem that affects everyone.
As Mac-Iyalla says in our interview, there have always been gays and lesbians all over the world, but the recent move to ban gay marriage in his country where gay people are imprisoned for being gay seems a strange law to pass.
He presents homophobia as a negative residue of past British colonial rule, but Mac-Iyalla says the Anglican church’s current move to ban gay marriage comes as a result of financial pressure from conservative Christians in the United States.
Nigerian Bishop Peter Akinola is leading the fight to split the worldwide 77 million Anglican/Episcopalian denomination over the issue of GLBT rights.
Why would any country that already severely penalizes gay people for even existing have any need for a law against gay marriage? Political currency. Demonizing gay marriage carries the power to distract the population from sabotage from within. If your current leadership is sounding the false alarm, chances are because they want you to look the other way.
I guess Nigeria and the U.S. are a lot alike.
Also joining us is Andy Thayer from the Gay Liberation Network. Listen as we talk about growing up gay in Africa, why conservative Americans are funding anti-gay measures in Nigeria and what you can do to help our brothers and sisters overseas.
How do you say “gay” in Kalabari?
Click here to donate directly to Davis Mac-Iyalla’s travel fund, or send a check to: Gay Liberation Network, c/o Davis Mac-Iyalla Travel Fund, 4404 N. Magnolia, Suite 420, Chicago, IL 60640.
Featured Links:
•International Lesbian and Gay Association
•Changing Attitude Nigeria
Featured Music:
Don Juan Dracula - Young Debutantes II: iTunes | Amazon | CD Baby| Site
RSS FEED | SUBSCRIBE VIA iTUNES
SUBSCRIBE VIA: YAHOO | GOOGLE | PODZINGER
Christopher says:
June 4, 2007 at 07:12WOW. What an interview. Fausto, at the start of the show, you said this interview was going to be possibly the most important interview FOF has done. I think you were right. Davis was a wonderful guest and I am so glad that you brought him on the show. June is historically Gay Pride month around the country. This past weekend I spent in Austin, TX for the Gay Pride Parade. Just listening to Davis makes me realize just how lucky we all are in America, even with crazy right-wingnuts, and Fred Phelps, and Pat Roberston, we still can live a peaceful life without fear (for the most part). Thank you so much for sharing with us Davis.
Marc Felion says:
June 4, 2007 at 13:39Just to reiterate, those crazy wingnuts are now exporting their hate to Nigeria. Bishop Akinola receives a lot of funding from
US churches.
Phi Tau 27 says:
June 4, 2007 at 15:02I can’t say enough how much I appreciate FoF’s efforts at raising awarness to loacal, national, and global issues. To know that the cast is not only talented with comedy but also socially aware is one of the many reasons I continue to love this show and spread its gospel, so to speak.
Davis’s story is both uplifting and tragic. I can’t imagine what life would be like to live in Nigeria, but to know that in the face of such extreme adversity he is standing up to the tyranny is unspeakably moving. I can only be thankful for our situation.
tralfaz says:
June 4, 2007 at 17:48Good show. I hope you do more interviews in the future about gay rights in different countries.
RcktMan says:
June 4, 2007 at 18:44I just got done reading about Davis in the Chicago Tribune (his article is in today’s Metro section on the front page), trying to figure out why his name was so familiar– and then I remembered seeing him on today’s show. I haven’t heard it yet– still at work– but I am going to rush out of here right now and get home so I can hear it. Congratulations on such an important guest and topic!
Maia says:
June 6, 2007 at 14:40Wow, I can’t believe you guys interviewed Davis Mac-Iyalla! What a great show.
I’m catching up on my FOF, after spending the past week entertaining out-of-town visitors. I missed David’s appearance at All Saints’ Church on Monday night (also because of aforesaid visitors), so it is such a great surprise to find him here on your podcast. Great catch, guys!
I loved the part where he said he would have liked to be a lesbian. Awwww…
Alec says:
June 7, 2007 at 20:40Wow - just got to hear it today (having some iPod problems).
As an Episcopalian, I obviously already have a beef w/ Akinola, who’s leading the charge of the Anglican primates that are trying to split the Anglican communion over Gene Robinson’s ordination. (Gene Robinson is the duly-elected bishop of New Hampshire - the openly gay bishop in the Anglican communion).
The fact that an archbishop is a leading voice in guiding a country towards an even more oppressive and life-threatening environment for gay people is abhorrent.
Thanks for having him on the show. He is a very, very brave man.
Alec
Alec
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Fausto Fernós created the Feast of Fools in 1998 as wacky artists variety show in Chicago, Illinois.
Along with his partner Marc Felion, he hosts the world's most downloaded talk show for gay people on the internet, Feast of Fools.
Fausto loves pomegranates, waterfalls and 70s retro funk music.
View all entries by Fausto Fernós
Subscribe for free and sync up the shows on your iPod
Odd news, social trends, and recipes
Make a financial contribution. Your support helps to keep us going.
Say your name, where you’re from and ask a question. Great questions make it on the show.
Give me and F! Give me an O! Give me another F! What does that spell? A-W-E-S-O-M-E P-O-D-C-A-S-T. I know it's a bit much, but bear with me. On today's show we're cheering our little lungs ou [MORE]
Michael Buckley will do almost anything to entertain you; cartwheels, hand stands and even a little skin show. Flipping snarky catchphrases with insightful quips on celebrity news and popular [MORE]
Aren't they cute? Comedians Jim Bennet and Andy Eninger from GayCo, the Chicago based queer comedy troupe join us today to celebrate over a decade of fun-filled shows. GayCo began as a lesbiga [MORE]
Check out this behind-the-scenes installment of trannytalk101 with Kennidi Monroe and Reina Valentino. Fausto coaches the girls backstage at a nightclub (Mary's Attic) in Chicago. Also featur [MORE]
If you're ever attacked by a shark or giant beast, there really is one thing to do: poke it in the eye. This poor guy survived a shark attack which could have killed him. The Australian swimmer d [MORE]
Are my pads showing? An exposed boob pad is not as bad as a trail of toilet paper stuck to a high heel, but it's still somewhat upsetting to see. I suppose it's a small price to pay...there a [MORE]
Kennidi is sorry. And she apologizes too. Kennidi told us she's really really sorry for picking on video blogger Chris Crocker in the show comments last week. Fessing up that she was doing it [MORE]
Matty | May 16, 2008
Maybe the “Vegan” sugar is made by vegan people. Or maybe its even made of vegan people? *gasp!* Homemade sugar scrubs are great! another great show you...
Trannylover | May 16, 2008
Love Matthew Buckley! You guys are so good at interviewing people, it’s really great to get to know these youtubelebrities in a better way. Nice work! If I won...
Trannylover | May 16, 2008
Let’s face it, creativity, not their forte.
Marc Felion | May 16, 2008
Thanks guys. I always thought they should call the drag show “Flowers in the Attic.” After all, the drag show takes place in an attic and drag queens are like flowers.
SAL-E | May 16, 2008
I had not idea who this was all I know is that I cued up my FOF on my ipod and Crack attack……… 230;…..Wow…… ………who...
Gay Fun ShowPosting tweet...
Matty | May 16, 2008
Maybe the “Vegan” sugar is made by vegan people. Or maybe its even made of vegan people? *gasp!* Homemade sugar scrubs are great! another great show you...
Trannylover | May 16, 2008
Love Matthew Buckley! You guys are so good at interviewing people, it’s really great to get to know these youtubelebrities in a better way. Nice work! If I won...
Trannylover | May 16, 2008
Let’s face it, creativity, not their forte.
Marc Felion | May 16, 2008
Thanks guys. I always thought they should call the drag show “Flowers in the Attic.” After all, the drag show takes place in an attic and drag queens are like flowers.
SAL-E | May 16, 2008
I had not idea who this was all I know is that I cued up my FOF on my ipod and Crack attack……… 230;…..Wow…… ………who...
LATEST
Fausto Fernós says:
June 4, 2007 at 01:53Davis Mac-Iylla U.S. tour:
June 4 - Luncheon, 8th Day Center for Justice, 205 W. Monroe, 12:30pm
Interview with Jerome MacDonald (”Worldview,” WBEZ-FM), 2 pm
Interview with Mitchell Szczepanczyk (WHPK-FM), 3:15 pm
Interview with Cliff Kelley (WVON-AM), 4 pm
All Saints, Chicago, hymns & panel with Seminary Dean Ruth Myers, 7:30pm
June 5 - Trinity Church, Highland Park, IL, 7:30pm
June 6 - +William Persell, Diocesan House, 65 E. Huron St., 2:15pm
Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches, 7pm, location?
June 7 - Open/Sightseeing
June 8 - GLBT Community Forum, St. Peter’s, Chicago, 7pm
June 10 - Raleigh, NC: Church of the Nativity, 9:15am adult ed
Diocese of North Carolina speech, 2-4pm
June 11-14 - Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, Parsippany, New Jersey
June 11 - Executive Council dinner with the Diocese of Newark
June 12 - private dinner: John Simonelli, Oasis
June 15 - Stone Ridge, NY: Church of Christ the King, EP, dinner & speech, 6pm
June 17 - St. Bartholomew’s Church, Park Avenue, New York:
Rector’s Forum; GLBT Fellowship
June 18 - Oasis dinner, St. Andrew/Holy Communion Church, S. Orange, NJ
June 19 - Holy Apostles: mass 6:15pm, +Gene Robinson sermon; Davis speech
June 20 - St. Luke’s in the Fields: Pride forum, lecture & Q&A, 7pm
June 22 - Rochester, New York: St. Luke & St. Simon of Cyrene (evening)
June 24 - San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade with +Marc Andrus, 10:30am
Eucharist & Commissioning at St. John the Evangelist, 4pm
Reception, speech and Q&A
Clean and Sober Pride Dance
June 25-27 - Diocese of California?
June 28 - Phoenix: dinner with +Kirk Smith & the Dean; speak at Trinity Cathedral
June 29 - press luncheon; evening speech in Tucson
June 30 - Dallas: evening reception, St. Thomas Church
July 1 - St. Thomas: mass 10am, brief remarks; return to Indiana
July 4 - Independence Day picnic
July 5 - DEPART New York
July 6: London, England