According to him , he used to hide it and remembered instances when he used to be very quiet , obedient and often stay in his room so as he would be unnoticed when he was staying with his parents.
He has, however , gone past that stage in his life . He currently doesn ’ t feel the need to conform to anybody ’s standard in terms of sexuality .
“ The moment I realised I was gay happened in primary school. Someone called me gay as an insult and I responded with “so what ?” I was totally fine with it, but others weren ’ t and that was when the discomfort and shame with my sexuality started ,” he told intomore .com .
He was featured on the website alongside other gay models with African backgrounds on issues they face as queer people of colour .
“ Living under my parents’ roof, I was constantly hiding . I’d get home from school and be incredibly quiet , helpful and obedient. I stayed in my room most of the time. I was playing the role of the ‘ ideal son ’ so I could just skate by unnoticed . It wasn’ t until I was no longer living at home that I started to realise I wasn’ t anyone or anything I’ d known so far in my life ,” he said.
“ I went through a lot of ups and downs , trying out new ways of dressing, trying out new friendship groups, and reinventing myself over and over again . I realise I did this because I was still trying to fit in a box – the stylish black guy , the cool and macho black guy , the femme, flamboyant and fun black guy . None worked because there is a lot more to me ( and any person for that matter ) than a stereotype . I am now very comfortable with my sexuality because I don ’ t feel I need to conform to any one image , ” he added .
Meanwhile , back home in Ghana , being gay comes with grave challenges . It’s not accepted by majority and there ’ s being moves to criminalise homosexuality .
The Speaker of Parliament , Mike Ocquaye Jnr , was recently reported have lashed out at human rights group – Amnesty International – who called on him to relax his stance on gay rights .
Source : Daily Guide
