Nigerian Actor Declares Himself 'Proudly Gay' in Insta Posts

Uche Maduagwu, a Nigerian actor who is part of the country's "Nollywood" film industry, came out as "proudly gay" in a pair of Jan. 31 Instagram posts.

"Don't let anybody intimidate you," the actor says in his first post. "Come out! Show your identity! You are who you are, boys - you are who you are."

The actor goes one to declare he is gay and proud, a message he repeated in second post he made on the same day in which he said he was "proudly gay" and asked U.S. President Joe Biden to place sanctions on his country "for its inhuman laws against law abiding homosexuals".

In the post, Maduagwu said the Nigerians are "tired and scared" due to the country's anti-LGBTQ laws, "despite the fact that more than 40% of current legislatures and over twelve governors are homosexuals".

Maduagwu did not offer any names of government officials in making the claim, but he followed up with several more posts over the next few days. In one, he condemned what he described as a disparity in policing; in several others he posted pictures of himself wearing a bright red brassiere.

The posts received a few congratulatory messages ("Thanks for your strong message," one supporter posted, while others said the actor had made valid points), but they drew anti-LGBTQ criticisms as well.

"I wonder who called you to put your mouth where it does not belong," one response read.

Another encouraged Maduagwu to "receive Christ Jesus and ask God for mercy so u could be delivered frm d Spirit of GAYISM"

A response to one of the portraits of Maduagwu in a red brassiere read, "I console your mum."

The actor's Instagram announcement followed in the wake of a prominent anti-LGTBQ Nigerian politician's son coming out on the social media platform. Bolu Okupe, 27, the son of Dr. Doyin Okupe, had been out for at least a year on other social media platforms, including YouTube, where he has posted a number of videos in which he discusses LGTBQ issues. But his Instagram post - in which he posted a shirtless photo of himself dressed in rainbow shorts and holding a Pride flag - caused a sensation. Okupe wrote in that post that he was "gay as f."

Same-sex relationships are outlawed in Nigeria, with some places in the Muslim-majority nation imposing the death penalty for partnered gay men, while women face public flogging. Even public displays of affection between two people of the same gender carry significant penalties of up to ten years in prison.