A well known Nigerian Anglican, Davis Mac-Iyalla, 33, spoke out in New York to tell the story of what it is like to be out and gay in Nigeria.  His is a dramatic story of courageous resistance to both physical and spiritual violence.  Since declaring himself openly gay and founding his country’s only gay rights organization in 2005, Mac-Iyalla has been fired from his job as a school principal, suffered ostracism from family and friends, been arrested, threatened with kidnapping and death, and been libeled by officials of the Anglican Church as well as denied communion.

  After spending months in hiding, Mac-Iyalla is now in the U.S. on a speaking tour to draw attention to the plight of gay people in Nigeria and to seek support.  On Tuesday, June 19th, as an expression of solidarity with Mac-Iyalla, Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the Episcopal Church’s first openly gay bishop, celebrated the Eucharist and preached at the Church of the Holy Apostles in Manhattan.  Afterwards, Mac-Iyalla told his story and answered questions.

Mac-Iyalla’s journey has taken him from honored member of his church to outcast.  For years he was an active and deeply involved member of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, having been accorded the honor of “knight” of the church and having become a lay reader.  But all that changed when he revealed that he was gay and began his advocacy of gay and lesbian concerns both within the church and in Nigerian civil society.  He has even received threats of torture and death.  One anonymous threat suggested that if he did not “repent” he would be kidnapped and bathed in acid.  These threats are of such grave concern that the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts-Schori has been asked to intervene with the United Nations on Mac-Iyalla’s behalf.

     Yet, in the face of great opposition Davis Mac-Iyalla continues his efforts because of his conviction that, “Gay, lesbian and bisexual people are called by God to express their sexuality in loving, faithful and committed relationships.  Therefore, the Church should stop colluding with cultural repression and discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual people in all parts of the world.”
     Davis Mac-Iyalla’s appearance at the Church of Holy Apostles was co-sponsored by Holy Apostles (www.holyapostlesnyc.org) and by WAKE UP, a coalition of Episcopalians who seek a full inclusion Church (www.wakeuptec.org).  All contributions from the offering were donated directly to Mac-Iyalla to guard his safety and further his important work.