Aderonke Apata on leaving Nigeria to be a free gay woman

Changes with Annie Macmanus

Annie Macmanus

Society & Culture

4.6 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 17 June 2024

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Imagine being forced to leave your country for being gay or face death. This Refugee Week, we welcome Aderonke Apata, a Nigerian refugee who had to leave Nigeria under threat of persecution for being in love with a woman. When she reached the UK, she embarked on a 13-year battle through the UK immigration system including periods of homelessness, detention and near deportation. She was also accused of lying about her sexuality. Her lover in Nigeria was sadly killed. Today, Aderonke has trained to be a barrister and is an expert on immigration law helping others who are going through a similar experience to hers. She founded the African Rainbow Family in Manchester, highlighting the importance of providing support and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers.

In this deeply moving and enlightening conversation Aderonke discusses her experience, the complexities of sexuality and asylum claims, the astounding and brave changes she has made in her life to live as a proud lesbian and her desire to make change for others. Aderonke’s story is a testament to the power of hope and the resilience of the human spirit.

Refugee Week is a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity, and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Taking place every year in the week around World Refugee Day on 20th June, Refugee Week encourages understanding and solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers through arts, culture, and educational events. This Refugee Week, let’s stand in solidarity with those who have faced unimaginable hardships in their pursuit of safety and acceptance.

Warning this episode references homophobia, sexual abuse, violence and murder

For more information visit:

www.refugeeweek.org

www.africanrainbowfamily.org

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0:00.0	Hi, I'm Susie Chan, and my new book Trails and Tribulations tells the story of the exhilarating journey running has taken me on.
0:07.0	From completing the legendary marathon de sabbler more times than any other British woman to becoming one of the first women to finish the world
0:13.6	marathon majors I tell of the life-changing opportunities running has given me.
0:18.0	Despite facing my fair share of adversity I always find a reason to lace up my shoes and hit the road.
0:24.0	Trails and Tribulations is out now and available to order from all good bookshops and audio retailers.
0:32.0	This episode of Changes is brought to you by the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty
0:36.7	app helping those of all ages everywhere to look and feel their most beautiful and most confident every day.
0:44.5	If you are feeling overwhelmed by choice when it comes to beauty
0:48.6	or you're struggling to find or apply the makeup that suits you, the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty app is an amazing resource
0:55.2	and confidence tool. So I've discovered as a woman in my mid-40s that I should probably change some of the way that I
1:02.1	wear my makeup and as you kind of have a more lived in
1:05.7	look to your skin certain things are going to work better and certain things are going to work
1:09.4	worse for you. This app is really good because it has a Back to Basics series specifically aimed
1:15.9	of 40 plus women where Charlotte and her artist share tips, tutorials and videos. I also love the
1:22.0	step by step AR tutorials that show how to apply blushure,
1:25.5	contour, even eye shadow. All that stuff. I've never really had a lesson in how to do this
1:30.3	stuff. I just kind of hope for the best so it's really nice to actually
1:33.4	be able to make the most of the makeup that you wear all of these features are for
1:37.9	everyone of all ages if you want an even more personalized experience
1:41.8	there's also an option to book a one-on-one
1:43.7	online consultation with a makeup artist. So very important to say Charlotte Toby
1:48.7	Beauty has been committed to being a cruelty-free brand since its launch in 2013 which means they do not test
	...

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