Loss of Fola Francis, Transgender Trailblazer, Felt Across Nigerian LGBTQ+ Community
Fola Francis, a pioneering Nigerian fashion designer, model, and LGBT activist drowned at a Lagos beach two days ago.
“Fola Francis was a beacon of hope and a light to us and a lot of other people. We are deeply hurt by her passing,” said Vincent Desmond, a freelance journalist, who made the announcement yesterday.
@folafrancis We made herstory lastnignt at LFW 🎉😭💖#lagosfashionweek #fashionweek #runway #runwaymodel ♬ som original – Eduarda Rebouças
This past October, Francis walked in Africa's Leading Fashion Week for Cute-Saint and Fruché labels.
In a society where being different often comes with a hefty price, zero legal protections for trans people and openly hostile institutions with a history of violent anti-gay responses, the view from their social media accounts is all the more remarkable.
@folafrancis What a night!☺️☺️
♬ original sound – Afro Music Lyrics
Instagram and TikTok Show a Fola Francis confidently living openly, a life filled with creative pursuits, career networking, respectful colleagues friends. Living well and doing good.
“There will be a memorial which will be discussed at a later date, as we her friends and family ask for privacy at this time,” Desmond noted.
@folafrancis Hey tiktok☺️
♬ original sound – kardashianshulu
Known for her infectious smile and inspiring presence, Fola was not just a popular figure in the Nigerian LGBTQ+ community; she was a symbol of courage and resilience. Fola shattered societal norms on that runway.
Fola's death represents a terrible loss. Our condolences to her community and extraordinary family, friends, and supporters at home and around the world. Rest in power.
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Nigerian Archbishop Tells His Priests They Won't Be Doing Any of Them Pope-sanctioned Same-sex Blessings, Appears on Morning Shows…
It was literally just yesterday that Nigerian priests were appearing on morning television shows vowing not to bless same-sex unions and registering their mixed feelings though their pope had explained in great specificity how and when they were to perform them.
To see just what they faced daily, and for an astonishing exchange on this Nigerian morning show check out the smart realism of the host who explained to the senior Nigerian church officials what the Pope actually said… and then made it personal asking (at 25:45) …
“Host: I think it's also fair that we quickly mention two things that I would say that you just for clarity. The pope hasn't … you know for our viewers …the pope hasn't said that you know churches across the world bless same-sex relationship or marriages. He has only said that you you know people in same sex marriages or relationships can be blessed in the church um and um they're not you know excommunicado you know simply because that's you know they in samex marriage that's what the pope said….
so two things that I want to ask um if you have time if you can squeeze your thoughts in the shortest possible time if you. If for example, I am in a same-sex marriage. I got married you know somewhere in Argentina somewhere, but I'm a popular person… you know that is known to be in a same-sex marriage and of course I'm visiting Nigeria can I take Holy Communion at your church?
That's one. And then two… and then the second question is: In Nigeria today we might hide it but there is you know stories that say that we have a very very seemingly high number of people who are practicing homosexuality whether we admit it or not. um and so don't you think we're
deceiving ourselves you know by saying by accepting or by knowing that it exists in our society you know in every almost every street but we wouldn't bless them we wouldn't accept that this has come to stay we wouldn't accept that this is you know is almost you know reality of things.Priest: We wouldn't bless their marriages but would accept that they exist the reality is that they existed even from creation that was why they were punished at Sodom and Gomorrah.But we will not celebrate them so so sorry.
Host: Answer the question about my Holy Communion. Am I allowed to take Holy Communion at your church?
Priest: No. You will not be allowed because the Bible say you should not take it in. And that and that act of being in same- sex marriage is a challenge to conforming with the world rather than conforming with the standard of the Bible and they said if you do that you may die early . People do take Holy Communion just for granted. It is a holy thing and so let me reiterate that we even if they are in our congregation, we will not celebrate them will not give them responsibility because accepting it to that level is going back to Sodom.
Host: Alright, we are out of time….
