'I'm living for the first time,' says 2SLGBTQ+ refugee from Nigeria who found community in London, Ont.

A gay man who fled Nigeria because he was being persecuted for his sexual orientation and now lives as a refugee in London, Ont., says he's received an outpouring of support from his church community in helping him restart his life.

In his first year since moving to Canada, O.C. has been coping with the isolation of leaving his old life and family behind. But despite the challenges, the 23-year-old has found a sense of belonging with the St. Peter's Anglican Church in Dorchester, outside London.

"It feels like I'm living for the first time... as if my life just started," O.C. told CBC News. 

"I'm very religious but I couldn't count on the church back home because all they did was preach about how sinful being gay is, so it's nice that the church here accepts you for who you are without any questions or doubt."

CBC has agreed to not identify the man and only refer to him by his initials because he fears for his life and the safety of his family, who still live in Nigeria.  

The African country's Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, passed in 2014, can bring up to 14 years imprisonment for anyone convicted of entering into a same-sex marriage or civil union. It also restricts the public display of same-sex relationships.

Donations from the church's members have allowed Rev. Quenton Little to buy clothes and shoes for O.C., who is living with Little and his family until he finds stable housing. 

"It was important for O.C to know that unlike in Nigeria, there are churches here that are accepting of 2SLGBTQ+ people and genuinely want to help those who need it," said Little. 

"When I first met O.C. there was a lot of worry, but now he doesn't feel as isolated so it's been quite a turnaround for him." 

Journey from Nigeria to Canada 

O.C said he's known he was gay since the age of five but could never publicly come out. He recalled witnessing a gay man be beaten and set ablaze when he was a child and that memory has stayed with him since. 

"Being a gay man, you don't have opportunities like showing affection or being yourself," he said. "If you decide to follow your heart and find love, then you either get yourself killed or locked up."

In 2021, he was kidnapped by a man he met on a dating app, and was physically assaulted by him and his friends. They also took photos and shot a video forcing O.C. to identify himself and confess that he's gay, he said. The group has threatened to release the video to his family, O.C. said. 

After almost 24 hours in captivity, he was eventually let go but the ordeal made O.C. realize it was no longer safe for him stay in Nigeria. With the help of a friend living in London, Ont., he secured a sponsorship letter and saved enough money to board a flight to Canada last summer, he said.

While he's now in safety, O.C. said he struggles from the trauma of his kidnapping, which has affected his social life and made him hesitant to date again because he's afraid to trust others.

"It's very safe [in Canada], you can be who you want without looking over your shoulder to see who's watching you. I could hold hands with a guy and not worry about it but if it was Nigeria, I would have been killed on the spot, so it's very different," he said.

Queer refugees 'emotionally broken,' says advocate

Earlier this month, O.C. came out to his family but said they haven't spoken to him since. Queer individuals being ostracized from their families comes as no surprise to Evans Dubre, founder of 9Ja Connect. 

The non-profit in Toronto supports newcomers who've fled their home countries due to persecution or domestic abuse. The organization with immigration services, literacy, and community programs. Since 2019, it has helped resettle more than 1,000 2SLGBTQ+ refugees, mostly from Nigeria, Uganda and Ghana, said Dubre. 

"Most of these victims who come from parts of Africa are treated worse than criminals, and they're emotionally broken because of the treatment they're forced to undergo in their home countries," he said, adding that finding community is essential to rebuilding morale. 

"When they come here and see that this country accepts them for who they are and who they love, it wows them and gives them a whole new meaning to life." 

O.C. is continuing to adjust to his new life working in customer service and the support of his church family, but he hopes his parents will someday accept him for who he is, he said.