#HowIResist Campaign 20

At the core of many of the problems that plague humanity is the lack of empathy.

The moment you are able to empathize with somebody, the moment you are able to look at another man and put yourself in that person’s shoes, the problem is half solved.

Because once you’re able to empathize, once you’re able to imagine what it’s like to be something, essentially, vicariously you’re that thing. And you’d be able to understand the problems that person is going through. And as an individual, you’d be more interested in not causing more problems for that person. Instead you’d be more interested in showing compassion and alleviating that person’s problems.

And that’s the only way we as a society can begin to move forward.

At the core of everything is empathy and information. – Dami Ajayi

Growing up effeminate was hard. I was tormented with intrusive questions about who I am. I’d walk or talk, and they’d ask, “Timi, are you gay? Why are you like this?” My mother would often shout at me not to bring shame to her and her god.

Many nights, I cried. And then, one day, I told myself, “I am who I am. And if this is the way I am created to be, so be it.” Then I painted a rainbow in my room, and every time I looked at the rainbow, I told myself, “You’re special.”

And so, in my skin, I became one of the best students in my faculty. Later I became one of the student parliamentarians. All because I stood on my two feet, not caring any more about what anybody thinks or says. That is #HowIResist – Timi

I resist by believing that every gay person is the kind of special that society doesn’t get; a rainbow that colours the gloomy clouds; by believing that there is nothing we cannot achieve.

I resist by pushing my mind to its limits and beyond, by taking challenges head on, knowing that in the end, every success to me is a victory for my community, even unto those yet unborn.

This is my foremost drive and this is #HowIResist – Eghosa

#HowIResist

I resist the norm by endeavouring to be the truest version of myself I can possibly be every single day. By proudly showing my support for equal opportunities for love in a society that’s firmly against it.

I resist the norm simply by knowing that the norm does not exist. – Reverend

#HowIResist

I resist by telling myself that I’m not a mistake. In the past, I’ve fasted and I’ve prayed to rid myself of what I felt was something wrong. And still I stayed the same – which tells me that there isn’t anything wrong. And so, I took a chill, and I accept myself and love all of me every day that I live. – Spencer

#HowIResist

When I was young, my mother once told me, “Happiness is not what you pick up on the road.” I have come to realize that her words actually mean: “To be happy, you must be willing to pay the price.” The price of distancing yourself from people who hate you (including blood family members) and creating a small family of people whose friendship means family (unconditional love).

I resist by making my Happiness about not owing anyone any explanation for my truth. – Swandragon