The #EndSARS protest has indeed grown into one proposing a new Nigeria. A Nigeria where the rights of everyone is respected and everyone treated equally irrespective of their differences and beliefs. But certain rights are seen as alien on this route to new Nigeria – LGBTQ rights.

From the moment the protest left social media and hit the streets, the marginalised group, used various platforms and persons to air their case with the hashtag, #QueerNigerianLivesMatter and each time it hits social media, it becomes like a lecture room where students are left to grumble after the lecturer had said something really harsh or mean.

Where a few groups like the Feminist Coalition on Twitter have shown their dedication in the fight against an old Nigeria, where everyone who is a human being is respected as such, there are individuals who are stuck with dispositions against LGBTQ people.

The feminist coalition had wanted to state it categorically clear that everyone’s rights should be fought for. After all, the brutality is not restricted to a certain specie of men.

The Feminist Coalition, however, walked on a forbidden path and Twitter erupted with the debate on who exactly the fight is for.

See reactions here:

After quoting “No Nigerian is more Nigerian than another Nigerian”, you want to come and tell people in LGBTQ community that they can’t protest?!
ARE YOU SNIFFING GLUE?
They don’t just assault & kill because of iPhone and dreads, people!! #QueerNigerianlivesmatter #EndSARS

— Custard Darling ❤️ (@HausOfZara) October 18, 2020

Our heroes didn't die for LGBGTQ+ community.#EndSars

— #EndSARS??Ebikeniye (RN) (@Ebikeniye_) October 18, 2020

We Appreciate ?? all the work done by @feminist_co but I'm EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED at the Tweet made by them ?. This Protest is about #EndSARS. We Appreciate Queer & LGBT but this Protest is NOT about #QueerNigerianlivesmatter
WE ARE LOSING FOCUS#EndPoliceBrutalityinNigera pic.twitter.com/op3edGNoj5

— Seye Oyekunle (@seye_oyekunle) October 18, 2020

Let’s achieve #EndSARS first.
Then we can do #QueerNigerianlivesmatter #WeedLoversLivematter #BetAddictsLivesMatter and several others depending on your choice.

But let’s not forget the present movement, make we no use our hand scatter Wetin we don almost finish ?

— Tife? (@tifefabunmi) October 18, 2020

Imagine parents seeing WhatsApp broadcast that the protest is about LGBTQ…

We will lose their support
We will lose religious leaders support
Governors support

I swear I will join you to push #QueerNigerianlivesmatter later but let’s focus on #EndSARS now ????

— Dehkunle of Africa ?? (@Dehkunle) October 18, 2020

Where the #EndSARS protest is a concern for all Nigerians in general, certain people have a personalised approach to the issues which the protest is seeking to put an end to. The #QueerNigerianLivesMatter is a personalised approach to this trend and if for anything else, it should be acknowledged rather than looked upon as a form of distraction from the main goal.

The police brutalise and extort femme men and masc women after profiling them as LGBTQ+ persons because of their looks, which makes the #QueerNigerianLivesMatter valid. And if the main goal is to achieve a new Nigeria, then we shouldn’t be bothered or distracted with the presence of the LGBTQ community when they share their own personalised experiences.