Matthew Blaise

Queer B-Cademy: Emotional Space Age

Matthew Blaise is a passionate and dedicated non-binary queer activist who has devoted their life to advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Through public speaking, community organizing, and political activism, Matthew has made a an imprint on the lives of countless individuals, helping to create a more inclusive and accepting world. At the University of Qatar, they gave a speech on the Intersectionality of the #EndSars Movement to the African Students' Association. They also gave the keynote address at the University of Florida Student Pride and served on a panel at the 2021 Marginalized Majority Workshop on LGBTQ+ Legality in West Africa. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the LGBTQ+ community, Matthew has received several awards and accolades. They won the SOGIESC activist of the year award in 2020, the 2021 MTV EMAs Generation Change award, and they have been nominated for The Future Awards Africa, the DAZED 100, and The Diversity and Difference prize. Among other prestigious international media outlets and publications, they have also been featured in Vogue, Ze.tt, ZDFheute, Out Magazine, PinkNews, Time, Bloomberg, and Channel4News.

They head an innovative and passionate team at Òbòdò, a youth-focused queer organization advancing queer education and rights in Nigeria.