Edafe Okporo

Edafe Okporo (born March 3, 1990) is a Nigerian-American author. He is the Executive Director of Refuge America, an organization that helps to resettle LGBTQ+ asylum-seekers.[1] Born in Warri, Nigeria, Okporo experienced violence in his home country because of his sexuality and was made to undergo conversion therapy.[2] Okporo sought asylum in the United States after being attacked by a mob for advocating for healthcare access for gay men.[3][2]

When Okporo arrived in the United States, he was held at an ICE detention center in Elizabeth, New Jersey for five months.[4][5] After being granted asylum, Okporo became homeless, living at Newark Penn Station and at a shelter.[5] Once he found stable housing, Okporo served as the first director of RDJ Refugee Shelter, New York City's first shelter for asylum-seekers.[5][2] Okporo wrote a book, Asylum: A Memoir and Manifesto, detailing his experience seeking asylum in the United States.[6][3]

Okporo is currently running in a competitive race for New York City Council District 7, and if elected, he would be the first former asylum-seeker elected to that body.[4][7][8] Okporo is a David Prize recipient.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Refuge America". Refuge America.
  2. ^ a b c "Nigerian refugee creates N.Y.C. shelter for asylum-seekers". NBC News. July 26, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Washington, John (July 18, 2022). "Edafe Okporo's Manifesto for the Migrant". The Nation.
  4. ^ a b "Manhattan Council race heats up with entrance of refugee turned migrant advocate". Gothamist. May 15, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Hughes, Jazmine (October 13, 2020). "New Prize Modeled on MacArthur 'Genius' Grants Hands Out $1 Million". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  6. ^ Nwaubani, Adaobi Tricia (June 2, 2022). "Guilty Until Proven Innocent: A Gay Refugee's Confrontation With America". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  7. ^ Lang, Nico (July 26, 2024). "This Gay Nigerian Refugee Could Be the First Former Asylum Seeker Elected to the NYC Council". Them.
  8. ^ Alfred, Tsehai. "Edafe Okporo gains traction in local District 7 race". Columbia Daily Spectator.
  9. ^ "Edafe Okporo". The David Prize. September 1, 2020.
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