Our Patrons of ReportOUT
Aderonke Apata
Aderonke Apata is a human rights activist, feminist and SOGIESC equality advocate who has a BSc in Microbiology, a Master of Public Health and a Postgraduate Degree in Law. She is currently studying for the Bar Professional Training Course and Master of Law. She is a campaigner for SOGIESC people seeking asylum to stay in the UK, of which she gained asylum after a 13-year battle.
With a clutch of awards under her belt, she is the winner of the 'Activist of the Year' at the Sexual Freedom Awards (2018) and the winner of the Ron Todd Foundation Equality Awards (2018). Aderonke was also the proud winner at the Attitude Pride Awards'(2017) and the winner of the 'Positive Role Model for LGBT' at the National Diversity Awards (2014), where she was described as “an unstoppable force in fighting for justice." She has also been added to Amnesty International UK's 'Suffragette Spirit Map of Britain' (2018),
She ranks number 41 and 67 on
the Rainbow List (2014) and the Rainbow
List (2015) respectively, as one of the most
influential LGBT people in the UK. Aderonke
was named 'LGBT Heroine of the Year' (2015)
by DIVA Magazine in recognition of her
achievements in the LGBT community. She
is the founder of Manchester Migrant
Solidarity and African Rainbow Family,
an LGBT group that supports SOGIESC people seeking
asylum in UK and campaigning for the repeal of the
toxic Nigerian Anti-LGBTIQ Law.
Rvd. Jide Macaulay
Reverend Jide Macaulay is the founding Pastor and CEO of House Of Rainbow CIC. He is an openly gay British-Nigerian born in London, a Christian minister since 1998, a dynamic and an inspirational speaker, author, poet, pastor and preacher,
An HIV positive activist, Jide holds a degree in law, a masters degree in theology and a post-graduate certificate in pastoral theology. Jide focuses his ministry on inclusion and reconciliation of sexuality, spirituality and human rights.
He also writes for various Christian and secular journals. He has authored several books and poetry such as 'Inspired' (2001) and the 'Pocket Devotion for LGBT Christians' (2005), Jide has won several awards, including the 2003 and 2007 Black LGBT Community Award for "Man of the Year" for his work helping people of faith. He was shortlisted for the National Diversity Awards (2014) in the category for 'Positive Role Model..' He was the nOSCARS Award winner in 2014, 2017 and 2018.
He also served from 2007 to 2013 as
Executive Board member and Co Chair
of Pan Africa International Lesbians and
Gay Association. He is currently the Africa
Regional Representative at the Global
Interfaith Network, sits on the Board of
Trustees at Kaleidoscope Trust UK and is
the Chairperson for INERELA+ Europe,
Jide is a trained Volunteer Champion at Africa Children's Charity and a Volunteer Chaplain at Mildmay Hospital..
Mazharul Islam
Mazharul Islam (Maz) is a SOGIESC activist from Bangladesh who left his country on the 28th April 2016, after the murder of two friends and SOGIESC activists by Islamic extremists in Dhaka. Alongside his activist friends, he was also one of the pioneer committee members of Bangladesh’s first ever online SOGIESC group: ‘Boys of Bangladesh’ which is considered to be the first online platform for the Bangladeshi SOGIESC community.
Maz moved to London shortly after in 2016 with the support of his present employer ACCA: The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants where he is working as a Business Development Manager. In his spare time, he is a tour guide of ‘Queer Tours of London,’ an active member of ‘ACT UP London’ and a volunteer member of the ‘Gay Liberation Front of London.’ Maz has been actively working as founding member of a Bangladeshi non-profit organisation entitled ‘Family and Environment Development Services (FEDS)’ since 2007.
He was proud to be one of the winners of the ‘Attitude Pride Awards’ in 2018, whereby he was nominated for the award by Peter Tatchell himself. This nomination was for organising and leading a protest in London in front of the Bangladeshi High Commissioner, seeking justice for his two SOGIESC activist friends who were brutally murdered back in Bangladesh.
He is now a self-proclaimed SOGIESC activist who is dedicated to bringing positive change in both Bangladesh’s SOGI community and for London based SOGIESC Bangladeshi people. Maz was invited as a panellist for an event on World Press Freedom Day (May 2019) hosted by BBC. On pride month in 2019, he was also featured in Vogue Online Magazine (in the June 2019 issue) alongside a number of other SOGIESC activists from around the world.
In addition to all his campaign work, Maz has completed a BA Hons and an MA in English Literature and Language from Daffodil International University in Bangladesh. He is also an artist who completed a course on painting from the University of the Arts London and due to his success in this, he had a group exhibition of his paintings showcased in Bangladesh, Nepal and Japan.