World Pride: Binyavanga Wainaina on gay rights in Africa

Kenyan writer and one of TIME Magazine's 'most influential' people of the year, Binyavanga Wainaina was in Studio Q to talk about his essay I am a Homosexual, Mum.  Wainaina rocketed to the forefront of Africa's gay rights movement on the heels of the signing of Nigeria's infamous anti-homosexuality law. 

Wainain tells Jian he has no regrets about hiding his sexuality for so long.  "If I had come out and have been honest with myself when I was 14, would I have been a writer?  Maybe not," he states.  "The back-ends of what you get and what you receive are not easily calculuses."

He also comments on the changes happening in Africa, and his commitment to being a positive force in the developments.  

"Africa is going through an amazing time. Both turbulent, terrible but moving," he says. "Change is in the air, and I want to be inside those changes."

Binyavanga Wainaina is in Toronto for World Pride -- as part of a special panel being hosted by Buddies in Bad Times Theatre this Sunday. He'll also be part of an IFT (It's a Freedom Thing) Theatre fundraiser.