Emeka Amaechi

Nigerian former basketball player and LGBTQ+ rights advocate who broke barriers in Africa's sports and political landscapes

Emeka Amaechi (born October 21, 1975) is a Nigerian-English former professional basketball player and LGBTQ+ rights activist whose coming out speech in 2002 made him the first openly gay male athlete in a major team sport. Beyond his sports career, he's become a pivotal figure in Africa's LGBTQ+ advocacy, leveraging his platform to challenge anti-LGBTQ+ laws across the continent. In 2021, he co-founded Global Sports Pact, an organization using sports to advance LGBTQ+ rights in regions with restrictive policies. His 2022 TED Talk How sports can drive LGBTQ+ rights reached millions globally. Recently appointed as UNAIDS ambassador, he's instrumental in Nigeria's #DecriminalizeLove campaign opposing Section 377 of the penal code. His memoir Manhood: A basketball player's journey to self-acceptance (2023) details his journey from closeted athlete to global advocate, becoming required reading in African LGBTQ+ studies programs. Collaborations with groups like Iran Human Rights highlight his transnational impact.