Reverend Jide Macaulay: Faith, Freedom, Fellowship

A Nigerian-born Anglican priest who spent years praying the gay away, married a woman under church pressure, came out in 1994, was diagnosed with HIV in 2003, and founded the first inclusive church in Nigeria - now operating across 22 countries.

SummaryJide Macaulay grew up in Nigeria, the son of a powerful conservative theologian. His father was not available emotionally and would later support a Nigerian bill that could imprison his own son for 14 years simply for being gay. He called Jide a disgrace. But before any of that, Jide tried to fix himself. He fasted for 40 days, pleading with God to remove his same-sex feelings. When a woman said yes to a relationship, he believed the prayer had worked. It hadn't. The feelings never disappeared. After four years of pressure from church leaders and family, they married. Three years in, Jide sat his wife down and told her the truth. The marriage became acrimonious. He came out as gay in 1994.

Eight years later, in January 2003, Jide tested positive for HIV. He got it through sex, and he says so directly. The first person he called to share the news cast him out and called him a slut. But before sunset that same day, he called someone else - a friend who drove straight to his house, packed him a bag, ran him a bath, and left the bedroom door open through the night to keep watch. For six years after his diagnosis, Jide travelled the journey with only his medical team and one other person. It took him 15 years to speak about it publicly.

In 2006, Jide founded the House of Rainbow in the heart of Lagos - Nigeria's first inclusive Christian ministry for LGBTQ people. It now operates across 22 countries, supporting people seeking asylum, survivors of trafficking, and people living with HIV. He also served as chaplain at the Mildmay Hospital in London, walking the wards of the institution Princess Diana made famous by holding the hands of people with AIDS.

Key Moments[02:49] A happy, holy homosexual - how Jide introduces himself, along with Mama Jide, a name connected to his maternal spirit[02:56] The McCauley legacy - growing up as the son of a conservative Nigerian theologian who was emotionally unavailable and would later support anti-gay legislation[04:06] The Bible as weapon - how scripture is selectively applied, and why Jide grounds his theology in Psalm 139: "We are fearfully and wonderfully made"[08:39] Praying the gay away - 40 days of fasting, a girlfriend mistaken for a cure, and a marriage built on church