Ashley Charles Tamuno Seipirite Burr

Does the colour of your skin affect your day-to-day life?

- no

Why?

- Erm, I think I can pass as a white person most of the time, so I've got that lightskin privallege.

What comes with a lightskin privilege?

- I guess it makes it easier for me to blend into like a very general population.

What is your sexuality?

- I am gay.

Have you ever had negative or positive feedback from the public?

- Generally, if there's any positive feedback from people, it's very subtle, so when I am holding hands with a guy some people will smile at me, but, like 90% of the time if there is a reaction its adverse.

What is the most unfavourable moment you remember?

- I was walking through SoHo the other day which is full of gay people so I was even surprised and someone threw a bottle at my head. (the whole team literally said OMG at this) I've been shouted out in the streets; someones pushed me over while i was with a guy. Usually, it's just shouting; it's not ordinarily physical. It's happened maybe 2 or 3 times most of the time its just Flander, or derogatory comments shouted at a train station, across the road or online.

Does that make you want to avoid going to public places with your partner?

- For a while, it made me nervous and self - conscious about how I presented my sexuality, but now I think it provokes me to be more provocative.

Have you ever been in an interracial relationship?

- I mean it's hard to answer that because I'm mixed-raced I sometimes forget when I'm dating a white person so that maybe interracial? I guess so?

How did it feel?

- Pretty much like a normal relationship, I guess?

Have you ever been made to feel like a minority?

- Sometimes yeah, actually in relationships in the past it's odd when you talk about somethings to do with race they can't relate or empathise.

So when you were in a relationship, what sort of things made you feel like a minority? Have you got a specific moment that you remember?

- Errr sometimes if it's talking about diversity in media, there's a bit of a problem with white-washing obviously, which the other person in the relationship will get defensive about, or if you talk about white privilege. The last two guys that I've been with have been extremely defensive about it and actually, one guy I dated told me that black people smell bad...( Again the whole team lost their S#!!) ...So I mean that was a turnoff. I remember seeing someone who me going on a date with him was a complete fetish kind of scenario So bizzar. He asked me why I'm going on a date with him. I said the conversation was good; he's a nice person...When I asked him back, the only answer he gave me was because I was mixed-race. I asked about three times, is there anything else?... Silence.

How did that make you feel?

- It was weird because it wasn't just a preference it was just being objectified. You can find it attractive, but if that's the only reason you're going out with someone. It's a bit weird.

Does your culture affect the way you dress?

- My mums Nigerian, my dad is British. Actually for a long time while my Mum was still in my life. She wanted me to be very British (British stereotype). She didn't want me to learn any of my native tongues. She generally kept that side of my culture away from me.

Why?

- Not too sure I think maybe there is a certain allure that whiteness has. But we're not that close anymore, so it's not something I think of very much, but I mean it's a bit too late now.

Do you follow your traditions?

- My Mum was also wholly Christian. I have never done anything remotely Christian... so no I guess not.

Is there anything in your culture you disagree on?

- I know there is quite a big problem in Nigeria with sexuality, and I mean I can't comment too much on it because I mean I'm relatively ignorant. Still, i know that with less economically developed countries, education is a problem which I think is where a lot of nasty stereotypes and negative connotations come from.

What is your favourite cultural dish?

- My Mum used to cook egusi soup a lot; I feel like jollof rice is difficult because it's not from Nigeria. Plantain is very nice. But that's what comes to mind.

#sexuality #culture #race #society #Identity