#SHOW YOUR COLORS
The story of Yaqub
Meet our ambassador for Pride 2022
For Pride 2022, we are honored to have Yaqub Abdirahman as our campaign ambassador. Yaqub is part of the Copenhagen queer community, and being a first-generation immigrant has given him a strong interest in understanding and challenging the status quo rather than just assuming that the world is how it is.
We asked Yaqub about his background, his personal journey towards the queer community and his thoughts on self-expression.
Explore the story of Yaqub below.
Meet our ambassador for Pride 2022
For Pride 2022, we are honored to have Yaqub Abdirahman as our campaign ambassador. Yaqub is part of the Copenhagen queer community, and being a first-generation immigrant has given him a strong interest in understanding and challenging the status quo rather than just assuming that the world is how it is.
We asked Yaqub about his background, his personal journey towards the queer community and his thoughts on self-expression.
Explore the story of Yaqub below.
Understanding why people perceive others the way they do
To Yaqub, understanding other people and cultures has always been a big interest:
“I’m a first-generation immigrant. I was born in a refugee camp in Kenya, and I came here when I was a little less than two years old. I grew up in the most diverse neighborhood in Denmark with 98 different ethnic groups. I feel like that left a big impression on me.
I’ve always had a strong interest in wanting to understand why people perceive others the way they do. And I feel like religion is a huge factor in how people perceive each other.”
Understanding why people perceive others the way they do
To Yaqub, understanding other people and cultures has always been a big interest:
“I’m a first-generation immigrant. I was born in a refugee camp in Kenya, and I came here when I was a little less than two years old. I grew up in the most diverse neighborhood in Denmark with 98 different ethnic groups. I feel like that left a big impression on me.
I’ve always had a strong interest in wanting to understand why people perceive others the way they do. And I feel like religion is a huge factor in how people perceive each other.”
The need of being critical
Yaqub’s degree in Political Science has made him more reflective, and he now feels a need to be critical about why things are the way they are. He wants to understand and challenge the status quo rather than just assuming that the world is how it is:
“I chose my field of education to better understand different structures politically, culturally and in a religious context. I want to understand and explore all these different structures that are enforced in the patterns of human interaction.
In the 21st century, everybody has taken a psychological turn and focuses primarily on internal yielding, but nobody is actually looking at the person next to them; they’re too busy working on themselves.”
The need of being critical
Yaqub’s degree in Political Science has made him more reflective, and he now feels a need to be critical about why things are the way they are. He wants to understand and challenge the status quo rather than just assuming that the world is how it is:
“I chose my field of education to better understand different structures politically, culturally and in a religious context. I want to understand and explore all these different structures that are enforced in the patterns of human interaction.
In the 21st century, everybody has taken a psychological turn and focuses primarily on internal yielding, but nobody is actually looking at the person next to them; they’re too busy working on themselves.”
Queerness: A natural transition
Queerness hasn’t always been part of Yacub’s life. The interest slowly came to him after focusing on helping people that are displaced socially:
“I have this strong passion for helping refugees, and people that are displaced socially in different ways, particularly youth. However, later in my life, my interest became more centralized around queerness. It was a natural kind of transition for me.”
Queerness: A natural transition
Queerness hasn’t always been part of Yacub’s life. The interest slowly came to him after focusing on helping people that are displaced socially:
“I have this strong passion for helping refugees, and people that are displaced socially in different ways, particularly youth. However, later in my life, my interest became more centralized around queerness. It was a natural kind of transition for me.”
Self-expression is about bravery
“I believe self-expression is about bravery. Life is so short, so why limit yourself because you are scared of being perceived as offensive, or because you feel society might treat you a certain way. Be brave and stand out from the crowd!”
According to Yaqub, people that get provoked by queer people might be challenged by their own expression:
“Queer people are often seen expressing themselves in ways, for the mere reason that it’s contrary and provocative. But, I think people who believe this are challenged by expression because they don’t necessarily know how to express themselves.”
Watch our #ShowYourColors 2022 campaign with Yaqub below!
Self-expression is about bravery
“I believe self-expression is about bravery. Life is so short, so why limit yourself because you are scared of being perceived as offensive, or because you feel society might treat you a certain way. Be brave and stand out from the crowd!”
According to Yaqub, people that get provoked by queer people might be challenged by their own expression:
“Queer people are often seen expressing themselves in ways, for the mere reason that it’s contrary and provocative. But, I think people who believe this are challenged by expression because they don’t necessarily know how to express themselves.”
Watch our #ShowYourColors 2022 campaign with Yaqub below!
“I don’t want to look back at my life and think: “I lived for other people, and I held back in certain ways.” I really do not want to look back at my life with regret. That’s why I want to encourage everyone to live whatever way they want to live.” – Yaqub Abdirahman
“Why repress yourself, when you can flourish instead?"
Personal freedom and self-expression are at the very core of MATE, and that is why we honor individuality and choice for Pride.
We are proud to be official sponsors of Copenhagen Pride as well as supporting Pride on a global level.
On the occasion of this year’s Pride, we’ve created a MATE in all white, mirroring a blank canvas, and decorated it with unique color splashes. With this bike, we want you to express who you are. To show your true colors!
“Why repress yourself, when you can flourish instead?"
Personal freedom and self-expression are at the very core of MATE, and that is why we honor individuality and choice for Pride.
We are proud to be official sponsors of Copenhagen Pride as well as supporting Pride on a global level.
On the occasion of this year’s Pride, we’ve created a MATE in all white, mirroring a blank canvas, and decorated it with unique color splashes. With this bike, we want you to express who you are. To show your true colors!
