IDAHO "AS I AM"

The International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) is marked every year on May 17th. This day is celebrated for the fight against all the injustices occurring around the world to the sexual minorities. This year’s theme was “AS I AM”, as a response to the society and the world that presumes us to be from being demons, cursed or recruited. We are what we are: we cannot be changed; neither can we be transformed through miraculous prayers. It’s a shame some of us hide in false marriages and heterosexual relationships and pretend they are not in the LGBTI community.

I ask, how long will we hide and pretend to be what we are not? The society defines us in their own terms, denies us a chance to complete our education, gain employment or share social spaces. Lesbians are raped, and our kind is extorted and murdered; pushing majority of the LGBTI community to seek refuge in drugs and alcohol, and leading some to commit suicide.

We have become vampires, hunted and only coming out at night for safety. Regardless, we all enter and leave this world the same way, by birth and death. The IDAHO day this year touched on the formation of the Bill of Rights and what it says, the need for policy change, and the role of the religion in inciting violence to the LGBTI community. Security to all sexual minorities with no exception, whether you are an activist or not. When it comes to violence, the grass-root LGBTI individuals suffer more than the middle class.

There are divisions amongst us, showing that we are human and have emotions: jealousy, hatred, passion and love. We are able to exist with our fellow brothers and sisters in the same space. This has been proven by those who feel the need to play it safe, hiding their identity from the world. In spite of that, their co-workers and family still support the criminalizing of the homosexuals.

For the celebration this year, we were allowed to hire a space at the GoDown Art Centre, though we did not put our banners out for safety reasons. GoDown hosts several non-profit organizations within their space. This is one of the reasons we were authorized to hold our celebration in there, though the organizations in the vicinity did not know about the on-going IDAHO celebration.

Rev. Kimindu, a gay-friendly pastor, was present at the celebration. He welcomed the LGBTI individuals for spiritual healing in a nearby church, considering our normal religion leaders incite the congregation to violence to against the gays and lesbians. An attendee asked what he should do when his church and the pastor are condemning him for his sexual orientation using Old Testament verses. I have listened to pastors preaching water and drinking diesel, so never do I let anyone tell me what is written in the Bible, especially considering it favours and supports patriarchy.

The Bible has been written in many languages and still is; even the youth want their own Bible and are writing it in Sheng. The context of the Bible has changed a lot. So where is the true Bible? Humans simply use the Bible as a tool to justify their selfish needs.

There was another question from a LGBTI individual on what procedures one should take when they have revealed their true identity and sexual practises to their families, which results in them being homeless, and marks the end of their education and socialisation with their family and relatives. Erick Gitare, who deals with Human Rights, advised the young man to seek legal action for the endorsement of going back to school: no parent should deny their children education because of their sexual orientation. Not much talk was held on transphobia, and our transgender comrades were not happy with the occasion. They felt left out and discriminated against by their comrades in the struggle.

The Kenya Human Rights Commission launched a report dubbed “The outlawed amongst us: Study of Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community in Kenya” to commemorate the IDAHO. The report is for the security and documentation of the community, for accounting of any violence or abuse an LGBTI individual has suffered in the hands of the law, society and family. The report also discussed “Plant offences”, where LGBTI are charged with the offences of drunkenness and disorderly conduct or prostitution. More than 300 respondents said they felt “unwanted and threatened” by the religious leaders.

In the Kenya Human Rights Commission offices where the function started, some of the discussed issues were instigation of violence against the LGBTI by religious leaders and politicians. Mr. Tom Kagwe, the commission’s senior programme officer, said, “most state officials, especially the police, harass gays persons in remand by keeping them beyond the constitutional time limit.”

Police deputy spokesman Charles Owino dismissed the allegation that suspects are held for longer than 24 hours “without a good cause”. He requested a particular case to come forward and claimed he does not deal with rumours. The LGBTI individuals were advised to have a pocket constitution booklet with them at all times and enhance their knowledge on law on human rights.

Roxy Odoyo, a human right activist and an advocate lawyer for the High Court, advised the present participants at the panel discussion not use strong lawyer gibberish talk to the LGBTI present members, since not everyone can understand the hard lawyer language. The media present were asked not take photos on any of the LGBTI members, not to repeat what was done at last year’s on IDAHO event where the photos outed some attendees to their families and society without their knowledge or consent.

With the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights less concerned about adding the sexual orientation clause, and our Kenyan constitution silent on homosexuality, the LGBTI community has no legislation to defend our rights. Kenyan law does not take the LGBTI cases seriously, judging from an experience I had with my friend. We called one of the local police officers at Kasarani to come and rescue my friend and her partner at their house where a mob of men were waiting for us, especially my comrade.

Four men abused me, and in my defence my friend questioned one of them why they enjoy abusing us. The transition of the atmosphere was imaginable; these guys insisted that my friend fight with one of them. They claimed she could defend herself with tae-kwan-do skills and tricks. Some claimed she is a man. My friend does not train in any martial arts, but was subjected to blows from a huge man twice, on her face and hand. She grabbed a bottle of soda, smashed it on the wall and directed it to the guy. It caught the left side of his jaw and left it dangling. Then war erupted and crowd gathered.

The call to local police did not help. The response was: if both the parties were hurt, why is one in the house and the other seeking medical attention? We could not seek medical attention with the waiting mob outside. We did not report the abuse, as my friend received advice against it from her mother and her mother’s partner, but we documented the abuse. It was late in the night to report and write a statement. We had to be whisked out, covering our heads. We received warnings not to be seen in the vicinity, which meant we could not report to the local police station.

Even after a pub owner went to write to report about her pub being damaged by the mob, the police did not appear. We were rescued by comrades and sought medical attention. When we were back at my place, we were informed that the police had finally gone to the pub to assess damages. This proved we have no safe space, not even in our homes. We have no privacy and certainly no freedom of dress.

Speaking of dress, some Kenyan leaders and parliamentarians were raising a motion to dismiss Chief Justice Willy Mutunga for wearing “ear studs”. They also wanted to dismiss him and his Assistant Ann Barasa for their support of the LGBTI community’s struggles. Who said that dress code justifies rulings in court? Some government leaders enjoy playing politics with Kenyans life, inciting violence without focusing on the consequences of the incitement. So unlucky for them, he remains the new Chief Justice and Ann Barasa is the assistant.

Even though we have these supporters in the government and religious community, the LGBTI community has many milestones to reach before the society accepts our existence. IDAHO creates a space where we can discuss, share and get one step closer to reaching those milestones. To the Kenyan society at large, we are human too and we need your support. We are not asking for special rights, just to be treated like people, with respect.