In a recent remark, Education CS George Magoha said LGBTQ children should be moved to day schools to ensure other children are not influenced.
This is part of the direct stigma and discrimination that the sexual and gender minorities persons in Kenya continue to face.
Magoha should be highly concerned and address the sexual reproductive health needs in school, the ongoing school fires, school calendar and not anyone’s sexuality.
Young learners especially girls, continue to drop out of school due to early pregnancies from rape, defilement including minor to minor sexual intercourse.
Humans are diverse in their interests, age, sexuality, love and no one should be discriminated against.
Human rights remain universal and indivisible.
Anyone, despite your age, sex, gender, religion has a right to education and no policy, institution or leader should discriminate against a section of the population because of who they are.
Magoha is wrong to share such discriminatory statements.
This is a direct attack and highlights the selfish culture of heteronormativity within our current society.
It is evident that our community is diverse, this should be embraced and appreciated.
LGBTQ+ persons are here, they have been here, they are human, they are within and among us. Gay or not gay, we all deserve love, respect and enjoyment of our rights.
There are no gay learners, they are all learners, discriminating against someone because of their sexual orientation is uncalled for.
To many people including CS Magoha, the LGBTQ+ persons in school remains a threat to the safety and wellbeing of other children and the general community's “normal” way of life.
Our families, our communities are and will continue being different.
LGBTQ+ persons are not different in any way.
Being queer, lesbian, trans or gay should be a non-issue, one’s a sexual orientation, gender identity or expression is a non-issue.
No one is and should be allowed to discriminate against sexual and gender minority persons.
This is a sad and worrying trend as it increases stigma and discrimination which in turn might lead to violence and even fear of accessing education within any level of schooling.
The LGBTQ+ people experience prejudice in all areas of life,
Because the law is used against them, LGBTQ+ people have no access to protection from abuse.
We should not fuel prejudice and use the law, an institution or any office to target a group of people we don’t agree with! We all deserve respect.
Basic human rights, dignity and respect must be accorded to each individual regardless of sexual orientation.
Any law, policy and even a Constitution of a country should promote diversity, inclusion and tolerance.
We are all equal and have the right to protection under the law.
Embracing diversity of different sexualities is key in ensuring that no violence or discrimination is experienced.
The writer is a reproductive health youth expert
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
