Just recently, a popular artist in Kenya came out as queer.
Unfortunately, the amount of trolling, cyberbullying, abuses, memes targeting the artist and the announcement were immeasurable.
This is part of the direct violence and discrimination that the sexual and gender minorities in Kenya - LGBTQ+ persons - continue to face.
To many people, the artist coming out remains a threat to the health, safety and wellbeing of children and the general community normal way of life.
Our families and communities are, and will continue to be, different.
LGBTQ+ persons are not different in any way. They are human.
Being queer, lesbian, trans or gay should be a non-issue, one’s sexual orientation, gender identity or expression is a non-issue.
The violence meted upon the LGBTQ+ persons is undeniably a big issue as it affects their quality of health and life.
Unfortunately, the religious and opposition groups have clearly and openly discriminated against the sexual and gender minorities terming them sick, paedophiles and needing treatment.
This is a sad and worrying trend as it increases stigma and discrimination which in turn leads to violence and fear of accessing services within health facilities.
Homophobia is the dislike or intolerance of or prejudice of LGBTQ+ people.
It is portrayed through homophobic behaviour and actions such as bullying, negative comments, physical attacks, punitive laws and discrimination.
Homophobia continues to be a major contributor to the ongoing online violence that is experienced by LGBTQ+ people in Kenya and beyond.
No law should enable discrimination or violence towards them.
We have seen how the public including the religious groups have instigated violence and discrimination through their platforms.
They have misinterpreted laws and policies to misinform their audiences.
Through this, more violence and discrimination has occurred in religious group settings.
This has led to the manufacturing of moral panic by crafting easy to understand narratives based on misinformation and selective interpretations of human rights, religious teachings, negative cultural beliefs and scientific evidence that create a divided worldview of good versus bad people.
We should not fuel prejudice and use the law 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 every individual regardless of sexual orientation.
Any law 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
Reproductive health youth expert
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
