Lucas Barasa
26 January 2007
Nairobi — A new phenomenon is gaining currency in the country: Lesbians, gays and transsexuals are coming out openly to demand their rights.
The group stole the show at the World Social Forum which ended at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, yesterday with their stand being a crowd puller.
University of Nairobi law student Judith Ngunjiri who confessed to being a lesbian at the world Social Forum.
Lesbians, gays and transsexuals who have been going on with their lifestyles secretly joined colleagues from other parts of the world in publicly declaring they were not ashamed of their situation.
In fact it was only at their stand, adjacent to Gate 7, where visitors were offered free tea and cookies before being invited for "lessons on lesbianism, gay relationships and transsexuals."
Counselling lessons
There were also "counselling" lessons, workshops and free pamphlets.
Through their Gay and Lesbians Coalition, most of the members wore black T-shirts inscribed "We are here, we are queer and we are proud".
Talking to the Nation, 20-year-old University of Nairobi law student Judith Ngunjiri said she realised she was a lesbian at age 10 and in Standard Three.
"I had a crash on a girl. I liked girls and not boys. I did not just sit and decide that I am a lesbian. Some people think one just decides to be lesbian or gay. It is how we are born, either heterosexual or bisexual," Ms Ngunjiri said.
She added: "A homosexual child is like that of any other gender."
Ms Ngunjiri said she had her first "girlfriend" when she was 16-years-old and in Form Two.
She now has a 28-year-old girlfriend and has had four relationships in total.
Her parents know she is a lesbian.
She first informed her mother, a staunch Christian who expressed surprise and informed her father.
Mother was bitter
"My mother was very bitter saying she could not accept the fact. She said it was against Christianity and unAfrican. She however said despite that I was still her daughter. My father was a bit open-minded saying homosexuality existed and that a son of his friend had confessed to be a gay. My siblings also understand me," she said.
Ms Ngunjiri, who went to Kenya High school before moving to Makini, said her closest friends at university also knew she was a lesbian.
Unlike in other homosexual relationships where those involved assigned themselves roles of husband and wife, Ms Ngunjiri said she and her partner regarded themselves as equals.
The student was however reluctant to speak about her sex life saying homosexuality like other relationships was not just about sex. "It is about love," she said.
She said her main challenge was how to get children but added there were many ways homosexuals could get children including adoption, artificial impregnation or surrogate mothers.
Ms Ngunjiri regretted that homosexuals faced discrimination in society including being disowned by their families, beatings and rape.
But the student and other homosexuals now want the discrimination ended and recognition by constitution.
Ms Ngunjiri said homosexuals had an informed discussion with participants at the forum which attracted about 50,000 delegates from all over the world and many were surprised to know they had an organisation in Kenya.
Ms Ngunjiri said lesbians were also at high risk of contracting HIV/Aids through exchange of bodily fluids and were advocating for safe sex and abstinence.
Mr Emmanuel Kamau, who confessed to be gay, said one in every five Kenyan men is a homosexual.
Mr Emmanuel Kamau, known in gay circles as Auntie Ivy speaks to the press.
Mr Kamau, who heads a group working with gays calling itself Ishtar MSM, said a study by the University of Nairobi's Institute of African Studies also showed that one in every five women was a lesbian.
Mr Kamau, who goes by the name Auntie Ivy in the gay circles, said the number of bisexuals and transsexuals in the country was rising.
He said his male fiancee is a church minister working outside the country but visits regularly adding that the relationships were genetic.
"One is born with the feeling. It cannot be acquired," he said.
He said many of the members found themselves "trapped in wrong body."
Mr Kamau said the forum at Kasarani was the second time Kenyan gays, lesbians and transsexuals were meeting in public since they did so in 2003.
"Some of our members are in government, others are church leaders while others are politicians. They usually offer us support. The situation cuts across the society. However most of them dislike me because I have gone public," he said.
He said lesbians, gays and transsexuals should come out openly about it "rather than blaming and shifting blame."
Mr Kamau was happy that the government had registered his organisation to help in the fight against HIV/Aids.
"We have been recognised in area of HIV/Aids but not on human rights issues," Mr Kamau said.
Mr Kamau whose group works closely with National Aids Control Council and Liverpool VCT said it also has networks in schools and universities.
He called on the church to be tolerant to gays and lesbians, "have a soft space for them and not call them demons or excommunicate them.
Social orientation
A Nairobi psychologist Mr Mbutu Kariuki said homosexuality was a social orientation, just like "bestiality that we have."
"There's no particular reason why one is involved. It is a matter of choice and test," Mr Kariuki, as a consultant with World Student Christian Federation, said.
Mr Kariuki said although some claimed that homosexuality was genetic, it had not been proven.
He believes homosexuality depends with one's upbringing. "It is the environment that shapes you," he said.
Mr Kariuki said the society should be tolerant to homosexuals "as what is normal to you might not be to another person."
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