LGBTQI+ repression in East Africa: ‘They say that Westerners are turning us gay’

 | 
05/18/2023

Koei lives in a permanent state of tension. A baby-faced young man in his early-20s, he works in an insurance agency on the outskirts of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. But he carries a secret, a part of his identity. Koei is actually a trans man. But, except for a couple of close friends, the people around him — friends, neighbors, coworkers, clients — have no idea. And he intends to keep it that way. “I worry that my friends will slip up,” he admits. He worries constantly that someone will share his secret. His country’s political climate invites people like Koei to hide and not attract too much attention. His social life doesn’t include bars: he only goes to some LGBTQ collective parties, occasional “safe spaces” in Nairobi. Meanwhile, in other, smaller cities across Kenya, the idea of a rainbow-decorated party is a far-off dream.

Regions: , , ,

Share this:

Latest Global News

Added on: 11/20/2024
11/19/2024
The police chief in Germany’s capital is urging Jews and gay people to “be vigilant” while traversing certain Arab-majority neighborhoods, warning many of them …
Added on: 11/20/2024
11/19/2024
Los Angeles officials on Tuesday moved to cement the city and its schools as sanctuaries for immigrants and LGBTQ youth as the city positions …
Added on: 11/20/2024
11/19/2024
The top court in the European Union has started hearing a case that marks a major confrontation between Hungary and the bloc over a …

Explore LGBTQ+ Issues

Other News from , , ,

Added on: 11/18/2024
Mali is on the brink of passing a law that would jail people for engaging in same-sex relations, condoning same-sex relationships, or “promoting” homosexuality. The …
Added on: 11/17/2024
A record number of asylum seekers claiming to be gay have been allowed to stay in Britain under ECHR rules. The number of asylum …
Added on: 11/15/2024
Cape Town, South Africa – The first-ever International Pride Awards today honoured five remarkable advocates for LGBTIQ+ equality, celebrating them during a ceremony hosted …