You'll see no faces and no names of gay East Africans on this website. It isn't safe! |
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| Personal Story No. 3 |
| Gay and Christian in KENYA, UGANDA, TANZANIA, RWANDA AND BURUNDI |
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| This website was constructed in July of 2007 Visits made to this web page since August 2007 |
| Meet us under the acacia tree. |
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| "I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in also."John 10:16 |
| Other Sheep Websites Other Sheep English Other Sheep Spanish Argentina Other Sheep Foundation Executive Director |
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| Photo at right: Gays telling their stories to one antoher in the Nairobi gated apartment complex where Steve and Jose were staying. |
| Jose Ortiz, Other Sheep Coordinator for Africa |
| Steve Parelli, Other Sheep Executive Director |
Above photes:
Top Picture
Jose is leading one of the
many discussion groups
that met in our apartment.
Bottom Picture
Steve is teaching the
power point presentation
on the Bible and
Homosexuality from his
lap top.
Nairobi, Kenya
July, 2007
Top Picture
Jose is leading one of the
many discussion groups
that met in our apartment.
Bottom Picture
Steve is teaching the
power point presentation
on the Bible and
Homosexuality from his
lap top.
Nairobi, Kenya
July, 2007
I was born into a Christian family
- “I am an 18-year-old male. I was born into a Christian family:
my father’s catholic and my mum’s protestant. When I was
young I was introduced to the Catholic Church from where my
religious background has been for as long as I can remember.
I experienced some touching with my older, live-in cousin
- Anyway, when I was about 5-6 years old, my cousin (whose
probably about ten years my senior), came to live with us in
our house, and since I didn’t share my room with any of my
siblings, and it was rather bigger than the rest, he was allowed
by my parents to sleep there. We did share the room for a
while before he started touching me (he didn’t get ‘physical’
though). This, however odd it may seem, didn’t bother me at
all. A couple of months later, he moved out because he found
his own place.
I dated a boyfriend for almost two years - this is how we met
- I am a guy who generally loves girls, but the first time I realized
that I liked boys was in high school. I didn’t discover this by
seeing naked masculine bodies in the shower like most guys
(that’s totally cliché), I mean, we had doors in the showers. It
was actually one of my friends that I liked SO MUCH (let’s call
him Warren). He was young, cute, funny, well-built and cool;
but this did not feel weird at all, because the thought of being
gay did not scare me. I really did not want anyone to know
about what I felt for the guy though.
But one night, we had gone out as a class, for a school
function. It started becoming late and darkness was falling in,
but the school bus had not yet picked us up from where we
were, because it had broken down or something! By the time
the bus arrived, it had already become dark. We all entered
the bus, and I happened to sit next to Warren. We left the
venue and on the way, I started feeling a bit sleepy, and I
rested my head on his shoulder. He then reached out and
touched my face, and we kissed . He told me of how he had
always liked me…..blah blah blah… but it was very sweet and
kind of romantic. He ended up being my first boyfriend, and we
dated for almost two years. I was then 14.
After breaking up I became depressed; I had already stopped
going to church "because I didn't want the negative attention;" I
isolated myself and drank a lot; I discoverd Goth mysticism
- After we broke up, my life shattered. I became totally
depressed. I fought a lot with everyone, especially my parents:
I refused to go to church (I stopped going to church earlier
when I was 14 because I didn’t want the negative attention
since I started dating a guy); I took a lot of alcohol with some of
my friends who did not understand what the hell was wrong
with me; when I wasn’t hanging out with my friends, I isolated
myself from everyone, and that was the time I discovered the
Goth mysticism. I used so much black make-up (I am naturally
light-skinned), and even got an eye-brow piercing on the left
side. After a while I started dating some girls, but I just used
them to have fun because I didn’t want any relationship.
I'm bitchy at times
- That didn’t work because I met a girl who I ended up falling in
love with because, although we didn’t know each other for a
long time, she was there for me and she helped me clean up
my act. She was actually great, but we didn’t last long
because, I think, she’s attracted to people who have a little bit
of trouble in their life who would therefore need her. After I got
my act right, she felt I didn’t really need her, so she broke it
off. I was devastated, but I did not want to go through the
meltdown all over again. From then on I developed a really
tough skin, such that ‘little things’ like break-ups did not bother
me much. I also developed this attitude where I did not give a
f*** what people thought of me. That’s why until today, I do
whatever I want, wear whatever I want and at times, say
whatever I want (that’s bitchy, huh?).
Yes, I'm bisexual; and by the way, you guys have helped people
with their confidence and a feeling of acceptance
From then on, I have dated guys and girls for a short while, on-
and-off.
I think that’s just about it; my story ain’t anything great. In fact,
you might feel sorry for me, but anyway…..whatever!!!
I think you’re probably tired of hearing this, but, I think you
guys have done a great job coming here and starting this
group for gays, lesbians and bisexuals such as myself,
because it’s helping people with their confidence, and a feeling
of acceptance. I think that’s hot, so keep it up guys!
| Continue to next personal story |
| I stopped going to church once I got a boyfriend Kenyan Man, Age 18 Submitted July 30, 2007 After breaking up I became depressed; I had already stopped going to church "because I didn't want the negative attention" about having a boyfriend. I isolated myself and drank a lot. __________________________________________ |
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| Why you'll see no pictures and no names of gay East Africans on this website: |
| "In October 2006, a local newspaper published a list of names of suspected gays and lesbians. The gay rigths group says several people whose names appeared on the list lost jobs and were mistreated by their families." |
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