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| REPORTS |
| Gay and Christian in KENYA, UGANDA, TANZANIA, RWANDA AND BURUNDI |
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Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya, July 12, 2007
On 12th July 2007, Larry a student at the Kenyatta University together with a group of LGBTI he had
invited for a club meeting at the university gathered for the Kenyatta University Students’ AIDS
Control Unit (KUSACO) meeting. The meeting’s theme was to talk about issues affecting LGBTI
students with a major emphasis on health; HIV and AIDS amongst men who have sex with men (MSM),
women who have sex with women (WSW) bisexual, transgender and Intersex students at the
university. The meeting was meant to start bout 7p.m, there was however a delay since it was yet
another time when students were busy preparing for exams. There was a little tension as people
came peeping through and walking out almost like to see for themselves the so called gays and
lesbians since the theme for the meeting had some how spread around. The meeting started at about
8p.m.
Larry was introduced by the club chairman. He then introduced himself by saying he was gay and
worked as a peer educator for Ishtar-MSM, a community Based organization that caters for the Health
Rights for MSM. This caught the attention of the audience who were attentive to listen to the speech.
1. The primary aims of the workshop were to:
- Mainstream LGBTI understanding in the University.
- Instill knowledge to students to know and to be able to able to live with themselves: self
awareness, self esteem, understanding and copying with emotions. - Instill skills to know and live with others: effective communication, empathy, negotiation skills
assertiveness, tolerance and understanding. - Instill skills for effective decision making including creative and critical thinking.
2. Introduction
- Larry started by defining the term LGBTI clarifying what each of the letters stood for; Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex. He tried to make the audience understand the
confusing bit about transsexual, transgender and Intersex people. He then said that even
though sexual behavior is a matter of choice, sexual orientation seemed to be set very early in
life and not a matter of choice. Just as most heterosexual do not consciously choose their
sexual orientation, so too presumably most gays and lesbians do not choose their sexual
orientation, although they may have to choose whether to acknowledge it or not—to
themselves and to others. The choice to come out or not was due to stigmatisation and
discrimination towards LGBTI which led to invisibility. He then said if it were a matter of choice,
why one would opt for something that would cause them so much pain hence it wasn’t a matter
of choice or introduction by some one. He then said there are circumstantial incidences that
lead to homosexual activities i.e. in boarding schools or in jails, some of the people who engage
in this do not identify as LGBT but it is because of the circumstance that they are that leads to
engage in homosexual acts.
3. Impact of ones sexuality within the University.
- 3.1 Social.
- There is a lot of Isolation leading to mental anguish. This is because every one fits to the
stereo typed hetero-normative environment where everyone is assumed to be straight. An
LGBTI student would always feel left out in some of the conversations.
Some LGBTI individuals opt for Silence and denial leading to low self esteem, this would lead to
some one viewing themselves as lesser beings or as having a problems, some would even try
to what they are not and have girlfriends, this may however lead to a lot of stress especially if
one finds that even by doing this he was still physically and emotionally attracted to people of
the same sex. Bisexuals also have a problem and they would hide about their attraction to both
sexes to avoid discrimination, this may however turn nasty if people found out and has effect on
ones relationship since some gay men feel in secure with bisexuals saying they would opt for
the opposite sex, this then leads to stress hence people should understand them.
Transgender, intersex and transsexuals are even hard to come out to speak for themselves
since people, they are prone to gay bashing and verbal abuse hence would try so hard to hide
their gender identity hence being forced to live an uncomfortable life
There is lack of social and family support. Larry spotted an example of his own aunt who when
he came out due to his activism during World social forum said he should forget about college
since she did not have money to waste on such maladjustments. He therefore stood a threat of
discontinuing his university education. Larry explained how he had to leave for as far as
Uganda to seek for help having been not in a position to sustain him. He said he was just lucky
to have got help, what about many students out there who did not know where to run to or go
for help? Their education would just be cut short because of their sexual orientation yet these
are people who could be future leaders and help in building up the nation. He also said the way
his classmates for two years who had always talked, laughed dined, partied with him turned
against him and started saying he would rape them with some of them even wanting him to be
thrown out of class, some were even heard yelling that they loved women. This then makes
ones life in campus hard and one cant even concentrate well in his studies leading to low
performance due to lack of confidence and support. This may lead to loss of life since some
people find the situation un bearable, thus resolve to commit suicide. This is because there is
no social place where LGBTI identified students would meet to discuss and share experiences
and help each other how to deal with some problems and even to encourage each other.
Larry said that although he has never heard of any incidence of gay bashing within the
campus, this was due to the fear of people to come out or even to report to authorities because
of fear of further consequences of homophobia i.e. hatred or violence. This leads to people
suffering with their rights being infringed on and without any action being taken.
- 3.2 Health.
- LGBTI tend not to disclose the information that would enable medical professionals to learn
more about their issues. Even if one suspects something is wrong, the fear of being rejected
breaks the willpower to seek a medical check up. Larry explained the cases of symptoms of
anal gonorrhea. A student would fear to go for treatment since the symptoms show around the
anus hence this would possibly give them away to being homosexuals and cause gossip in the
medical centers, some would even try come up with stories i.e. they got it from a splash of water
from the toilet bowl. This lack of transparency may lead to poor medication hence lead to
further complications and suffering.
There is a lot of awareness going on about sexual health but non whatsoever on LGBTI issues,
this is because they have been ignored and made invisible and attention paid to HIV infections
among the heterosexuals. This was due to assumptions that LGBTI people do not exist or if
they did they were to be referred to councilors for cure from a problem to them so evil and
abnormal. There are also some people who still think that lesbians can not get STIs or HIV/AIDS
yet they are very vulnerable since there is a lot of fluids exchange which if not protected may
lead to infection. There was also a lot of promotion of condom use yet there was nothing done
towards MSM and WSWs. MSM for instance need the right lubricants to accompany the
condoms. Larry said that condoms have been made available but people use wrong lubricant
with most people still opting for i.e. Vaseline; this reacts with the latex condom due to friction
leading it to tear. The use of water based lubricants was therefore to be encouraged and if
possible be made available. There was no information on dental dams for WSWs; since this is
expensive, alternative methods should b taught i.e. cutting of condoms since dental dams are
very expensive.
There VCT services are also not friendly for LGBTI students. This is because it is assumed one
is straight hence the questions may make one intimidated and uncomfortable making most
people uncomfortable. Some of the Councilors may also end up giving curing lessons to turn
straight or even call others to come and see an LGBTI identified person which would lead to
killing of ones self esteem.
4. Questions.
- 4.1 How LGBTI students with HIV/AIDS deal with this in school.
There is double discrimination faced by those who are both HIV positive and LGBTI identified.
This is due to first homophobia and being infected, one might even be told this is as a
punishment for their evil practice. One then loses his friends since people wouldn’t want to
associate with them. This can lead to some one committing suicide or losing hope in life. HIV
positive LGBTI students should be accepted as our own brothers, sisters and friends. They
should be empowered to deal with their own physical, emotional, and sexual destinies. This
would help them make viable choices for their own safety and health, and become true equal
partners in the fight against the global pandemic of HIV and AIDS by helping others who are still
suffering behind closed doors to open up and seek help.
- 4.2 Religion.
- A question was asked about the Bible’s view of homosexuality, if LGBTI people go to church
and if they have their own church. Pete said that he regretted that the Other Sheep (an
American Christian Religious group dealing with LGBTI issues in relation to the Bible) could not
attend this meeting; they would have explained this better. The group is on a summer tour in
Kenya by invitation of Ishtar MSM. Larry however said he personally he doesn’t go to church
since he wouldn’t want to go where he is condemned and called evil and not allowed to worship
freely without discrimination, this happens to most LGBTI people. Most preachers use texts
especially referring to Sodom and Gomorrah or that God made Adam and Eve and not Adam
and Steve. There is however articles written by people with understanding of the Bible saying
that God accepts all and one should not be discriminated against because of their sexual
orientation. The issue had led to the big split in the Anglican Church with Lambeth conference
scheduled for next year (2008). There were different religious groups where LGBTI people
went to worship. He gave an example of House of Rainbow in Nigeria, a branch of the
Metropolitan church whose Pastor was openly gay and fighting for LGBTI rights in such a
country with great magnitude of homophobia, there is also Integrity in Uganda headed by
Bishop Dr. Ssenyonjo who was excommunicated from the Church of Uganda for supporting
LGBTI people even though he himself wasn’t an LGBTI identified person. Both House of
Rainbow and Integrity offer counseling services and gives space for LGBTI Christians to
worship. Larry then echoed Desmond Tutu’s concern that there were a lot of problems that
Africa faced than to focus so much on people’s sexual orientation. There should therefore be
acceptance or tolerance since if one is not LGBTI then he is affected; a friend, a brother, a
neighbor or even one of your parents may be LGBTI. Does this cease them from being your
parents, friends or brothers?
- 4.3 Children.
- Larry explained that there are many ways in which some one could get children. He spotted an
example of some people saying there is no need to bring another child to the earth yet there
were many orphans or homeless children out there, some also say that they would not like to
put a child through emotional stress i.e. ridicule by other children when they find out his parents
are same sex partners. However those who opt to get children can do this through adoption or
getting a surrogate mother.
- 4.4 Promotion of behavioral change i.e. ABC rule.
- Pete explained about the research done in 2005 by University of Nairobi and Population council
which showed that 42 % of MSM who were involved in the research were positive. This is a
large number and it is due to this that NACC was approached and through workshops to know
the health needs of MSM and WSW they have been included in the current strategic plan. He
then gave a briefing of the Kenya AIDS Vaccine Initiative where MSM are involved and through
this has helped i.e. those involved are taught positive behavior change and safe sex measures
i.e. condom use, they also get free medication and check ups. They also had projects i.e. for
condom and lubricant distribution and there was an explanation from one Lesbian about the
dental dam and the alternative i.e. cutting a condom into desired shape and using it as a
protective to cover any opening which may pass exchange of fluids during sexual intercourse.
- 4.5 Link of professionalism and homosexuality.
- Esther clarified this by demystifying the stereo type that gay people are of rich background.
The using of professionals e.g. doctors was to do away with the image people have of LGBTI
individuals as evil and people who had lost it in life hence no value in the society yet these
people who pay taxes and help in nation building. It is also not true that LGBTI people are rich,
there are in fact a number of people are unemployed for instance and some engage in
commercial sex work as a source of livelihood. Larry talked of a commercial sex worker he
interacted with and said that if he had a choice he would opt for it but he needed money to pay
up his bills and couldn’t secure a job so he had to engage in commercial sex.
- 4.6 About the anus and cleanliness.
- Samantha a transgender woman who was a medical student explained that the sphincter
muscles which surrounds the anus is sometimes strong and resistant and some time might
cause pain, if one relaxes and the receptive partner uses lubricant, this would make the
experience of penetration pleasurable. He then explained the importance of cleanliness and
talked about douching which is a process of squirting warm water into the rectum an hour
before anal sex. He then explained the dangers of going to the extreme of using detergent
which would end up disturbing the bacterial flora in the rectum hence leading to health
complications. Larry then clarified that it is a myth that it was a myth that gay men wear diapers
and napkins and that the body is able to adapt to changes hence making it able to allow
penetration and control of the anus.
5. Closing of the meeting.
- The meeting then ended with a vote of thanks to Larry and the friends he had come with. The
KUSACO chairman commended Larry and extended his invitation for him to join the club and in
fact said he would be one of their facilitators. He said it is through students like Larry who came
out to give a voice to the marginalized and stigmatized that other students would also come out
knowing they are not alone. Larry was therefore to participate in all the clubs activities and
starting the following semester they would organize lots of Sensitization programs to educate
students within the campus about sexual diversity including positive LGBTI education. They
acknowledged that LGBTI sexual rights are human rights and safe sex information should also
be passed to the LGBTI community. The ICL-Africa coordinator in Kenyatta University, Baraza.
Said that Larry is an asset to the University and hence forth would be of great help in giving a
voice for the LGBTI students. He then said the fight of HIV/AIDS would not be a success if
WSWs and MSMs are not included because there are people who are Bisexuals hence have
sex With people of both sexes and that even if people wanted to make LGBTI invisible, they are
there and they should be accepted and tolerated and given equal opportunities. The Chair
then closed the meeting crowning it very fruitful and that those who had missed had missed
such a great eye opening discussing. He urged the people present to be ambassadors to
share what they had learned with others and said it was just the beginning, there would be
more yet to come. The meeting ended at about 9:20p.m.
6. Way forward.
- Mainstreaming Sexuality & Sexual Rights in Teaching, Research & Practice is critical
- Need to have well equipped persons to deal with issues e.g. training health providers to on how
to handle WSW and MSM health issues. - More platforms to allow open discussion on LGBTI issues, this would foster and understanding
within the campus. - Research studies on jurisprudential underpinnings of sexuality & sexual rights in Kenya
- Proposal for PhD & its defence is a test case for preparedness of School to mainstream
sexuality & related rights - Need for more Masters’ and undergraduate theses in area
- Work with KUSACO and ICL to evaluate if the target group is reached to fulfill the goals
according to the objectives - Provide a safe space where LGBTI students can meet, socialize, discuss and share
experiences. - Capacity building and raising awareness on LGBTI issues within the campus.
7. Report on evaluation.
- Overall feedback on this event was positive, with the vast majority of attendees rating it as good
or excellent. The mix of those with experience of LGBTI issues and those without was not even,
but again the majority learned something new. Samantha a transgender woman who is a
student at a private University in Nairobi was so amazed by the level of acceptance and
tolerance that she even teased of joining K.U the coming semester.
8. Follow up activities.
- Following this, to set things rolling, Larry was invited to the annual general meeting of the
KUSACO where he was the guest speaker and was given 20 minutes to echo LGBTI sentiments
to an amazingly accommodative and understanding audience. Larry was to attend a magazine
launch too which he could not since the meetings were running parallel to each other. This was
a success since some of the leaders of Kenyatta University students Association were present
and were supportive of the activities of KUSACO. Finally looking to future engagement, there
was a high degree of interest. I therefore hope that when the next semester begins there will be
a lot of activities going on within different sectors of the university to raise LGBTI awareness.
LARRY MISEDAH REPORTS ON THE KENYATTA UNIVERSITY PRESENTATION of July 12, 2007 Issues affecting LGBTI students with a major emphasis on health; HIV and AIDS amongst men who have sex with men (MSM), women who have sex with women (WSW); bisexual, transgender and Intersex students at the university. |
For photo of Larry Misedah and for print version of this report click here. |
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