Kenya

An unprecedented level of mobilisation around the IDAHOT took place this year in Kenya. The Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK), together with its 14 member and affiliate organizations, prepared a landmark series of actions around the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2014, under the banner of Freedom of Expression.

Actions spanned a week and included awareness-raising sessions amongst religious leaders, activities around health and educations, the creation of art works, engagements with UNHCR and debates on proposed legislation.
Kenyan sexual orientation, gender identity and expression minority (SOGIEM) communities are a significant percentage of the world’s population which has their freedom of expression and access to information restricted for a variety of reasons, including religious/moralistic and political rhetoric.
In this context, local activists report that:
SOGIEM individuals in Kenya continue to face attacks on their freedom of expression and being, through attempted introduction of further restrictive legislation and enforcement of existing ones.
To promote and empower SOGIEM and ally communities in the face of adversity whilst making the connection to global homophobia and transphobia issues, for solidarity and human rights actions, the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK), has resolved to move forward with plans for the annual global IDAHO and Pride events themed “Freedom of Expression”. Given that PRIDE and IDAHO fall closely within the annual calendar, this year, the GALCK Pride/IDAHO Organizing Committee has also resolved to concurrently hold PRIDE and IDAHO Outreach Celebrations.

Organizing the celebration of these global annual events in Kenya has been approached with considerable caution given the unstable environment in Kenya as demonstrated by:

1. Anti-gay rhetoric, ideologies and an increase in active homophobia (violence and harassment) within the general population
2. Proposed further punitive legislation in Kenya that seeks to further suppress the freedoms, rights, lives and spaces of SOGIEM Kenyans
3. An influx of refugees from Uganda
4. Increased national insecurity (alarming acts of terrorism) and the Kenya Government’s response

To mark PRIDE and IDAHO, GALCK and its 14 member and affiliate groups/organizations across the country have prepared a slew of celebratory activities which will take place on different days within the PRIDE week (12th – 16th May) culminating in IDAHO on 17th May.
Also PEMA Kenya’s IDAHOT press release was published in Today’s 17th May 2014 Saturday Nation page 44. It is a local Kenyan Newspaper with wide circulation.
For more detailed information the actions of 14 coalition members, please see the GALCK page here.