ANNUAL ¨RALLYING EVENT¨ MAY 17th: The International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO)

The International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO), held on May 17 every year, is a rallying event offering an opportunity for people to get together and reach out to one another. It aims to coordinate international events to call respect for lesbians and gays worldwide.

Unlike the Pride Days , which are meant to emphasize pride in one' sexuality and refusal to be ashamed of it, IDAHO is held to highlight that in reality it is homophobia that is shameful and must be deconstructed in its social logic and fought against openly.

May 17 was chosen as the day of the event because homosexuality was removed from the International Classifications of Diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 17, 1990.

Homophobia is described as ‘hatred of homosexuality” “hatred of homosexuals” “fear of gays and lesbians” “a desire or attempt to discriminate against homosexual’’ and is fuelled by a multiple of reasons including inability or unwillingness to change the hatred taught during childhood, fear of people who are different, promotion of homophobia by religious groups, a natural feeling of repulsion at the thought of same-sex activity. Realizing that homosexual behavior is unnatural for them, some people generalize this feeling into the belief that homosexuality is wrong for everyone; actual homosexual feelings that a person cannot acknowledge or handle, low self esteem leading to a need to hate other groups, are also cited as fueling factors of homophobia.
Usually, homophobia manifests itself in many forms: Violence, insults, physical assaults, evictions, denial of services or rights and privileges, stigma, distancing, and in extreme form, death. There are even reported cases of desecrations of bodies of suspected gays by exhumation and further humiliation. please read it all HERE

Thanks to Gay Kenya and Denis Nzioka

UPDATED:  KENYA

Gay community, sex workers, health care providers, the police and legal representatives join in to mark IDAHO

Kenyans, drawn from the gay and lesbian community, male and female sex workers, representatives of the police force, health care providers and also legal professionals came together to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO)in Kisumu, Kenya...¨ please read it all, HERE

A HAPPY GLOBAL SOUTH COVENANT: Kenyan Lesbian Marries American Bride

Courtney Nicole and Terry Ngéndo Wakonyo

A Kenyan woman wedded her American bride over the weekend in Des Moines, Iowa.

Terry Ng’endo Wakonyo, 24, and Courtney Nicole, 25 were joined together in a same-sex marriage ceremony at the Polk County Courthouse on Friday.

The newly weds held a reception on Saturday in Shawnee, Kansas where they were joined by family and friends who included scores of Kenyans.

Speaking to jambonewspot.com, the groom who is from Nairobi proudly said “we are married” when asked whether they were in a civil union.

The couple who are both residents of Kansas had to travel to the neighboring state as Kansas does not recognize same-sex marriages...¨ HERE

David Kuria, Candidate for the Senate, Kenya

¨This is really great. The community may be ostracized in Kenya, but those who do go out can actually live their lives to their fullest potential. This is just so Great! ¨ David Kuria, Kenyan Senatorial Candidate HERE

· Thanks to Anthony Karanja, Dallas, Texas
· Thanks to Habari Za Nyumbani
· Thanks to Gay Kenya, sidebar
· Thanks to Denis Nzioka, Kenya
·  Thanks to David Kuria, Kenya

Ugandan Anglican David Kato was a true human rights activist bravely calling for an end to intolerance, violence, discrimination and, hate. All persons are entitled to basic human rights.

This tribute is done by friends, collegues and organizations that worked with David as a celebration of his life

REMEMBERING HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST and ANGLICAN HERO DAVID KATO

¨For those who knew, interacted with and shared the life and times of David, he impacted us in a most profound way. We can’t help but remember the passion, courage, energy and swiftness with which David executed his work.


David was a true human rights activist bravely calling for an end to intolerance, violence, discrimination and, hate. All persons are entitled to basic human rights. But in any society, it is easy to erode the rights of marginalized or minority groups, be it on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or other status. Commitment to human rights principles is most tested when we are asked to speak out for those at the edges of society.


As a member of the global human rights movement, David was such a voice on behalf of members of the gay community in Uganda who are routinely subject to arbitrary arrests, hate speech, torture, vigilante violence, and persecution. David had a vision of a better Uganda. One of tolerance and inclusion, where all people count equally.


David not only displayed a principled commitment, he also displayed energy, enthusiasm and pride in his human rights work. He consistently challenged intolerance and homophobia. His courage allowed him to take risks where others wouldn’t venture. He crisscrossed the country following up on arbitrary arrests, and documented cases of discrimination, torture and mistreatment of persons on the basis of their sexuality. For his efforts to uphold human rights, he was targeted, vilified, and threatened.


Fully aware of the risks his work involved, yet undeterred he was always on hand to respond to the never ending crisis situations confronting his community. He was never one to complain of work overload. He was never cowed by the numerous threats to his life and that of his collegues. Yet in all this he found it in himself to display gentleness, kindness and a sense of humor.


David who generously walked the extra mile to ease the pain of others, he gave his life selflessly so that others may have. His courage in the face of adversity was admirable. He suffered personal attacks, physical harm, yet his determination not to let fear, hostility and hatred deter him was inspirational.


Even when he suffered the momentary loss of energy and burnout, he had an amazing ability to re-energise.


We grieve with the family and friends at this sad moment of the demise of David.


We have a lost a fearless, committed, and cheerful human rights defender.


We will feel the emptiness long after you are gone, but renew our resolve to continue David’s struggle for a Uganda without hate, violence, and discrimination.


YOU have left a candle whose light will never be blown off,


We can only use it to light our own


We join the voices of all those condemning David’s senseless killing and call for a thorough, independent and impartial investigations into this brutal murder.¨   HERE

AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE

HIVOS

ASTRAEA

OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS

AKIBA UHAKI

URGENT ACTION FUND

MAMA CASH

UHAI

THE FUND FOR GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS

EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS PROJECT

·Thanks to Gay Kenya, sidebar
·Thanks to Denis Nzioka
·Thanks to Flickr Photo Sharing
·Thanks to Betsy J´s, Photoart

PRIME MINISTER ODINGA OF KENYA: ¨Lies, propaganda and fear-mongering¨ against ¨Gays¨ was/is instigated by opponents of the new constitution*

¨A story that appeared early today in Capital FM’s online edition and later picked by the Daily Nation late Sunday evening to the effect that Prime Minister Raila Odinga ordered arrest of gay couples was incorrect and widely missed the core message of the Prime Minister’s remarks earlier that day.

The Prime Minister made references to gay marriages in the context of what he called “lies, propaganda and fear-mongering” that opponents of the then draft constitution engaged in during the referendum campaigns.

The PM said one of the lies was that the draft legalized same sex marriages. The other was that it would force the government to build abortion wards in all hospitals because it legalized abortion.

The Prime Minister went ahead to explain that time has proved these were lies. In regard to gay marriages, the PM added a rider that even if it had been legal, Kenyans were likely to continue the established trend of marrying the opposite sex. After all, he said, census data released early this year indicated there were more women than men and there would be little reason for Kenyans to turn to same sex marriages. This rider is what the media picked and twisted to imply order of arrest. Prime Minister Odinga made no such orders and has no intentions of making any such orders.¨

DENNIS ONYANGO
COMMUNICATION SECRETARY,
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

*The Anglican Church of Kenya opposed the new constitution (which was approved and made law).

 Anglican bishops led by Archbishop Eliud Wabukala (seated,2nd left) announced their ‘No’ campaign on the proposed New Constitution law at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi

Nairobi — Church leaders, just like politicians, have lost the trust of Kenyans, a new survey has said.  HERE

· Thanks to Prime Minister Raila Odinga,  Kenya
· Thanks to Dennis Onyango
· Thanks to Gay Kenya
· Thanks to Denis Nzioka

AFRICAN LGBTI REALITIES: Are You Listening? Meet Denis Nzioka, Steave Nemande, David Kuria - Arguably Africa's most prominent/out gay activist citizens

Left to Right--Denis Nzioka, Kenya-Steave Nemande, Cameroon-Senate Candidate David Kuria, Kenya

I salute our brave LGBTI Activist Brothers and Sisters in Africa....all of them, seen and unseen, for taking the necessary steps forward to face a world of discrimination, persecution and often hounded by hate crimes, personal/intimate violations and even death. 

Each of us will perservere, as best we can, sometimes silently and sometimes boldly.

As I look into the picture of the three Men above (and think of our devoted brother Gay Uganda too who can´t be pictured because of the current pogrom in Kampala) I see joy and I feel joy too...the kind of joy that people like me experience when we are free ¨to be¨ the authentic people that God created us to be...it´s quite a celebration to feel joyous and FREE after being oppressed and despised! 

Make no mistake, ¨we¨ are ¨authentic¨ (even if you can´t see us, we are standing shoulder to shoulder with you) in our families, amongst our coworkers and friends. We are assimilated with you, our fellow citizens and join you in all that we collectively do at all levels of society...we are like them and you but we can no longer ignore the demonization and degration that has been spewn at us for lifetimes. 

We must say no to fear/superstition, hate, bigotry and lies.

Most of US are like OUR dear friends pictured above in Mother Africa--we have always been here next to you and we aren´t going away...ready or not, believe it or not, we are also the beloved and we are ¨now proud¨ and look forward to sharing our lives living productively amongst all of you.  We need not go far to do that as we are together already.

The unified LGBTI emerging voice in Africa:  ¨We are responsible¨

· Thanks to Gay Kenya, sidebar
· Thanks to Gay Uganda, sidebar
· Thanks to Cameroon
· Thanks to African Activist