This is a term that has brought a lot of heated debate for the last couple of days. LGBTIQ means people who have identified themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, or questioning. Non-binary is used to describe genders that do not fall into binary definitions of male or female. Queer is also an umbrella term sometimes used by LGBTIQ people to refer to the entire LGBTIQ community. This can be confusing for the older generation but for the gen z this is a familiar territory.
With the supreme court ruling on the rights to associate. The LGBTIQ community has inched a step closer towards having their voices heard. But this is a conversation that has not been taken lightly or positively by many people including the church and the Muslim community. The high court however has only ruled on the right to form an association but not the right to identify as LGBTIQ which raises a lot of questions since there is a very thin line between the two. Faith-based narratives are a consistent driver of LGBTIQ discrimination. Where religion remains a central influence in cultures and societies, we cannot create sustainable change without shifting religious narratives toward equity, inclusion, and social justice. But what does a country do when the law is clear on homosexuality, sodomy and non-recognition of same sex marriage? Is this a tag between what is termed ‘right’ and what some people want?
At the end of the day, human behavior is a complex matter. Upbringing, interactions with marginal groups can really influence ones thinking and ideology of the way things are ‘supposed’ to be. LGBTIQ in Kenya is faced with a lot of discrimination especially from the older generation who cannot comprehend what this is. To them and many people its unnatural, ungodly, unethical (we could write a whole list of names). People who identify as homosexuals are often live in hostile environments and have limited access to basic needs, such as education, health care, housing, and employment. They also face workplace discrimination and are subjected to grave harms including conversion practices and targeted sexual assault. Even within LGBTIQ or women’s rights movements, they are often silenced or stigmatized. With this being termed as a western thing, we need to find solutions before things take a turn for the worse. Both parties need to understand rights and freedoms especially of expression. One party wants to feel included and understood the other wants to feel that they are not forced into accepting anything. People should be able to talk about this issue freely and openly so that all the information is out there for people to analyze and digest. At the end of the day this community is Kenyan and their human rights should not be violated because they identify differently and should be treated simply as human.