Don’t we all have the freedom of association? Do we have some basic rights that are limited to specific individuals? While we continue to celebrate the strides that have been made towards the realization of sexual and reproductive health and rights globally, we acknowledge some of the challenges still facing people who identify as LGBTQ+ worldwide.
Where are we as a nation when it comes to the realization of LGBTQ rights? Studies have shown that many LGBTQ people continue to face discrimination in their personal lives, in the workplace and the public sphere, and in their access to critical health care. Even after the recent court decision to register the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) as an NGO, whose main mission is to promote and protect the equality and inclusion of LGBTIQ individuals and communities in Kenya, and advance their meaningful participation in society, we’ve witnessed a countrywide uproar from all sectors negating this judicial ruling.
Are LGBTQ persons not human enough for them to enjoy well-known universal human rights??? The fight for LGBTQ rights has come a long way. Looking at the global scope, 76 countries continue to criminalize same-sex relationships, and most still lack anti-discrimination laws to protect them. Culture, religion, and tradition are now being used to justify the denial of their rights.
As time and culture move on, these many challenges will shift, change, and take various forms. Healthcare providers need to remain abreast of how the landscape is changing and affecting the LGBTQ+ community. There’s a need to take actions like consistently collecting data on gender identity and sexual orientation, and analyzing this information to help assess healthcare challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community. We can’t change the world at the snap of a finger, but we can take intentional steps to make it a more welcoming place for everyone. If we are to give everyone an equal chance to thrive in such an existence, then we all need to be accommodative of this diversity.