Archive for July 2016
Secrets of the Nairobi Lesbian
You should have seen how Joan’s face lit up when the discussion on same-sex parties started during the college break time hour. She sprung into life, her partner – also a girl – on her side. They have been dating for two years now. It is official; they are lesbians. “What is so new about…
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Be Safe, Be Well: Safety Information for the SOGIE Community
As a result of a recent media blitz around an alleged gathering of members of the lesbian community in Nairobi, the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya urges all members of the country’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer community (LGBTIQ) to be on the lookout for suspicious activities and practice safety and wellness…
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Does Ezekiel Mutua Have Authority To Ban Lesbian Parties?
The Kenya Film Classification Board yesterday ‘banned’ a lesbian hook-up party scheduled for Saturday. KFCB’s vocal and controversial CEO Ezekiel Mutua posted the notice on his Facebook page. As the name suggests, KFCB’s primary job is to classify films, eg by rating them GE (general exhibition), PG (parental guidance recommended), 16 (not suitable for persons under…
Read MoreMandatory Anal Examinations In Kenya; Outdated and Horrific
A Kenyan Court ruled that the use of anal examinations is legal after two men accused of being homosexuals were subjected to the tests. The two men had brought a case to the High Court in Mombasa on Thursday, 16th June 2016 calling for anal examinations on alleged homosexuals to be declared unconstitutional. “There was…
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GALCK Statement on UN Resolution on SOGIE Independent Expert
The Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK), a coalition of 16 member organisations working to prevent violence and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, welcomes the Human Rights Council resolution establishing an Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
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GALCK Statement on Extrajudicial Executions in Kenya
The Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK), a coalition of 16 member organisations working to prevent violence and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, stands in solidarity with all victims of extrajudicial executions and calls for accountability of the Kenya Police in their law enforcement activities.
Read MoreIn The Name of Hate
As many Kenyans gather in their places of worship, others are making preparations for the week ahead or catching up on much needed sleep after a long week or night out partying, 49 people lose their lives. They are doing what thousands of Kenyans do every weekend: Socialising. They are members of a minority community.…
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Intersectionality of Violence
Violence is defined by the World Health Organization as “the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, mal-development, or deprivation”, although the group acknowledges that the inclusion of “the use…
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We Stand With Orlando
On the morning of Sunday 12th June 2016, the world woke up to the tragic news that a gunman had opened fire and killed 50 people and left dozens of others severely injured at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Acts of hatred and violence are not unfamiliar to the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and…
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Petition to Fill Human Rights Protection Gap Affecting LGBQ Persons
On Wednesday, June 8, five persons and three organisations, including the Gay and Lesbian Coalition in Kenya, filed a petition challenging Section 162 (a) and (c) and Section 165 of the Penal Code. These provisions criminalise ‘carnal knowledge against the order of nature’ and ‘gross indecency’ respectively and have been used in the past to…
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