ouTspokeN AND prouD porTrAiTs of Three ‘CrimiNAls’.
m
eet Denis, George and Mary − three criminals in the eye of Kenyan law. In fact, they are human rights activists who have been targeted for being open about their sexual orientation. Attacked by strangers on a bus for holding your partner’s hand. Expelled from school or beaten up for acting “too masculine”. Leaving a party to be told by the police: “We think you’re gay – pay up or we’ll charge you for being drunk and disorderly.” This is every day reality if, like Denis, George and Mary − featured in these photographs − you live in Kenya and happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI). Or if someone thinks that you are. In Kenya, and in other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, people are harassed, marginalized, discriminated against and attacked because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. People working to protect the rights of LGBTI people also put themselves at risk on a daily basis. Kenya is one of 38 African countries where same-sex conduct is a crime by law. This sends a message that discrimination is acceptable, that harassing or intimidating someone because of who they are is OK, and that human rights do not apply to LGBTI people. Amnesty International is campaigning to end this across Africa.
Read more in our new report, Making love a crime, at bit.ly/love-crime
mArY, 30, (right) is a volunteer for LGBTI rights group Minority Women in Action. One of the group’s aims is to build LGBTI women’s social and professional capacity. By learning new skills, they can become empowered to take control of their lives and livelihoods and support others in similar situations. “I am a lesbian woman and mother of one son. I have been living positively for the last eleven years. I love artwork. With the help of my partner, I have made a lot of handmade mats, which has been my source of livelihood.” minoritywomeninaction.co.ke 4 Wire [ Jul/Aug 2013 ]
DeNis, 26, (seated right) is a gay activist based in
Nairobi. He is the editor of the Sexual and Gender Minorities News Service Identity Kenya and a former spokesperson for the LGBTI organization Gay Kenya. “I am in the media a lot. I have received countless death threats, by email, telephone and through Facebook. One said: ‘I have been sent to kill you’. I have also been evicted many times. First the neighbours sent a letter saying, ‘We, the residents of the apartment block, because we know you are homosexual, and you will target our kids, are giving you three days to leave, lest we get some of the ‘boys’ to come and evict you.’ “At the time I didn’t know where to move to. It was all very messy. I didn’t have the money to relocate, and I wasn’t talking to my family. “I’ve been attacked twice by strangers, once on a matatu (a bus), when I was holding my partner’s hand. The second time, I was walking down a street, and someone recognized me and threw stones at me. I got in touch with Protection Desk Kenya (protectioninternational.org), and they gave me a crash course in personal security. Personal security is a grey area. If you don’t speak out, how will you push for rights?” identitykenya.com
All photos © Pete Muller
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