Identity
ISHTAR MSM GROUP IS OLD, SENILE, LAZY In the last edition of score card for the queer movement, we delved deep into the workings of the GALCK coalition and KIPE as well as NYAWEK. A few reconciliatory words about the three groups before proceeding: GALCK’s Board might want to consider disbanding the groups and having every coalition member group competitively recruit a programme officer in charge of whatever the group does - such as P.O Trans affairs, lesbian affairs, creative art affairs and so on or simply do away with GALCK as a coalition and let the groups do some work. Such disbandment would put the groups in the spot light in terms of what they really do unlike the present situation where most groups simply do close to nothing, politic, compete, mud sling and hide under the veil of GALCK. KIPE organized a very elaborate Christmas party for the Kenyan LGBTI movement, although NYAWEK soiled the turnout with its security advisory about the party. KIPE has proven again how it is bent to creatively shift attitudes in Kisumu and beyond although their battles with NYAWEK might stifle the progress. Caution to NYAWEK; learn from Nairobi and let the green eyed monster stay, and as Solomon Wambua of GALCK keeps saying, ‘Build bridges, don’t burn them.’ That being said, this week’s review looks at the grandmother of GALCK, ISHTAR MSM. ISHTAR MSM is the oldest and most senile group within GALCK. Oldest empirically, but senile due to reasons to be articulated later in the paragraphs below. Founded in 1997 (yes, before Moi was re-elected again!), ISHTAR MSM now stoops with 15 years of institutional age. Its new website reads that ‘ISHTAR MSM (MSM meaning men who have sex with men) was registered as a Community Based Organization in 1999. Whereas ISHTAR MSM’s initial membership was male sex work‘ISHTAR MSM must ers, the organization has since developed to be deal with MSM holistically where all MSM and Transgender women (Male to Female) are included. It must be noted at this point that ISHTAR MSM does not apologize to all those deal with gay men or bisexuals. ISHTAR MSM does not limit itself to the politics of identity and profundity of sexual orientation, ISHTAR MSM is interested only in the conduct, the sex - the men who have MSM sex workers sex with men.
who got infected with HIV during the period it neglected them despite pleas from them’
The mission of ISHTAR MSM is to advance the sexual health rights of MSM and reduce stigma and discrimination. It was ISHATAR MSM that sent the first Kenyan gay male to come out on national television and use the famous line of ‘I am Kenyan and I am gay’ He must have gone to say something like ‘I want to be free to love any adult person based on free consent.’ And that was it, the homophobes rushed with their usual reaper forks and such other assorted weapons of ignorance that never evolve or upgrade. But what that move did, with a painful heroic sacrifice albeit, was tell Mwangi, Okoth, Kipkorir and Mohammed in struggling in their remote villages in hinter Kenya with guilt and lust for same sex, that they were not alone, that they were never alone, that somehow, it gets better and someday, maybe, luckier. ISHTAR MSM sent the first Kenyan gay ambassador and told him to ‘speak to the nation’. By so doing, ISHTAR MSM taught the LGBTI movement that this is a struggle, a war, and it shall not be won without casualties and collateral. ISHTAR MSM gave us the first; few have been as brave since - sissy cowards! Five years later, Kenya’s LGBTI community has a centre called GALCK - which formation was advocated for and well negotiated for by ISHTAR MSM. Five years later, because of the ground work and paving made by the foot soldiers of ISHTAR MSM, the Kenyan LGBTI movement can dare summon a Minister for Special Programmes to their HIV strategy meeting, hug her for the cameras and have her do a rendition of ‘They are here, they are queer, get used to it’ for national television. Then, start a debate with stone age thinking homophobes and angry activists furling the Minister for Justice to render ruling that, one, whatever people do in their bedrooms is their business and anyone asking or infringing therein is in breach of the constitution (by and large negating sections 162-165 of the penal code and therefore indirectly supporting decriminalization senior counsel!) and two, which was a sweet victory for ISHTAR MSM, which deals with sexual health, the justice minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reinforce equal access to health for all - without discrimination! While this cannot be owed to ISHTAR MSM, their ground work made it possible.