An Open Letter to Presidential Candidates
In Kenya, and indeed in Africa, there exists a large number of gay, bisexual, lesbian, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons. We may be a minority but we do make up a percentage of the population. One does not choose to be part of any of the clusters mentioned above; one simply IS in the cluster they are in. However, this group of persons suffers greatly from various forms of injustice from every angle. Just because a man is different, he is beaten up by a mob. Just because a woman is different, she is raped so as to conform to the norm. Just because a person is intersex, they are placed in isolation in prison for months on end. The LGBTI community also makes up a section of the citizenry that pay taxes. It makes up a section of the citizenry that provides services. It makes up a section of the citizenry without which several industries will not survive. We are a people who have a function in society. We are a people who have families. We have people who depend on us. We have people who love us, not just because of our sexual orientation or gender identities, but because we are people. Because we are all that, because we are different, because we are a community, we are a part of this great country, we are Kenyans. Kenya may not constitutionally be a Christian nation but it does have a great number of Christians. Among the Christians are persons within the LGBTI community. The Bible contains parts, interpretations of which may create the impression that homosexuals are evil. The same Bible also says that we shouldn’t judge others lest we be judged ourselves. Christianity’s core principle is love. Christ taught mankind to love their neighbor as they love themselves. Christ taught that we should love each other because we know that we are forever loved by him. Christ taught that we should do to others what we would have them do to us. Saint Paul taught that love does no harm to its neighbor making love the fulfillment of the law. He taught that love is patient and kind and doesn’t envy nor boast nor is it proud. He taught that love is not self-seeking nor does it keep a record of wrongs. He taught that love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. The Bible teaches that above all, we should love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins. With all that in mind, let us remember that whatever position you take towards homosexuality, towards the intersex, towards the transgender community, hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all wrongs.
Great article Tony
Kamal
Thank you for writing ,its really and informative one
Thank you for writing its really inclusive of the LGBT Kenyans in developmental agenda and informative one on Peace ,Love unity
Great write up! I hope more Kenyans start seeing this as a positive contribution (the article).
The discussions on the topic of GAY people in itself is a sign that Kenya is moving forward. Lets hope that we actually do move forward and not backwards and ensure we donot turn barbaric towards our behaviour to others. (as you said we donot pick what cluster people belong to, be it sexually or ethinically or any other forms of cluster.
Thanks for this article Tony!
GOOD ARTICLE ANTHONY….its very true that every person with a same sex attraction is a child of God and should be respected on this basis and whatever their sexual inclination is; physical or biological makeup is that they should be allowed to be part of society-the Kenyan society-because they are citizens of this great nation. The plain truth is Jesus loves us all and any Kenyan claiming to be christian should love persons with this form of inclination.
However, I have to point out that, NO the bible does not create the impression that homosexuals are evil.NO!CERTAINLY NOT!…The bible INSTEAD condemns the HOMOSEXUAL LIFESTYLE(being activities such as man&man sex or woman&woman sex).
It is unfortunate that everyone gets this wrong,even the LGBIT community.
The church has continuously preached this!(as much as it has been ignored or distorted)persons living with same sex attractions are NOT EVIL!
THE CHURCH LOVES YOU! YOU ARE FRIENDS OF JESUS CHRIST JUST AS EVERY OTHER HUMAN BEING ON THIS EARTH IS! Infact Mother Theresa during an interview when asked what she thought of homosexuals, she said “Please do not call them that, they are friends of Christ” and the rest of the interview had to be done by referring to you as friends of Christ or persons living with same sex attraction.
THE CHURCH CERTAINLY LOVES YOU!HAVE NO DOUBT!…but just as Jesus while embracing Mary Magdalene clearly brought it out that he Loved her but hated what she did and asked her to stop at once the activities she was engaging in-ALSO the church Loves all people living with same sex attraction but asks them to renounce this form of lifestyle.
I think that what LGBIT community should be doing, as you clearly pointed out no one chooses to have this attraction, is helping/teaching people living with same sex attraction how to live with it!Living a life that is fulfilling without having to orient your entire life and personality according to your sexual attraction.Surely there is more to life than engaging in sexual activities!Living lives that Jesus would approve of!
There simply can not be only two negative ways of living for people with same sex attraction!i.e. staying in the closet or coming out of the closet and engaging in activities that for sure God never intended as is physically evident!
I think the LGBIT community needs to, of course continue to fight for protection of their members basic human rights (as there are many ignorant people out there), but certainly needs to change their lifestyle; its never about you as a person-its about how you live as a person that counts and it is simply wrong to demand others to recognize a wrong lifestyle.