In Climate of Escalating Antagonism by Kenyan Authorities toward LGBTI refugees
Following the recent endorsement by Kenya’s High Court where it refused to decriminalize Penal Codes criminalizing homosexuality, it is not surprising that President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya has yet again demonized Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community by declaring homosexuality as unacceptable to Kenyan culture. All scholarly theories point to this as a lie and slanderous to the truth about African culture which was decimated by Colonialism.
Speaking when he met community elders from over 20 counties at the State House, Uhuru said Kenya will do everything to filter out ‘that which disregards societal values and traditions.’
Next week an LGBT Group led International Conference on Population and Development is being held in Nairobi and its is clear, instead of affording respect, this is held in contempt by the Kenyan President:
In fact the white man upon his invasion of Africa, with his army of missionaries, declared homosexuality a taboo. The truth is homosexuality is not unAfrican as homophobic leaders such as Kenyatta would have you believe, but rather acceptable in most African culture, until Colonialists and their religions forced the taboo.
Given this attitude it is no wonder that LGBTI refugees from several African countries such as Uganda, Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Somalia who seek UNHCR and Government protection in Kenya are experiencing escalating hardship at the hands of their hostile host, Kenya. We are hearing at African HRC that the RAS (Refugees Affairs Secretariat) is now refusing to register LGBTI refugee despite their international obligation to do so.
Illustrative of the fact that gays are used as a constant ping pong ball in the political scapegoating by such leaders, Uhuru Kenyatta dismissed gay rights as a “nonissue” in the country:
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta dismissed gay rights as a “nonissue” in the country and said it was not a priority during a joint news conference with President Obama. Obama pushed for equal rights for gays during his visit, saying that “when a government gets in the habit of treating people differently, those habits can spread.
Of course it is an issue – Gay sex is punishable by up to 14 years in prison in Kenya.
More soon!
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ELANIE NATHAN
Commissionermnathan@gmail.com
Advocacy: African Human Rights Coalition
Speaker: Melnathan
Mediation: Private Courts
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O-blog-dee-o-blog-da 
We LGBTQs refugee we are in deep pain, we left our mother land/Homeland because we where tortured and almost killed even right now they are still looking for us so that they can end our lives.
Right now we are still suffering going though alot..
I pray #UNHCR hear our cries and find adurable solution becuase we have suffered. We are also human who have never decided to be in this situation…
We have never killed someone, we are not fighting any nation or someone but I wonder why people stand up and insult us ……..
#loveislove you wont kill our spirit