Kenya Gays See End To Repression
Nairobi | 2003-01-18
enya's gays and lesbians are hopeful the new government of President Mwai Kibaki will herald the beginning of acceptance.
After decades of repression Kenya's gay community is mostly closeted, but a growing gay rights movement is expressing confidence in the reforms announced this week by Kibaki, including a new constitution which guarantees basic human rights.
Kenyan gay rights group Galebitra says it does not expect the constitution to include specific references to gays but the group's co-ordinator Jeremy Mirie said he believed basic human rights protections would be interpreted as including sexual minorities.
Kibaki has also promised the creation of a special ministry to deal with constitutional affairs. That is good news Mirie said, adding that it will give his group a pipeline to advocate on lesbian and gay issues.
Mirie said he believes Kibaki will keep his promises to liberalize the country citing pressure from IMF, World Bank and other bodies in the industrialized world.
He said that "External pressure from [GLBT] organizations outside Kenya will help give voice to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community within Kenya."
This story provided by our International News Partners 365gay.com.
