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Our latest news analysis for EBONY: "Can Kenya Lead Africa Forward on Gay Rights?"
Recent years have seen an escalation in state-sponsored anti-LGBT terror across much of Africa. Uganda has gained international attention for a proposed draconian anti-gay bill that would mandate life imprisonment and/or death penalties. Extreme legislation has also been proposed in Nigeria, Burundi, Liberia, Cameroonand elsewhere.
Not the case in Kenya. The past several years have seen a quiet but steady increase in incremental advances. Two pro-LGBT justices were confirmed to the Supreme Court in June 2011. The recently-appointed Chief Justice Dr. Willy Munyoki Mutunga has said that "gay rights are human rights" and has expressed a desire to overturn anti-gay legislation. The national police are finally taking action against an extortion ring—which included some law enforcement officers—that has targeted gay, married and closeted men.
“With the exception of South Africa, Kenya is indeed the most advanced African nation when it comes to issues of men who have sex with men,” Denis Nzioka told EBONY in a brief interview from Nairobi. Nzioka is the founder of Identity Kenya and the nation’s most visible gay activist.
Read the full article HERE.
Really like the work you're doing at Ebony. And love your reporting on the black diaspora. Black is beautiful baby! Yasss!
Posted by: CF | 20 June 2012 at 17:20
Thank you for this article, Rod! And bravo to our Kenyan family members
Posted by: Reggieh | 21 June 2012 at 23:33
What Reggie and CF said. Thank you so much! There are so many unsung heroes in this world. Our African brothers and sisters are so courageous. They do NOT get enough credit.
Posted by: Cesar | 21 June 2012 at 23:40
kudos!
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