Tag: LGBTQ News

In a surprising development, Nairobi has witnessed a significant rise in the number of male sex workers. This shift challenges traditional views on male intimacy and has ignited widespread discussions.

Recent research conducted by the National AIDS and Control Programme, the Key Population Consortium of Kenya, Partners for Health and Development in Africa, the Global Health Program at the University of California San Francisco, and the Institute for Global Public Health at the University of Manitoba, Canada, reveals that the number of male sex workers has surged by 76% over the past decade, while the increase among female sex workers stands at 26%.

Men engage in male-to-male sex work (MSM) for several reasons:

1. Economic Necessity: Many men face financial difficulties and find traditional employment insufficient to meet their needs. Sex work provides a quick and often more lucrative source of income compared to conventional jobs.
2. Flexibility: The nature of sex work offers flexible hours, allowing individuals to balance other responsibilities like family or education, while still earning more than they might in typical employment.
3. Exploration of Identity and Social Stigma: Engaging in sex work provides men with a platform to explore their sexuality in a safer environment, driven by both financial incentives and personal exploration.
4. Challenging Societal Norms: Participation in sex work can also be seen as a way to resist and challenge traditional norms and expectations around masculinity and sexuality, offering a space to redefine gender roles and sexual behavior.

Brenda Biya, the daughter of Cameroon’s president, has publicly come out as a lesbian, expressing hope that her revelation will contribute to changing the law banning same-sex relations in her country.

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In an interview with Le Parisien, Brenda Biya, 27, shared her desire to inspire others in similar situations. Last week, she posted an image of herself kissing another woman on Instagram, which elicited mixed reactions in Cameroon.

“I’m crazy about you & I want the world to know,” she declared in the Instagram post, featuring a photo of her embracing Brazilian model Layyons Valença.

During the interview with Le Parisien, she disclosed that she had not informed her family before making the post public. “Coming out is an opportunity to send a strong message,” she stated, adding that the anti-gay law in Cameroon, which predates her father’s presidency, is “unfair and I hope that my story will change it”.

Paul Biya, 91, has been Cameroon’s president since 1982 and is one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. Brenda Biya mentioned that she has been in a relationship with the Brazilian model for eight months and had already taken her to Cameroon three times without revealing their relationship to her family.

Brenda, a musician living abroad, has received numerous messages of support, as well as negative reactions, since announcing her relationship. She expressed happiness in revealing her status and aimed to offer hope and “send love” to those suffering “because of who they are [and] help them feel less alone”.

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Her brother was the first to contact her, expressing anger that she had posted the image without warning the family. Her parents, President Paul Biya and First Lady Chantal Biya, later called, requesting that she delete the post. “Since then, it’s been silence,” she said.

Brenda recounted having her first crush on a girl at 16 but found it difficult to express her love due to the legal and social environment in Cameroon. Same-sex relations are illegal in Cameroon and punishable by up to five years in prison.

There has been no official comment from the president or the first lady. A government source told French broadcaster RFI that the matter concerned the “private life of an adult residing outside the country and does not in any way concern Cameroon or the head of state”.

Rights groups that have criticized Cameroon’s laws against same-sex relations have praised Brenda Biya’s revelation as a courageous move. However, questions have arisen about whether coming out is a privilege reserved for a select few in the country.

“Anti-LGBT laws in Cameroon disproportionately target the poor. Wealth and connections create a shield for some, while others face severe consequences,” LGBT activist Bandy Kiki posted on Facebook.

On Tuesday, a group supporting the current laws filed a complaint against Brenda Biya with the public prosecutor. Philippe Nsoue from the DDHP Movement stated they were seeking justice, saying that although Brenda Biya is the president’s daughter, “no one is above the law”.

“Whenever a Cameroonian citizen or foreigner commits acts that go against the [LGBT] situation in our country, we must seek judicial recourse,” he said.

The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has acknowledged concerns among the faithful regarding a recent statement from the Vatican on blessings for same-sex couples. Recognizing the sensitive nature of the topic in Kenya, Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde, Chairman of the KCCB, released a statement seeking to clarify the Church’s position.

Addressing the anxieties and confusion generated by the Vatican document, Archbishop Musonde emphasized that it does not equate to an endorsement of same-sex marriage or a change in the Church’s understanding of marriage as a sacrament between a man and a woman.

He explained the concept of “simple blessings” introduced in the document, clarifying that they are distinct from liturgical blessings and can extend to various aspects of life, including relationships. The Archbishop drew a parallel to the blessings parents bestow on their children, highlighting the Church’s inherent desire to offer love and support to all individuals, regardless of their personal circumstances.

The KCCB statement further emphasizes the importance of open hearts and inclusivity, echoing Pope Francis’s call for a Church where everyone feels welcome. However, it also underscores the need for ongoing dialogue and discernment within the Church community to navigate this complex issue with respect and understanding.

The Supreme Court of Kenya’s ruling on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) associations has been met with mixed reactions.

The ruling, which dismissed a petition filed by Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma seeking to overturn a lower court ruling that allowed the registration of LGBTQ associations, has been welcomed by some LGBTQ rights groups as a victory for equality and non-discrimination.

However, the ruling has also been condemned by a section of religious groups and leaders, who argue that it is against the country’s culture and values.

The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) has called the ruling “unfortunate” and said it will be announcing its next steps in the coming weeks.

The CEO of the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), Dr Ezekiel Mutua, has also condemned the ruling, saying that homosexuality is not part of Kenyan culture.

“Our Constitution outlaws homosexuality, and in Section 11 recognises culture as ‘the cumulative civilisation of the Kenyan people.’ Homosexuality is not our culture,” Dr Mutua said.

Nyali MP Mohamed Ali has also spoken out against the ruling, saying that it threatens family structures.

“I strongly condemn the Supreme Court’s ruling and will stand by the people of Kenya to protect our values, traditions, religions and Laws that foreign players will not dictate,” Mohamed Ali said in a post on social media.

The ruling is a significant development in the fight for LGBTQ rights in Kenya. It remains to be seen how the government and society will respond to the ruling.

In the meantime, the LGBTQ community is celebrating the victory and hoping that it will pave the way for further progress in the fight for equality.

A 20-year-old Ugandan man has been charged with aggravated homosexuality, a capital offense under a controversial law that was passed in May. This is the first time that such a charge has been reported, and it is not clear if there have been any previous prosecutions.

The man, who has not been named, was charged by a court in eastern Uganda on August 18, following allegations that he engaged in sexual relations with a 41-year-old man. It is not clear why this was considered to fall under the category of “aggravated homosexuality.”

According to the law, the “aggravated” category includes having gay sex with someone below the age of 18 or where someone is infected with a life-long illness including HIV.

Justine Balya, the defendant’s lawyer, told Reuters that Uganda has charged four other people under the anti-homosexuality law, but her client is the first to be prosecuted under this punitive category.

The World Bank said earlier this month that it was halting new loans to Uganda because the anti-homosexuality law contradicts its core values.

The law has been widely condemned by human rights groups, who say it is discriminatory and could lead to violence against LGBTQ people.

The Ugandan government has defended the law, saying it is necessary to protect the country’s “traditional values.”

The case against the 20-year-old man is still ongoing, and it is not clear what the outcome will be. However, the charge against him is a reminder of the challenges that LGBTQ people face in Uganda.

The United States has announced plans to withdraw key services and aid offered to Uganda after the signing of an anti-gay bill into law on Monday.

In a statement, US President Joe Biden condemned the move, calling it a “gross violation of human rights” and calling for the law to be repealed.

“I join with people around the world—including many in Uganda—in calling for its immediate repeal,” Biden said. “This act is a threat to the people of Uganda, including U.S. citizens.”

Biden said he has directed the National Security Council to evaluate some of the key aids the US is offering to Uganda, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

“As such, I have directed my National Security Council to evaluate the implications of this law on all aspects of U.S. engagement with Uganda, including our ability to safely deliver services under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other forms of assistance and investments,” he said.

“My Administration will also incorporate the impacts of the law into our review of Uganda’s eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA),” he added.

Biden further said his administration was deliberating the application of sanctions and restriction of entry into the US.

The anti-gay law, which was signed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, imposes a life sentence on anyone convicted of “aggravated homosexuality.” The law has been widely condemned by human rights groups, who say it is discriminatory and will lead to increased violence and discrimination against LGBTQ people in Uganda.

The US is not the only country to have condemned the law. The United Kingdom, Canada, and Norway have also expressed their opposition to the law and have called for its repeal.

The Ugandan government has defended the law, saying it is necessary to protect the country’s “moral fabric.” However, human rights groups say the law is nothing more than a way to persecute LGBTQ people.

The signing of the anti-gay law is a major setback for LGBTQ rights in Uganda. The law is likely to have a chilling effect on the lives of LGBTQ people in Uganda, and it is possible that it will lead to an increase in violence and discrimination against them.