17 May 2020

Press Release: INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA,BIPHOBIA,INTERPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA (IDAHOBIT) 2020

Defenders Coalition was delighted to join Kenyans and people across the world in marking the 2020 annual International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).

This day May 17th was specifically chosen in 2004 to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.

It is meant to draw world attention to the untold violence, stigmatization, harassment, othering and discrimination experienced by people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics.

These people include intersex, lesbian, gay, bisexuals, transgender and gender non-conforming persons.

Defenders Coalition is happy to acknowledge the realization of key milestones in Kenya that will eventually shape the space within which this community exists. Due to a government taskforce on to interrogate the plight of Intersex Persons and give recommendations to the state, Intersex Persons who many a times a marginalized, minority and vulnerable group that continues to face a multitude of challenges and human rights violations from birth including stigmatization, ridicule and discrimination have since been recognized as a gender.

For the first time in history, they were recognized by the Kenyan government , by being counted during the 2019 National Census conducted in August 2019.

This year’s commemoration comes at a time when the world is facing a Covid-19, a pandemic that has threated not only the safety of global citizens but their livelihoods and wellbeing occasioned by a common mitigation effort “social distancing”.

COVID-19, on its advent, has imposed on LGBTI people an unprecedented dual reality – the need for community clashing with the imposed necessity for social distancing – when expressly LGBTI persons have been and continue to be victims of the most extreme forms of social, legal and religious distancing known for the longest time.

It is paramount to note that while many societies around the world have made progress in the acceptance and inclusion of LGBT+ people, Kenya continues to criminalize certain sexual orientations thus LGBT+ people are not entirely safe.

Domestic violence by close relatives and irrational family members continues to be predominant form of violence extended to LGBT+ people even in the absence of the pandemic. The situation has worsened due to teeth wrenching effects of Corona virus disease. It has been amplified now that many LGBT+ people have been forced to return to hostile family homes due to loss of livelihoods.

Defenders Coalition understands that for LGBT+ people today, the situation is dire. We endeavour to continue working to mitigate the risks, security and safety threats  that have been amplified by COVID-19.

Defenders Coalition urges the Kenyan Government to expressly meet its commitment under the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and adopt a comprehensive equality and non-discrimination law, granting protection to all individuals, irrespective of their sexual orientation, gender identity, expression and sex characteristics for a long term, comprehensive, sustainable frameworks that will ensure genuine, lasting inclusion and acceptance of LGBT+ people.

To the sexual and gender minorities, the Defenders Coalition celebrates you on this day and affirms you of our commitment to champion your rights for your holistic socio-economic wellbeing and general safeguarding of your dignity.

Defenders Coalition