socialmedian: Stand up, be counted and go to jail

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Stand up, be counted and go to jail | Santuri Mwanga

Source: The Guardian

Nov 04, 2009

Summary

How will Kenya conduct a census of its gay population when homosexuality remains illegal?

The news that two Kenyan men, Daniel Chege Gichia and Charles Ngengi, had become civil partners in London last month stirred major controversy in this east African nation. The couple's families were reportedly too ashamed to speak about it. Most did not attend the ceremony. Other Kenyans, however, thought that the couple were simply formalising their relationship and that there was nothing extraordinary about it.

But Africans are often deeply religious, and Kenya – which is home to hundreds of religious denominations – is particularly so. Many regarded the civil partnership as an affront to African and religious values.

Nonetheless, the ceremony made Kenyans realise that however much gay and lesbian relationships may be ignored, gay people do exist – not just among Kenyans in the diaspora, but also living in the country. And they yearn to be treated like everybody else.

Immediately after the story broke, the government announced that it would launch a census of the gay popul

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