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| REPORTS |
| Gay and Christian in KENYA, UGANDA, TANZANIA, RWANDA AND BURUNDI |
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| Other Sheep Kenya conducts three coastal PFLAG seminars: 30 Muslim religious leaders, 32 Christian religious leaders, and 9 LGBTI people - each attend respective, focused seminar by Rev. John Makokha, Nairobi, Kenya, March 9, 2010 |
Other Sheep Kenya team facilitated three seminars in the coastal region of Kenya for
Christian religious leaders, LGBTI and Muslim religious leaders to address religious
homophobia and transphobia. These seminars were organized under the PFLAG
project to reduce persecution and rejection of the gay community in the coastal town
in view of the recent attacks of gay persons in Mtwapa, a town in the region of
Mombasa. Mombasa is about 400 Km from Nairobi.
OSK (Other Sheep Kenya) Christian Religious Leaders’ Seminar - 32
Christian pastors attend
Mtwapa, Kenya, March 5, 2010
Other Sheep Kenya held a seminar for 32 Christian pastors on 5th March 2010
drawn from various denominational backgrounds in Mtwapa. The chairman of the
Mtwapa Pastors’ interdenominational Fellowship, secretary and treasurer participated
in the workshop.
They were trained in the areas of sexual orientation, religious homophobia and
transphobia, culture and LGBTI, counseling of LGBTI and PFLAG and MSM HIV/AIDS
Initiative.
OSK (Other Sheep Kenya) holds LGBTI Seminar - 9 LGBTI people attend
Mombasa, Kenya, March 6, 2010
Other Sheep Kenya held a seminar for 9 gay and lesbian community members on 6th
March at a Mombasa hotel. Rev. Kimindu, Rev. Makokha and Anne Baraza discussed
issues touching on security, coming out, substance and drug abuse and HIV/AIDS
prevention and support and care of infected and affected persons. Most gay
community does not practice safe same sex relationships making a high number to
be infected. It was evident that the gay community faces a myriad of challenges at
the coast from skin texture to medical services.
The LGBTI individuals complained about discrimination on how the dark skinned
homosexuals are treated compared to the light skinned ones (Black Africans and
Arabs). It was noted that the light skinned gays are treated ‘special’ by the coastal
community and nobody harasses them. They complained that there is a move to
flush the dark skinned out of the coastal town of Mombasa.
They also decried lack of financial resources to run their projects.
They complained that some of them have been rejected by the church and mosques
due to their sexual orientation. A number of them have turned to substance and drug
abuse and even attempted suicide and others have sort refugee status outside the
region.
OSK (Other Sheep Kenya) leadership had a dialogue with Muslim Religious
Leaders - 30 Muslim Religious Leaders Attend
Mombasa, Kenya, March 6, 2010
Other Sheep Kenya held PFLAG workshop for 30 top Muslim religious leaders on 6th
March in a Mombasa hotel. Among them were: the leader of Muslim men in Kenya,
the leader of Muslim women in Kenya and the leader of Muslim youth in Kenya,
Chairman of Kenya Muslims Advisory and director of NACADA. The topics covered
included Religion and sexuality, homophobia, culture and LGBTI and Counseling of
LGBTI and PFLAG.
Sheep East Africa
Finally, the Standard reporters, Ngumbao Kithi and Ernest Ndunda on March 8th P21
misreported about the exact words of what Rev. Michael Kimindu said during our
Other Sheep seminars in Mombasa.
The reporters stated that Rev. Kimindu said, “We went to Mtwapa and talked to
Christians and they asked for more time to discuss the mess in the society over gay
marriages”. What Rev. Kimindu said was, ‘“We went to Mtwapa and talked to
Christians and they asked for more time and education to discuss issues of sexual
orientation and the Bible”.
The reporters also stated that “Speaking at a forum attended by Christian and
Muslim clerics, Mr. Kimindu said that the association had decided to use the two
major religions to condemn the vice and encourage local people to shun it.” What
Rev. Kimindu said was, “the association had decided to use the two major religions to
create awareness on issues of human sexuality and religion”.
These seminars were made possible with
a grant from UHAI-EASHRI
Christian religious leaders, LGBTI and Muslim religious leaders to address religious
homophobia and transphobia. These seminars were organized under the PFLAG
project to reduce persecution and rejection of the gay community in the coastal town
in view of the recent attacks of gay persons in Mtwapa, a town in the region of
Mombasa. Mombasa is about 400 Km from Nairobi.
OSK (Other Sheep Kenya) Christian Religious Leaders’ Seminar - 32
Christian pastors attend
Mtwapa, Kenya, March 5, 2010
Other Sheep Kenya held a seminar for 32 Christian pastors on 5th March 2010
drawn from various denominational backgrounds in Mtwapa. The chairman of the
Mtwapa Pastors’ interdenominational Fellowship, secretary and treasurer participated
in the workshop.
They were trained in the areas of sexual orientation, religious homophobia and
transphobia, culture and LGBTI, counseling of LGBTI and PFLAG and MSM HIV/AIDS
Initiative.
- The following recommendations were made:
- 1. To have more education awareness seminars on LGBTI and reach out to
about 350 clergy in Mtwapa.
- 2. To bring more resource materials on LGBTI and Christianity for further
reference and study.
- 3. They requested for more seminars on the bible and sexuality.
- 4. They pledged to nurture the spirit of tolerance and acceptance of people of
different sexual orientation without resorting to violence, and follow the model
of Jesus.
- 5. About 95% of religious leaders in Mtwapa have no college education. They
requested for more trainings because they had not been exposed to this kind
of education before. They react negatively towards homosexuals out of
ignorance.
OSK (Other Sheep Kenya) holds LGBTI Seminar - 9 LGBTI people attend
Mombasa, Kenya, March 6, 2010
Other Sheep Kenya held a seminar for 9 gay and lesbian community members on 6th
March at a Mombasa hotel. Rev. Kimindu, Rev. Makokha and Anne Baraza discussed
issues touching on security, coming out, substance and drug abuse and HIV/AIDS
prevention and support and care of infected and affected persons. Most gay
community does not practice safe same sex relationships making a high number to
be infected. It was evident that the gay community faces a myriad of challenges at
the coast from skin texture to medical services.
The LGBTI individuals complained about discrimination on how the dark skinned
homosexuals are treated compared to the light skinned ones (Black Africans and
Arabs). It was noted that the light skinned gays are treated ‘special’ by the coastal
community and nobody harasses them. They complained that there is a move to
flush the dark skinned out of the coastal town of Mombasa.
They also decried lack of financial resources to run their projects.
They complained that some of them have been rejected by the church and mosques
due to their sexual orientation. A number of them have turned to substance and drug
abuse and even attempted suicide and others have sort refugee status outside the
region.
- The following recommendations were made:
- 1. Networking, communication and partnering with other gay affirming
organizations to achieve their objectives.
2. To access health facilities without any discrimination and rejection. It is
painful that KEMRI in Mtwapa had been given one week’s notice to close down
just because it is serving the gay community in terms of HIV/AIDS medical
research.
3. Both the Christian and Muslim clergy to allow them to attend religious
functions for spiritual nourishment. They want to relate with their God without
any hindrance.
4. The LGBTI outreach to involve bisexual, transgender and intersex persons
in the coastal community who seem to have been ignored by gay affirming
organizations.
5. LGBTI awareness seminars to be organized for the media personalities to
avoid misinformed reporting. It was noted that journalists and editors who were
gay were the most homophobic in their writing to cover themselves.
OSK (Other Sheep Kenya) leadership had a dialogue with Muslim Religious
Leaders - 30 Muslim Religious Leaders Attend
Mombasa, Kenya, March 6, 2010
Other Sheep Kenya held PFLAG workshop for 30 top Muslim religious leaders on 6th
March in a Mombasa hotel. Among them were: the leader of Muslim men in Kenya,
the leader of Muslim women in Kenya and the leader of Muslim youth in Kenya,
Chairman of Kenya Muslims Advisory and director of NACADA. The topics covered
included Religion and sexuality, homophobia, culture and LGBTI and Counseling of
LGBTI and PFLAG.
- The following recommendations were made:
1. More dialogue sessions to be organized on science and sexuality. They felt
the dialogue was healthy for the two wings of religion because it makes them
understand their flock better.
2. To explore more areas of the Koran on counseling of LGBTI instead of
stoning to death of homosexuals. Poor interpretation of Sodom and Gomorrah
is still very strong in the Koran just as it is in the Bible. It is interesting to note
that they observed that ‘Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed killing
everybody in these cities but strange enough homosexuality is still in
existence, so by stoning homosexuals to death isn’t the solution, but
understanding them.
3. Gay sheiks were hypocritical by displaying critical homophobia. There were
complaints by some female participants that these Sheikhs/Imams ask for anal
sex from their wives and sleep with young boys in the community/mosques.
This puts the women at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.
4. They requested for more literature to study on sexual orientation and
counseling of LGBTI.
5. According to Muslim worldview, Islam means “peace” and Islam is a way of
life. To explore more alternatives so that this can also be a reality in extending
to LGBTI and PFLAG persons in Kenya and East Africa.
6. They observed that there is a lot of ignorance and stereotyping. Kenyans
always assume that homosexuals are ‘found’ at the coast. They should know
that in every region of Kenya homosexuals are found.
7. It was observed that initially there was no clear demarcation between
sexual orientation and sexual behavior. They recommended more education to
the public about this is needed.
8. Muslim women need more seminars where they are not mixed with their
male counter parts to ‘pour’ out what they have. Putting them together with the
men makes them be most of the time observers as religion dictates.
Sheep East Africa
Finally, the Standard reporters, Ngumbao Kithi and Ernest Ndunda on March 8th P21
misreported about the exact words of what Rev. Michael Kimindu said during our
Other Sheep seminars in Mombasa.
The reporters stated that Rev. Kimindu said, “We went to Mtwapa and talked to
Christians and they asked for more time to discuss the mess in the society over gay
marriages”. What Rev. Kimindu said was, ‘“We went to Mtwapa and talked to
Christians and they asked for more time and education to discuss issues of sexual
orientation and the Bible”.
The reporters also stated that “Speaking at a forum attended by Christian and
Muslim clerics, Mr. Kimindu said that the association had decided to use the two
major religions to condemn the vice and encourage local people to shun it.” What
Rev. Kimindu said was, “the association had decided to use the two major religions to
create awareness on issues of human sexuality and religion”.
These seminars were made possible with
a grant from UHAI-EASHRI
Rev. Michael Kimindu, Other
Sheep Coordinator for Other
Sheep East Africa
Sheep Coordinator for Other
Sheep East Africa
Rev. John Makokha, Other
Sheep East Africa
Coordinator for Kenya
Sheep East Africa
Coordinator for Kenya
Mrs. Anne Baraza, Other
Sheep East Africa
Counselor to LGBT and
friends and family of Other
Sheep Kenya
Sheep East Africa
Counselor to LGBT and
friends and family of Other
Sheep Kenya
Reporting:
Rev. John Makokha, Other
Sheep Coordinator for Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya.
March 9, 2010
Rev. John Makokha, Other
Sheep Coordinator for Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya.
March 9, 2010
| This webpage was created and published February 22, 2010, Bronx, NY. Visits to this webpage since February 22, 2010. |
Above photo:
Muslim seminar participants
Photo at left:
Christian seminar
participants
Muslim seminar participants
Photo at left:
Christian seminar
participants
| This page was archived March 2011 and is part of the Other Sheep East Africa archived pages. This page serves as part of an historical record of Other Sheep in Africa from July 2007 - February 2011 For current information regarding Other Sheep in Africa, go to Other Sheep in Africa. |
| This is an ARCHIVED PAGE |
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