LGBTQ RIGHTS ARE A REALITY

Don’t we all have the freedom of association? Do we have some basic rights that are limited to specific
individuals? While we continue to celebrate the strides that have been made towards the realization of
sexual and reproductive health and rights globally, we acknowledge some of the challenges still facing
people who identify as LGBTQ+ worldwide.

Where are we as a nation when it comes to the realization of the LGBTQ rights?

Studies have shown that many LGBTQ people continue to face discrimination in their personal lives, in
the workplace and the public sphere, and in their access to critical health care.

Even after the recent court decision to register the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
(NGLHRC) as an NGO, whose main mission is to promote and protect the equality and inclusion of
LGBTIQ individuals and communities in Kenya, and advance their meaningful participation in society,
we’ve witnessed a countrywide uproar from all sectors negating this judicial ruling.

Are the LGBTQ persons not human enough for them to enjoy the well known universal human rights???

The fight for LGBTQ rights has come a long way. Looking at the global scope, 76 countries continue to
criminalize same sex relationships, and most still lack anti-discrimination laws to protect them. Culture,
religion and tradition are now being used to justify the denial of their rights.

As time and culture move on, these many challenges will shift, change, and take various forms. Health
care providers need to remain abreast of how the landscape is changing and affecting the LGBTQ+
community.

There’s a need to take actions like consistently collecting data on gender identity and sexual orientation,
and analyzing this information to help assess health care challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community. We
can’t change the world at the snap of a finger, but we can take intentional steps to make it a more
welcoming place for everyone. If we are to give everyone an equal chance to thrive in such an existence,
then we all need to be accommodative of this diversity.

KELVIN MOKAYA,

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Expert.