Law and religion are tag-teaming fearful gay Kenyans. But religion’s definitely on top. While colonial-era anti-gay attitudes have crept into the African nation’s legal policies, some could argue that multiple spiritual forces have an even larger role to play.
…Many say that gays shouldn’t have rights, are “un-African,” and not good Christians.
Kenya is a country of faithful people and religion plays a defining role in homophobia in Kenya. Seventy percent of the country is Christian and there is a sizeable Muslim and Hindu population.
“This is an abomination that is totally unacceptable by God who formed us not to function in that way,” says Patrick Kuchio, a popular preacher at Parklands Pentecostal Church.
More traditional denominations in Africa are also conservative, leading the charge to stop gay pastors from being ordained. Though the Pentecostal church made major inroads to Kenya only in the 1950s, many of its supporters, and other faithful in the continent, consider homosexuality a Western concept.
“Amongst traditional Kenyan people, it was unheard of,” says Pastor Kuchio. He believes the practice must have been imported into Kenya.
Who brought the gay over, you ask? Butt pirates, of course!
Shabaka
You know what? I’ve given up being angered by these bigots! Sure gay-ism was imported by the white man. And he left it behind when he was ousted! Morons!!
qjersey
They have internalized the Imperialist’s faith so deeply they seem to forget it was the Europeans who “taught them that homosex is wrong” because of course they were DOING IT LIKE EVERY OTHER CULTURE!!!
Charley
Not only were they doing it, their spiritual leaders, the shamans aka “witch doctors” were gay/bisexual as in Native American and other indigenous cultures. It was considered an honor to have sexual relations with these special people.
John Santos
We gave them gay and they gave us AIDS. No good deed goes unpunished.