The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media
platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and
international interest.
Imagine having a secret. A secret so terrible that if you were to reveal it, your family would disown you. Your community would treat you as an outcast and accuse you for violating societal, cultural and religious values. Your friends would say you are sick and you need help and your neighbors would say you are dirty.
Now imagine there being a way out. What if you could tell someone the secret? What if no one judged you when you did this? What if people accepted you and saw you as normal and equal to them and treated you with dignity and respect for who you are after hearing your secret.
Thousands of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender in Kenya still face a lot of stigma and discrimination. As a result of this they have ended up being called or labelled evil, and outcasts hence making it difficult for them access sexual and reproductive health and rights services and information.
Saying someone should not be gay, lesbian, transgender, or bisexual just because it goes against your culture or religion is like saying someone should not eat a donut because you are on a diet. It doesn’t make sense at all. When you say being gay, lesbian or transgender is a choice, my question is when did you decide to become straight?
Lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender have a right to love, sexual freedom and sexual equity. Love is blind, it has no boundaries and it doesn’t discriminate. The heart wants what it wants. When one individual’s rights and freedom is being violated, everyone’s rights are threatened.
Lesbians, gay, transgender, and bisexuals are human beings and deserve to be treated like any other human being. Their rights are human rights and human rights are their rights. We need to stop all the hate, stigma and discrimination towards them. They say supporting animal rights doesn’t make you an animal well I would also like to say that supporting Gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual rights doesn’t make you one them but it makes you human.
