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It’s a week of firsts at Kessentials; this is the first post I’ll begin with a disclaimer (or five):
I’m not trying to change your mind.
I’ve tried to express my views on this hot-button topic respectfully. I’m happy to hear/read contrary opinions, but I’d expect similar respect back.
I hope anyone who believes the opposite of what I’m about to relay here is open-minded enough to read the post to the end objectively.
If you’re incapable of 3, feel free to exit whatever platform you’re reading this on. On Monday, we’ll discuss something a bit less divisive, like Spurs’ rollercoaster of a season.
This is the longest Kessentials you’ll read from me. :)
Can’t wait to tête-à -tête with everyone who's left. We might occasionally step on each other’s toes, but that’s the only way we’ll become better dance partners.
The Brave Little Toaster/Tenor
I’m no stranger to defending LGBTQIA+ rights. In 2018, I wrote for a blog called Artsiva, to which I submitted an article titled “You’ll Thank Me Later.” I was young, abrasive, and unaware that all the yous therein could make people feel some typa way.
Oh, well, if you don’t mind a shallow preview of today’s post, you can check out my Artsiva post first.
I have A LOT to say about the recent Supreme Court ruling that LGBTQ groups now have the freedom to associate. More still are my thoughts on the conversations I’ve heard in person and read on the interwebs about this ruling.
So this doesn't turn into an essay, I’ll split my general ideas into sections under which I may be forced to bring out the whiteboard.
Un-African
While Africans argued that homosexuality was a western import, they in turn used a western religion as the basis for their argument.
Many of those against LGBTQ individuals in Kenya assert that their sexual orientations are a product of Western influence.
News flash: Precolonial Africa was teeming with LGBTQ practices. Bisi Alimi penned a brilliant post outlining several African communities whose cultures were indifferent to and even welcomed homosexuality.
The repetitive “un-African” and “against our culture” assertions from our politicians are simply a political move–speaking to the majority’s views is a surefire way to secure votes.
With the new religions, many sexual practices that were acceptable in precolonial, pre-Islamic and pre-Christian Africa were encoded with tags of “deviant,” “illegitimate” and “criminal”… It is ironic that an African dictator wearing a three-piece suit, caressing an iPhone, speaking in English and liberally quoting the Bible can dare indict anything for being un-African.
I've read numerous tweets claiming that the $16 billion USAID donation was a payoff to guarantee the Supreme Court ruling, that now Kenyans will get visas easier because LGBTQIA+ wako na chama.
Let's test the buoyancy of these egguments in fresh water tuone ka zimeoza ama ziko poa.
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