This archive report was first published on 1 July 2019.
On International LGBTQI Refugee Day, LGBT+ refugees in Kenya gathered at a safe house on the outskirts of Nairobi to celebrate their resilience and community.
Despite facing tough times, including being beaten and having their shelters torched, the refugees came together to eat lunch, dance to Congolese rumba, and celebrate their second International LGBTQI Refugee Day.
"It would be wonderful to go out onto the Nairobi streets like people in Europe and celebrate who we are, especially on Pride Month. But it's not safe so we have to celebrate like this," said Obote, a 40-year-old bi-sexual IT professional from Uganda.
Obote's wish for the day was acceptance, and he applauded his community for showing resilience despite the problems they face.
The event was held in a country where gay sex is punishable by up to 14 years in jail, but the law is rarely enforced. Many of the more than 750 LGBT+ refugees in Kenya live in the shadows, lacking protection, safe housing, and employment.
"Life at home was not easy, but neither is Kenya," said Doreen, a 27-year-old transgender Ugandan woman. "We thought we'd have a safer and better life here, but it's not. We still have to hide who we are. What kind of life is it when you cannot be who you are?"
Refugees face a precarious existence in Kenya, where it can take more than five years to be granted refugee status, during which time asylum seekers cannot work. Even after gaining refugee status, LGBT+ refugees usually find it impossible to find a job due to homophobic employers.
"There is no official day for LGBT refugees like us. We have World Refugee Day. We have Pride month. But in Kenya, we can't be free to celebrate that we are both," said Doreen.
"So today is that day. It is for all LGBT refugees across the world who cannot celebrate."
