This archive report was first published on 23 December 2019.
December 23, 2019, marked a special day for the LGBTQ community in Kenya as they prepared to celebrate their own Christmas, dubbed Queermas.
Queermas is a celebration where members of the gay community in Kenya gather to fight loneliness during the festive season. The term is not new in other parts of the world where homosexuality has been widely accepted.
Despite gay sex being criminalized in Kenya, with a penalty of up to 14 years in prison, members of the LGBTQ community have been pushing for recognition in recent times.
However, many members of the Kenyan LGBTQ community remain isolated during the Christmas season due to the societal stigma surrounding their sexual orientation.
According to a member of the community, who wished to remain anonymous, there is a sense of communion whenever they meet as they freely enjoy doing things they've grown up doing.
“It's a safe space for us and it feels nice to know you're not alone,” the member said.
