GALEBITRA KENYA

Let your voice be heard! What's gay life like in Kenya?

2005-11-15T15:05:00.000+03:00

All of us here at Galebitra are hoping to gather together some annonymous stories of what it is like being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered in Kenya, and hopefully publish these stories sometime next year. In this way, we hope to increase the visibility and the reality of GLBT life in Kenya, the discrimination in society, and let voices that are usually silent be heard. For those who are forced to live a less than honest life, this is your chance to stand up. If you would like to help build a Kenya that accepts its gay brothers and sisters, please email your story, 200-300 words, to the webmaster email address on the right hand side of this website. Together we will, and we can, build a brighter future for the GLBT community here. Tutaonana marafiki!

"I thought I was alone but we are many": Thika Sexual Health Workshop, Official Report

2005-10-28T13:41:00.000+03:00

On the 26 August 2005, 25 participants from 3 GLBTI groups met in Hotel --- for three days towards addressing the sexual health needs for men who have sexs with men (MSM).The major purpose of the workshop was to exiting gaps in provision of health services for (MSM) and establish strategies and way forwards in Kenya.

The workshop come handy following the need to address sexual health needs for men who have sexs with men (msm). The workshop was set to establish what information gaps and services are present in the provision of health services to the msm. Galebitra and Gay Kenya conducted the survey. The participants filled in the in-depth questionnaire, in which various issues were captured herein, social demographic, social aspects sexual history, knowledge and access to services offered, interpersonal communication, sexual practices, relationship with both men and women and STI/HIV/AIDS.

This workshop was the first of it’s kind to be conducted in Kenya where twenty-five participants from different corners of the country come and shared their needs and concerns. During the workshop where the survey was conducted, different participants addressed their needs quantitatively and through plenary interactions in which issues within the questionnaire were captured. The three-day intensitive workshop defined the need for urgent interventions in reaching msm and re-defining the approaches of sexual health needs.

The workshop established a strong movement and established existing mechanisms towards building activism and addressing health related policy. The data was collated together with arising issues on the plenary sessions and discussions.
The key objective of the workshop was to create a forum for sharing and interactions where participants felt togetherness and addressed their sexual health concerns among other challenges facing gay people. Beyond the horizon the workshop had a forum of discussion on political visibilities and work plan for activism and way forward.

Number of efforts have been made over the years to encourage Kenyan GLBTI groups to cooperate and network, the and push the GLBTI agenda. Until very recently, the African Region has not managed to put in place sustainable regional structures to fulfil any major objectives.

There have been very many reasons why, in the past Kenyan GLBTI communities have failed to cooperate the most obvious being the open hostility to GLBTI organizing in Kenya and strong social disapproval of homosexuality. At the local level, GLBTI organizing has often been weak or simply non-existent and seriously under-resource. GLBTI communities get no access to what limited state resources are available for social development and, in fact, these are more likely to be committed to the oppression of GLBTI and discrimination in access to sexual health services.

After the success of the workshop in Thika, and subsequent plan of action on the way forward, gay people defined and developed activism in strategic manner towards conceptualizing the sexual health needs and policy development. These gathering of gay men in Thika led to the above overall needs:-

• Development of capacities amongst GLBTI groups in Kenya
• Trained participants on the methodologies of approaches to activism and human rights
• Operationalization of Kenyan groups and directive approaches to care and prevention on HIV/AIDS and other sexual health needs including strategic STI care amongst GLBTI people.
• To help GLBTI groups in Kenya to organize, particularly to fight HIV/AIDS and to raise the profile of GLBTI in Kenya;
• Strengthen networking by getting to know each other better and sharing information and experiences; and
• Develop Kenyan Campaign strategies to eliminate HIV and get better access to care, treatment and prevention to eliminate homophobia in Kenya and amongst the service provider.

The workshop in Thika for gay men soughted to do these by:
• Providing an opportunity for GLBTI in Kenya to meet and explore issues and challenges facing them especially sexual health issues
• Providing a forum for sharing experiences and identifying each other
• Identifying the needs of GLBTI in Kenya
• Defining the vision and priorities for GLBT in Kenya
• Planning to organize by establishing what to do, and identifying what skills and support mechanism their need in relation to, objectives, activists, networks among others
• Development of structures, techniques and tools to mobilize more effectively
• Identifying capacities needs for GLBTI groups
• Electing a committee for follow-up on issues and the plan of action that was developed in the workshop

The mark of this workshop facilitated education and socializing amongst GLBTI people in Kenya. Due to limited funds and limitation of participants to these noble initiative and workshop, there were limitations of key gay activist. On these objective grounds, the participant’s expresed the need of hosting a national GLBTI Conference that will seek to facilitate: -
• Education and socializing amongst Kenyan GLBTI groups
• Strategic planning on activism in a more organized manner
• To facilitate networking and collaboration towards activism and human rights
• To further education and capacities in addressing sexual health needs and HIV/AIDS

We view that, the organizing a National Strategic Planning Workshop in Kenya for all GLBT groups and individuals will further the needs that raised in the three day Thika workshop. The participants expressed the need to invite 60 GLBTI participants representing groups, and seek to further the success of GLBT rights and access to sexual health needs.

WORKSHOP PROGRAMMES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

DAY ONE:

TOPICAL DISCCUSIONS:

Sexuality and Health (Group Discussions)

The participants discussed issues and challenges in seek of sexual health services, in which majority indicated to have a history of STI infections.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The participants addressed the following interventions:

• To host capacity building workshops that will seek to source professionals in area or reproductive health to train GLBT on sexual health and diseases.

• To have an on-going information network on sexual health within GLBT groups

• The need to develop an IEC material that targets men who have sex with men and to be popularized within the civil society.

• To build strong institutional strength for GLBT groups to effectively implement sexual health programmes that target GLBT. And entirerly venture on men sexual health policy that relate men needs and concerns

Organizing rights Campaigns:
Communication:- what we can do to increase communication among gay people.

The participants organized groups discussions, that seeked to define how well should GLBT groups advance their communication towards building a strong information circulation amongst GLBT. The following were some of the key recommendations:_

To need to support Gay Kenya website so that every member can join and get up-date information on issues and developments on GLBT matters, i.e constitution, activism and public education.

The participant’s expressed the need to have a newsletter that will be circulated to all GLBT members and groups, the newsletter will cover, information on HIV/AIDS, gay rights and information on groups developments and initiatives.

The participants highlighted that most of them have never attended GLBT workshop/conferences or met other groups; due to information gaps hence the participants aired the need for Galebitra and other groups to fetch many members who are marginalized.

Membership: Advancing gay membership and rights visibilities
This was a critical agenda that most participants aired the need to translate the membership into effective right based activism, this are some of the recommendations that were highlighted:-

RECOMENDATIONS

• Raising public awareness on GLBT rights through strategic media campaigns that promote human values

• Promote exchange of technical knowledge and professional expertise through the association

• Promote understanding of issues through the media as they affect GLBT

• Provide forum for members to meet and exchange ideas that affect them and advancing acceptance and visibility

• Collaborate with GLBT friendly associations and organizations that will seek to further awareness

• Fundraising for programmes i.e. advocacy, lobbying etc in order to sustain members and to actively involve members on key policy reforms and public debates on sexuality and health policy.

Plan of Action and Way Forward

The participants had the opportunity to sit as groups and designed a plan of action and follo-up mechanism. A team of four was elected to further the agenda’s that were discussed and communicate them effectively to members towards sustaining activims.

CONCLUSSION

Financial and Institutional Sustainability

The participants from different groups highlighted the needs of donors to support GLBT groups in order to sustain members, through active programmes and events. Most of the groups suggested that, since most GLBT groups are not well set up their was need to support their capacity through identifying independent financial institutions that will channel funds to GLBT groups. And hand over after effective structures are in place most members highlighted that it was becoming increasingly difficult to further GLBT rights and recognition in Kenya, due to limited and at times no funds to work on.

Mens Sexual Health and Policy Advocacy

The participants aired the need to tie sexual health needs for men within government health policy, to achieve this the participants pointed out that the committee should meet all the stakeholders and make arrangements to invite them for dissemination workshop. Most importantly it was agreed that GLBT groups should initiate strong campaign on sexual health needs for men through strategic projects that will influence the government and other stakeholders that gay men need policy reflection on government health plan of action. Most importantly empowering GLBT groups to directly implement sexual health programmes, that target men on areas related to education and dissemination.

Networking

The participants GLBT viewed that there is need to network more amongst groups and individuals, so that that can increase the impact. It was agreed that GLBT groups should have a clear networking objectives and indicate inputs and benefits of the members. Most importantly allocating time, money and people to the network. Existing networks were to be considered in order to tap experience. Mostly Glbt groups should network more effectively amongst themselves in order to sustain directive advocacy

National and International policies should focus not only on building partnership, but also learning from, building and supporting existing strengths amongst GLBT groups. The participants highlighted the need to organize national capacity building conference on activism and sexual health for GLBT groups and individuals that will call upon a larger number of people, and further the Thika workshop in doer to develop institutional strength and capacity to implement long term programmes.

Sustaining Activism and Activist

It was agreed that most GLBT activist ends up loosing the fight due to lack of resources and victimization. It was agreed that there was dire need to set enough resource so that GLBT activist can tap, in cases where GLBT people are bashed. The participants challenged the GLBT groups for not having an effective organizational structure where members can tap their key role and directive activism. However it was agreed that organizational structures are hard to maintain without funds, especially where most GLBT activist work without any income but self-funding. Participants agreed on hosting effective and on-going campaigns that promote recognition and legal visibilities at this time of constitutional review process.

GALEBITRA Kenya's Online Launch

2005-10-02T16:15:00.000+03:00

GALEBITRA, The Association for Gay, Lesbians, Bisexual, and Transgender People in Kenya, has been working for the past four years to advance the rights of this historically disadvantaged group of people here in East Africa. Over the coming weeks, expect this website to become a channel through which a variety of resources will be made available: news, volunteer and contact information, community forums, and so on. As webmaster, I look forward to working with all of you in bringing equality to Kenya. The road ahead will be difficult. But as the African Proverb says, "Until the lions have spoken, the only history will be that of the hunters."

The Constitution of GALEBITRA

2005-10-02T15:13:00.000+03:00

Preamble

WE, GALEBITRA,

RECALLING Kenya's history, which has been characterised by Homophobic, degrading and inhuman treatment and punishment for GLBT persons;

RECOGNISING Our struggle against exploitation;

COMMITTED To building a better and just future, by establishing a durable GLBT and a society free from torture; and upholding within our organisation, the principles of integrity, dignity, transparency, self reliance, empowerment of the individual and interests of the marginalised community above self interest as well as broad grassroots participation regardless of race, gender, class, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or other status, and to advocating for a just future for GLBT, and upholding the organistion's principle of transparency, empowerment of segregated GLBT community.

EXERCISING Our obligation to protect and fight for the rights of GLBT;

Do hereby on this …… Day of …… 2002 solemnly adopt this constitution to establish a structure through which we shall adhere to bring forth this our commitment.

ARTICLE 1: NAME
The name of the organisation shall be GALEBITRA (hereinafter referred to as 'GALEBITRA KENYA')

ARTICLE 2: VISION
The vision of GALEBITRA is to attain GLBT free society build together with individuals and groups who respect GLBT and the society in general.

ARTICLE 3: MISSION
GALEBITRA is a Non-partisan, non-governmental, membership organisation committed to the total fight of GLBT in Kenya through exposure, advocacy, Networking and provision of natural & BI-lateral grounds for collaboration and other Humanitarian services that address the fight of GLBT.

ARTICLE 4: OBJECTIVES

The objectives of GALEBITRA are:

a) To defend, mobilise, organise and campaign for GLBT;

b) To raise public awareness on the economic, social and political impact of victimisation of GLBT through research, publications, seminars, cultural activities, the print, broadcasting and electronic media.

c) To campaign against the conviction of prisoners on the basic of evidence obtained through self-sexual orientation.

d) To campaign for the abolition of the imprisonment against GLBT …… within penal code 162--65 of Kenya Laws and to have the sentences of those convicted to hang commuted to life imprisonment.

e) To campaign for the enactment of domestic legislation fully incorporating Kenya's commitments and obligations under the United Nations Convention against GLBT rights discriminations and other International Conventions, e.g European Union, Charter Human Rights.

f) To act as a rapid response network to appropriately address cases of GLBT.

g) To sensitize relevant government bodies and professionals about the GLBT rights so as to enable them act consciously to eradicate discrimination against people with different sexual orientations and treat survivors with due care.

h) To monitor and document cases of GLBT torture and establish a database on current trends of --------------

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j) To enter into any arrangement with the government, Local authorities, or NGOs that may seem conductive to the organisation's objectives or any of them and obtain from such Government, Local authorities, of NGO any rights, privileges and concessions which the organisation may think desirable to further its objectives.

k) To do all such things that are incidental to or conducive to the attainment of any of the above objectives.

l) To establish a Regional Local Networking structure to …… with ILGA on International Agendas on GLBT.

ARTICLE 5: PROGRAMMES
The Objective of GALEBITRA shall be achieved and carried out through the following programmes:

a) Advocacy
b) HIV/AIDS Care & prevention
c) Networking

ARTICLE 6: MEMBERSHIP

a) The subscribers to this Constitution and such other persons as the Management Board may from time to time be admitted as members of GALEBITRA.
b) The membership shall not be less than five (5) persons at any one given time.
c) Any person admitted to be a member shall pay a registration, membership fee or any other subscriptions as may be determined from time to time by the General Assembly.
d) A member shall cease to be a member if:
i) S/He gives thirty(30) days calender notice in writing to the Management Board of his/her intention to resign from membership. Upon the expiry of such a notice s/he shall cease to be a member but his/her liability to contribute to the funds of the funds of the organisation in the event of its being wound up or dissolved shall continue for one year from the expiry of such notice.
ii) If s/he is removed from membership by a vote of not less than half of the members present at an extra ordinary General Assembly, specially convened and at which s/he has been given a reasonable opportunity of attending and being heard.
iii) S/he fails to attend two consecutive Annual General Meetings without reasonable grounds.

ARTICLE 7: GENERAL ASSEMBLY (GA)
There shall be a General Assembly, which shall comprise of all registered and paid up members only:

a) The GA shall be the supreme authority of GALEBITRA and shall convene every year during the month of December and at such place as may be determined by the Management Board.
b) The Secretary shall convene the General Assembly on the advice of the Management Board by giving a thirty (30) days notice in writing to each member. Such notice shall be sent out together with the reports and proposed agenda to be transacted at the GA, to which members may be written notice, add for discussion.
c) Additional agenda items from the members (referred to in 7(b) above) shall be received by the Secretary not later than fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the General Assembly and shall be in writing.
d) The secretary shall send out an amended agenda to the membership incorporating the additional agenda items received from the members at least two (2) days before the General Assembly.
e) The quorum for the GA shall be fifty one percent (51%) of all the registered members.
f) No business shall be transacted at the GA in the absence of a proper quorum.
g) The Chair shall preside over all meetings if the GA and in the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair shall preside. In the absence of both persons, the members shall elect a Chair from amongst themselves to chair the session.
h) If, within reasonable time after the appointed time for the GA to begin, a quorum is not present, the members present shall agree to postpone the meeting and if the GA is convened at the request of the members, it shall be dissolved. In any other case, it shall stand adjourned to the same day, time and place in the following month. If at the adjourned meeting, a quorum is not present within one hour from the time appointed, the members shall constitute a quorum.
i) The notice calling the GA should contain the date, time and venue of the meeting
j) The decision of the GA shall be (except in the case of elections) decide upon by a show of hands unless otherwise determined by the GA. .

k) The issues arising at any meeting of the GA shall be decided upon by a majority of votes and, in the case of a tie, the Chair shall have a casting vote.
l) The Chair may, with the consent of the GA, adjourn the GA from time to time and from place to place but no other business other than the business left unfinished at the GA from which the adjournment took place shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting.
m) Minutes of proceedings of every GA shall be kept and circulated to all members by the Secretary and, if approved by the next succeeding GA, shall be signed by the Chair and the Secretary. Any minutes so signed shall be conclusive and binding on GALEBITRA members.
n) If any irregularity, except for one relating to quorum, occurs in the convening or holding of any GA, or other proceedings, it shall have the same force and validity as if no irregularity has occurred. Provided that such irregularity if objected to, the GA shall hear such objections and thereafter decide whether or not to uphold or reject the objections.

ARTICLE 8: POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly shall be the supreme organ of the organisation and shall have the following powers:

a) To conduct any business, including laying down policies,a nd creating structures.
b) To consider for approval or otherwise all financial and technical reports as well as estimates, priorities and work programs presented to it.
c) To make amendments to these rules and regulations where necessary and in accordance with the provision herein.
d) To elect members of the Management Board from among its members.
e) To constitute an ad hoc committee in case of impeachment.
f) To elect members of the membership recruitment committee.
g) To do all such things that are icidental to oe conductive to the attainment of any of the above objectives.

ARTICLE 9: MANAGEMENT BOARD
There shall be a Management Board, which shall consist of eight (8) persons.

a) Five (5) of them shall be elected at the General Assembly while two (2) shall be nominated from the membership to cater for special interests plus the co-ordinator.
b) MB members shall serve for a term of 3 years and they shall be eligible for another term.
c) The Co-ordinator of GALEBUTRA shall be ex-officio member of the Management Board.
d) The office bearers shall not hold Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.
e) Board members shall not hold paid positions in the Secretariat.
f) Eligibility to the Management Board shall be;
i. A member of GALEBITRA
ii. Be of sound mind
iii. Be eligible to vote
iv. Have a frank record of human rights
v. Be vocal and open minded on GLBT agenda

ARTICLE 10: MEETING OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD

a) The Management Board shall meet for the transaction of business at least once in three months and regulate its meetings as it deems fit.

b) The quorum necessary for the transaction of business shall not be less than four.

c) Issues arising at any meeting shall decide by consensus. If consensus cannot be reached, a vote shall be taken and in case of a tie the Chair shall have a vote.

Pursuant to Article 11 above, the Management Board may appoint any member of the Management Board until the next General Assembly.