Kenyan gays come together to tell their varied stories
Kevin Mwachiro (L) a member of the gay activist community signs a copy of Invisible - Stories from Kenya's Queer Community, during the book launch at Goethe Institute, Nairobi on February 5, 2014. PHOTO | GERALD ANDERSON
You commiserate with the experiences of some of the writers, laugh at the more quirky of their encounters or are emboldened by those who take their situation in a casual, matter-of-fact way
Even though by the time they emerge many queer persons are not looking for validation of affirmation, the fact that many write warmly about those within the family that accepted them attest to the emotional bulwark this gives
A new book, Invisible, launched in Nairobi at the beginning of the month, is a collection of stories and poems on the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersexual (LGBTI) people in Kenya. It narrates the varied experiences of members of the gay community when growing up and coming to terms with their orientation.
You commiserate with the experiences of some of the writers, laugh at the more quirky of their encounters or are emboldened by those who take their situation in a casual, matter-of-fact way. Overall, it is touching and evocative in its humanness.
