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Kenya president dismisses US calls for gay rights
Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Barack Obama agree on many things. However, they are miles apart on LGBTI rights.
The leader of the United States is on a four-day trip to Africa. Today, 25 July, he held a joint press conference with Kenya’s chief executive. While the two politicians focused on areas of agreement, including fighting terrorism and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), there remains no common ground on gay equality.
After the two presidents made opening remarks, a reporter asked Obama to comment on Kenya’s policies toward its LGBTI citizens.
While noting some anti-LGBTI bias is based on religious teachings, Obama stressed the need for civil equality by making a connection with the US history of segregation.
‘…As an African-American in the United States, I am painfully aware of the history of what happens when people are treated differently, under the law,’ Obama said, according to a transcript released by the White House.
‘I’m unequivocal on this,’ he continued. ‘If somebody is a law-abiding citizen who is going about their business, and working in a job, an obeying the traffic signs — (laughter) — and doing all the other things that good citizens are supposed to do, and not harming anybody — the idea that they are going to be treated differently or abused because of who they love is wrong. Full stop.’
Kenyatta countered his country does not have the same vision about its LGBTI citizens.
‘…There are some things that we must admit we don’t share — our culture, our societies don’t accept. It is very difficult for us to be able to impose on people that which they themselves do not accept,’ Kenyatta said, according to the transcript.
‘This is why I repeatedly say that for Kenyans today, the issue of gay rights is really a non-issue,’ he continued. ‘We want to focus on other areas that are day-to-day living for our people: The health issues that we have discussed with President Obama. These are critical. Issues of ensuring inclusivity of women, a huge section of society that is normally left out of the mainstream of economic development. What we can do in terms of infrastructure; what we can do in terms of education; in terms of our roads; in terms of giving our people power, encouraging entrepreneurship. These are the key focuses.’
Before Obama’s trip, Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto, criticized the president for supporting LGBTI rights.
A number of Kenyan politicians and religious leaders warned Obama not to bring up LGBTI issues while in Kenya, where gay sex is punishable by up to 14 years in prison and 90% of the country believe homosexuality is wrong.
Below is clip of the press conference from The Hill.
The post Kenya president dismisses US calls for gay rights appeared first on Gay Star News.
James Withers
www.gaystarnews.com/article/kenya-president-dismisses-us-calls-for-gay-rights/
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