After hosting their first Pride celebration, LGBTI refugees in Kenya’s biggest refugee camp have faced violence, but now they want to turn that around with an epic Christmas celebration.
The Kakuma refugee camp is one of the biggest in the world. Almost all of the LGBTI refugees in the camp have escaped their home countries because of persecution based on their sexuality and/or gender identity.
But earlier this year Kakuma’s LGBTI community defied expectations to throw the camp’s first Pride parade, complete with a trans fashion parade and many other events.
The Pride parade made international headlines but it also made the LGBTI refugees targets. A group attacked a lesbian and trans person after the event and organizers received death threats for many weeks afterwards.
Coming together for Christmas
Kakuma’s LGBTI refugees have got creative previously in an attempt to overcome their impoverished conditions. They set up starting poultry, bakery and arts/crafts businesses to make money to provide basic needs for themselves.
But every they make a point of celebrating Christmas together. This year they are expecting close to 300 people to attend.
‘We always have Christmas day celebrations as LGBTIQ refugees in the camp to help us come together as a community,’ said Mbazira Moses, head of Refugee Flag Kakuma, a LGBTI advocacy group in the refugee camp.
‘It’s during this event like the rest of the people in the world when we come together, reconcile any misunderstandings in an action that promotes togetherness and solidarity comforting each other and sharing experiences as LGBTI refugees.’
Volunteers will prepare lavish meals, special drinks for the LGBTI refugees, while other entertain them with music, dance and performance.
‘On that day we have story telling about the challenges we face and how most of us escape dangers of persecution,due to our gender orientation ,we appreciate and gifts to the most well behaved and compassionate members of the community ,to encourage the go ahead with their generosity”>‘We will tell stories about the challenges we face and how most of us escaped dangers of persecution,’ Mbazira told Gay Star News.
In order to throw the special party, Refugee Flag Kakuma has set up a crowd funding campaign to help pay for food and supplies. People who are able to donate the campaign, can do so here.
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