LGBTQ Refugees in Kakuma

Rainbow over Kakuma. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which is responsible for the UN presence in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, has published a new briefing note on LGBTIQ+ refugees and asylum-seekers in Kenya.  The briefing note provides an overview of UNHCR Kenya’s efforts to improve the overall protection environment for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) refugees in Kenya. UNHCR note that there are currently some 800 refugees in Kenya. ( Our international network covers several hundred of them). The organization notes that the Kenyan government is currently developing refugee regulations to guide the implementation of the Refugees Act of 2021. UNHCR are trying to minimize the impact of provisions that may reduce protection space for LGBTIQ+ refugees.  Homophobia and transphobia in Kenya Keep in mind that although Kenya is not like Uganda when it comes to LGBTIQ persecution, their laws are both homophobic and transphobic. Same-s

Nakafeero Swabulah, also known as Claire,  is a lesbian refugee from Uganda, living in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, where she is organizing and coordinating efforts to help LGBTQA+ refugees and their kids. We ask for your support so that she and her friends can provide them with medication, shelter, food, sanitary pads, milk for babies, detergents, clothes, clean water and more. LGBTQ persecution in Uganda The government of Uganda has become increasingly homophobic and transphobic, which has caused Nakafeero and many other and lesbian, gay and trans Ugandans to leave the country. Nakafeero's mother and sister were killed in their home by locals, as the villagers were searching for Nakafeero. But Nakafeero and her crew of lesbian activists are in no way giving up. They are doing their best to give more than 100 LGBTQA refugees and their kids a better life in the camp. She has provided them with nutritious food, clothes, hygiene products, and – for the kids – toys.   Nakafe