A Summary: LGBTQ+ Africans fled to a UN refugee camp to escape brutal persecution. It followed them there
This article was published by LGBTQ Nation, written by Moffin Opilio Monday, April 8, 2024
This passage details the harrowing experiences of LGBTQ+ refugees in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya.
Forced Displacement & Ongoing Persecution: Isaac Smith, a queer activist, fled Uganda after his partner was murdered due to their sexual orientation. He sought refuge in Kakuma, but faced ongoing discrimination and violence within the camp.
The Kakuma Queers, a group comprising 1,500 queers in Kakuma Refugee camp.
Hate speech against queer individuals became a frequently employed tactic by politicians and clergy to rally support, which resulted in an escalation of discrimination, arrests, and violence against the LGBTQ+ community.
Systemic Issues: LGBTQ+ individuals in Kakuma experience systemic marginalization, including:
- Violence: Regular hate crimes, including rape and assault.
- Lack of Access: Limited access to basic necessities like food, water, healthcare, and education.
- Impunity: Perpetrators of violence often go unpunished due to inaction by authorities.
According to a 2023 report from Amnesty International, hate crimes are regularly committed in Kakuma against LGBTQ+ individuals, including brutal violence like rape, along with a slew of other serious human rights violations.
“It traumatized me,” he told LGBTQ Nation. “I needed psychological support, which wasn’t readily available to people at the camp.”
Collective Action: To address these challenges, members of the LGBTQ+ community formed "Kakuma Queers," a group advocating for their rights and raising awareness about their plight.
“All this is happening because of our sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression,” Harden Martial, the Chairperson of Kakuma Queers, told LGBTQ Nation. “Such hate crimes are a criminal manifestation of the discrimination LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers face.” 
Social discrimination is also widespread against LGBTQ+ people there, but according to Smith, it is a “safer” destination, as the UNHCR, rather than the state, has full control over the refugee camps there and, therefore, could protect them.
Desperation & Escape: Facing worsening conditions, some members of Kakuma Queers have fled to South Sudan, seeking a safer environment. Smith is leading efforts to help the remaining members escape, despite the challenges and risks involved.
But he is not at all giving up, declaring, “I will do anything possible, as long as it helps us escape this horrible place.”
Check out the original article at the link below.