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On behalf of:
Editors: Keguro Macharia and Angus Parkinson
We lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex individuals, in a word, queers, have had the distinct un-pleasure of being told we don’t exist—in official government statements, historical documents, and contemporary statements. Well, we do.
We want Kenyan stories by Kenya-based and Kenya-born queers. About everything. We want writing about the dailyness of our lives, the good, the bad, the weird, the indifferent. If you have lived it, we want to hear about it. We especially want to reach beyond Nairobi, Mombasa, and other cities to all corners of the country. And we know the rest of Kenya, Africa, and the world wants to hear these stories as well.
Formats
We have three distinct formats. Choose what appeals to you.
1. Interviews: Tell us your story. Get in touch with us and we’ll arrange an interview. We value your time and your confidentiality. Not sure you want to meet us directly? We have phones and email and all manner of ways to make this happen.
2. Letters to Kenya: Write (or unearth) a 500-1,000-word letter. To whom? Parents, pastors, the government, best friends, former friends, present lovers, former lovers, the person you really want to tune. Get personal, get intimate. Say what you really want to say!
3. Personal narratives: Write (or unearth) a 2,500-3,000-word narrative about the dailyness of being queer. The high points, low points, the endless plateaus, the quick glances, indrawn breaths of desire, domestic thrills, sexual boredom, beginnings and endings. If you write it, we’ll consider it.
All submissions should be typed, double-spaced, and submitted electronically to queerkenya@gmail.com. If you can’t type, don’t want to, or can’t get hold of an email program that functions, get in touch with us. We can help.
How You Can Contribute
1. Get the word out. Convince your friends with hidden manuscripts or stories that must be shared to un-closet them.
2. Send us encouraging emails. We need your good wishes, your fabulously good wishes.
3. Volunteer time! We need all the help we can get.
4. Take ownership. We’re editing, sure, but these are our collective stories.
Important Dates
April 30, 2009: Deadline to Receive Submissions
June 30, 2009: Selected Contributors Contacted
Publication: December 2009.
Questions? We’re glad to answer. Please contact us at queerkenya@gmail.com
I’ve lots of blog posts churning in my brain – the media law, one year since the election/Ushahidi, the shameless coalition “eating” (yes Raila is behind the disappearing maize), Obama’s inauguration (yeah!)…just have to find the time to write them. In the meantime, I’ll start my foray back to blogging with light posts. On the personal front, still firmly in sleepless nights zone but thankfully Gabi has adjusted very well to being a big sister. She’s started play school this week though (which she’s enjoying) and has already picked up the art of dramatic tantrums from (dare I say mannerless) playmates. Sigh.
– Obama’s Indonesian lookalike.
– Be nice to your classmates, they just might become President.
– Clay Shirky on why you shouldn’t worry about information overload.
– Mapping Kogelo. LOL at having to get permission from the chief.
Born on 29/12/08. Hefty 3.52 kgs.  We’re all well and thankful for a wonderful start to 2009. Thanks everyone for your messages. Back to sleepless nights for me (however, nice to be a relaxed mama second time around).
Apologies for the lack of frequent posts.
Unfortunately, the trend will continue for a while.
Fortunately, it’s for a very good reason.
Baby number 2 is due in about +/- 2 weeks.
It’s been a LOONG journey, second time around. Not just because I’ve been chasing my rambunctious toddler around. There were complications in the first half and lots of stuff going on in my personal life that added to the stress. But we have made it this far, and we are doing well…now hoping and praying for a safe delivery.
Happy Holidays!
And yes I will post a picture.
Via Sukuma Kenya:
Caroline Mutoko of Kiss FM and Mwalimu Mati of Mars Group Kenya are among those who have this morning been arrested at the Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi. The two have been taken to the Langata police station. 60 other Kenyans are also being bundled into waiting police vehicles and it appears that it is planned to distribute those arrested in various police stations across the city.
The 62 are part of a larger group of Kenyans that had gone to attend the national event at the Nyayo National Stadium as we mark Jamhuri Day today and use the forum to address our leaders, making the Kenyan citizen’s grievances heard.
They were all wearing black T Shirts with the message “No Tax for MPs, No Tax for Us†which is part of the campaign being run in conjunction with Kenyans who care and university students to protest against MPs refusal to pay tax.
The black T Shirt campaign forms part of a larger campaign where Kenyans have over the past few days held demonstrations, rallies, boycotts as they are protesting against the ongoing food crisis, the escalating prices of basic commodities, the high price of fuel and the MPs culture of impunity.
The urgent help required is: legal representation, cash bail for each person arrested, tracing and visiting all the arrested at the various police stations where they have been taken, lobbying for their immediate release, and any other help you are able to render.
It would be great if other Kenyans could wear the same t-shirts in solidarity with your fellow Kenyans who are doing more than just complaining about MPs. Visit Sukuma Kenya for details on where to purchase the shirts.
UPDATE: Other activists have been released, but Mwalimu Mati and his wife Jayne Mati the directors of Marsgroup Kenya, have been charged with incitement to violence on the specific instructions of the Minister for Internal Security.
UPDATE II (Saturday); 1. Mwalimu Mati of the Media Analysis and Research Services (MARS) Group and his wife Jane remain in custody at Langata Police Station Nairobi…they have not yet been charged (at which point they could apply for bail) more than 24 hours after their detention…we are deeply concerned that the intent is to hold them for no apparent purpose up to the maximum of 48 hours.
2. Fred Odhiambo of Bunge la Wananchi was just brought to Langata Police Station from Nyayo Stadium, where he’d been detained overnight. He has been badly beaten and has just been moved to Nairobi Women’s Hospital for treatment, still in detention.
3. Four colleagues in Garissa remain in detention for simply trying to present the Provincial Commissioner with a memorandum.
WHERE TO BUY SHIRTS: Right now they are available at Mars Group offices, 1st Floor
Chevron Plaza, Limuru Road (Parklands near the Aga Khan Hospital) for Kshs 500 a shirt (the money is used to subsidize printing the shirts that can be distributed for free to those who can’t afford the shirts). I’m wondering whether someone can help them set up an online store to sell the t-shirts? Other advocacy materials including video that you can help circulate are availalbe at the Partnership for Change website.
Private criminal proceedings have been instituted before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Nairobi against the ECK Commissioners by a KPTJ member Julius Melli as the complainant on behalf of the Republic. Case is Private Prosecution No 7 of 2008 Republic through Julius Melli versus Samuel Mutua Kivuitu & 21 others before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Gilbert Mutembei. The Chief Magistrate has admitted the 16 charges against the 22 ECK Commissioners related to the management and control of the 2007 General Elections and also issued summons for the 22 accused persons (now suspects) to appear before him for the taking of plea on Wednesday 17th of December 2008. On that 17th of December, the Magistrate will further hear the complainant’s application to be allowed to proceed with the intended prosecution on behalf of the Republic.
Civil society networks are planning to appear in court on that day – please lend your support (and blog about the hearing) if possible.
We need your support again. Last time you helped us get much needed start-up funding, now we need your help to get our next phase of growth going.
About the voting process
Voting is only open for a week beginning Monday, December 8 at 9:00am Pacific Time (U.S.) through Friday, December 12 at 5:00pm Pacific Time, and the top 15 vote-getting projects will go in front of a panel of USAID-selected judges who will determine the three winners. You must vote for at least three projects, but no more than five.
How to vote:
* You must Register and Login to the NetSquared site to participate in the Vote (please check your junk mail folder if you do not see a registration email confirmation)
* Each registered user has one (1) ballot
* You must vote for at least three (3) Projects and no more than five (5)
* All votes are weighted equally (in other words, your first choice and fifth choice have equal value)
* You can only vote for each Project once, yes that includes your own
For more information about voting, visit USAID Vote: http://netsquared.org/usaid/vote
Click here for all the details of how you can participate – from buying a t-shirt to marching in protest on Dec 12th. As the community in Kibera demonstrated, the politicians only respond when you make your voices heard clearly so please make your voices heard.
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