The US Embassy in Nairobi recently announced that it would be holding “the first ever annual celebration of LGBT Pride at their embassy on June 26″ .
Gay pridreceived mixed responses from local LGBTI activists. Those supporting the event have defended it saying it is a good opportunity for networking and “shows the US is actively reaching out to the local LGBT community”. Others have accused those of calling for a boycotte as ‘insecure” and “spreading fear” . But as Kenne Mwikya points out in his post there are deeper issues at stake here which have conveniently been ignored by those supporting the event such as “supplanting of local queer initiatives”; possible backlash from the Kenyan public and government; and by attending implicitly supporting US imperialism and it’s ‘war on terror’. Added to these are serious concerns over aid and trade conditionality….
Topping the list is the requirement that the beneficiary promote “a market-based economy that protects private property rights… and minimises government interference in the economy through such measures as price controls, subsidies, and government ownership of economic assets.” In addition – and here’s the big one – the beneficiary must make progress toward “the elimination of barriers to United States trade and investment.”as well as the presence and role of AFRICOM which is closely tied with various Anti-Terrorist legislations and increased US surveillance across the continent .e or LGBT pride is the positive stance against discrimination and violence toward LGBT people to promote their self-affirmation, equality rights, increase their visibility as a social group, build community, and celebrate sexual diversity and gender variance.Local LGBT activists and dignitaries have been invited to this event....read more
http://www.blacklooks.org/2012/06/why-african-lgbti-communities-should-say-no-to-us-imperialism/
