Today’s Solutions: November 05, 2024

Back in 2019, LGBTQ+ rights campaigners challenged the Kenyan High Court to overturn a law that bans gay sex and makes it punishable by up to 14 years in prison. While they were unsuccessful, attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community have been softening within the country itself, especially among the younger generations, thanks to a growing list of well-known young Kenyans who are deciding to bravely come out as gay or lesbian.

Another voice to add to this list is musician Chimano, a member of Sauti Sol, one of Africa’s biggest male bands. The LGBTQ+ community applauds Chimano’s openness surrounding his sexuality, which is seen as an encouragement for LGBTQ+ individuals in Kenya who are shunned by their families and forced to live clandestine lives.

“Young people are saluting him and are seeing him as an icon who comes out to celebrate his life and his sexuality. It’s a good thing, it shows our diversity as a country,” gay activist Kevin Mwachiro tells the BBC.

In the wake of his coming out, Chimano released a solo single called Friday Feeling, which he tells The Standard is “a true representation of who he is,” adding that it is “the first time [he] is expressing [himself] in a song. You really get to know who Chimano is and that is a heavy crown to carry. It is just a representation of the underground ballroom culture within the queer community.”

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

Brazil fines meat producers $64 million over ties to deforested Amazon land

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a major environmental crackdown, Brazil's IBAMA fined meat packers and cattle ranchers $64 million for rearing or ...

Read More

How to spot a moon ring: a guide to lunar halos and other moonlight phenomena

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The ring around the moon, also known as the lunar halo, is a breathtaking yet surprisingly common sight ...

Read More

The surprising reason you should turn your camera off during Zoom calls

To all of you who have been keeping their cameras off during Zoom calls, well done. You may have simply been trying to hide ...

Read More

Hummingbirds have the widest color range of all birds

Among the different species of birds, hummingbirds are among the most iconic and distinct in the skies. These unique creatures hover unlike most birds, ...

Read More