Abstract
Gay and bisexual male youth in Kenya experience human rights violations, including pervasive stigma and discrimination, and these oppressive forces are associated with elevated rates of mental health concerns. Despite these challenges, many gay and bisexual male youth in Kenya are thriving during this critical developmental period. This study explored intrapersonal processes that gay and bisexual male youth in Kisumu, Kenya, highlight as important to developing, and demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity. We conducted qualitative in-depth interviews (IDIs) with 40 gay and bisexual male youth, ages 20–30 (mean = 26.4), and an additional 20 IDIs with gay and bisexual men, ages 22–45 (mean = 26.6), who were working as peer educators (total n = 60), all in Kisumu, Kenya. A total of nine primary themes emerged which describe various intrapersonal resilience processes enacted by gay and bisexual male youth, including sexual identity acceptance, self-confidence, self-love, religious/spiritual affirmation, adaptive coping, successful navigation, legal rights awareness, economic stability, and advocacy satisfaction. These data demonstrate the range of positive personal processes that promote mental health and wellbeing among gay and bisexual male youth in Kenya. We discuss implications of these findings for community-based interventions, and call for a research paradigm shift away from deficits and toward resilience.
Highlights
The data for the current study came from a larger parent study focused on the development and evaluation of a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and sexual health promotion intervention for gay and bisexual male youth in Kisumu, Kenya
In addition to the 40 gay and bisexual male youth, we conducted 20 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with gay and bisexual men who were working as peer educators in HIV testing and PrEP programs in the Kisumu area
We provide a pseudonym for each participant quote, including information regarding their age, self-identified sexual orientation, and whether they are a Community Member or
Summary
Much of the stigma and discrimination that fuels such violations in Kenya, and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa, stem from outdated colonial laws that criminalize same-sex behaviors, and conservative religious beliefs brought to the continent by European colonizers [9,10,11]. Prior to widespread dismantling of local cultural practices and the colonization of most regions of sub-Saharan Africa by Europeans, there were multiple forms of culturally sanctioned and socially accepted same-sex behaviors, identities, and relationships across the African continent [12,13,14]. In Kenya, there are well-documented examples of same-sex relationships and partnerships within various ethnic tribes, and growing numbers of scholars and activists are calling for the rejection of oppressive laws and policies against SGM people that are remnants of colonial oppression [5,9,15,16,17]
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