Queermas: Members of Kenyan Gay Community Organize their own ‘Christmas’

Members of the Kenyan lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) community have come up with their own ‘Christmas’ dubbed Queermas.

During Queermas, members of the gay community in Kenya will gather to celebrate with one another as a way of fighting loneliness through the Christmas festive season, according to The Star.

The term Queermas is not new in other places of the world where homosexuality is embraced and is beginning to gain popularity in Kenya despite gay sex being a criminal act.

Most members of the Kenyan LGBTQ community remain in isolation during the Christmas season since they are shunned by their families and friends.

"There’s a sense of community and it’s a free space where you can enjoy things that you’ve grown up doing and are used to," said Kioko who attended Queermas last year.

She added: "It’s a safe space for us and it feels nice to know you’re not alone."

In May, Kenya’s High Court ruled against campaigners seeking to overturn the law that criminalizes gay sex in Kenya. Homosexuality is punishable by up to 14 years in prison, according to Kenya’s penal code.