Gerald Hayo is our first cover star!
The 28-year-old is the founder of Girls’ Pride Kenya. Currently, it works as the communications and administration officer at Rainbow Women of Kenya. This Lesbian, Bisexual, Intersex organization champions the social, legal, and health rights of LBIQ women in the region.
She shared with The Rustin Times her journey and the fantastic work she is doing with Girls’ Pride.
TRT: You have a very inspiring story, but for those that might not have an idea, can you share it with them?
GH: Growing up, I was definitely what you would call a ‘tomboy,’ still am. I love who I am now, but I have not always loved the assumptions people made about me when they looked at my clothing or behavior. My family discriminated against me a lot during my teenage years, and I was denied sanitary towels, arguing that I shouldn’t be receiving my periods because I looked like a man. They went further to call me a devil worshipper. Life wasn’t easy until I resorted to looking for this basic need. At the age of 17 years, I moved out of the home to stay with an older female partner to get these basic needs. Since this wasn’t what I wanted, I opted to look for gay-friendly organizations or individuals. Through some introductions from friends, I managed to affiliate myself with a football club that was quite welcoming. Before long, I was expelled from the club because of my sexuality, which they came to know about through my brother. I moved from town to town, trying to find where I would feel accepted and live everyday life like any other citizen. I eventually moved to Mombasa, the coastal part of Kenya, and this is where I joined an LGBTI organization and became the security chairperson. However, I still felt more I needed to do for women who have gone through similar experiences as mine. Later on, I joined Rainbow Women of Kenya, a lesbian, bisexual, intersex, and queer women-led organization where I volunteered as the administration and communications person. Later on, after gaining a minor capacity, I decided to come up with the Girls’ Pride Kenya.
TRT: Tell us a bit about Girls Pride?
GH: Girls’ Pride Kenya is a project that focuses on girls and women from underserved communities with minimal to limited access to services at the coast of Kenya. The goal is to identify and create visibility for LBIQ at-risk young women and girls in the community and, through mentoring and peer to peer open discussions, help them to discover their individuality, gifts, talents, and potential, to believe in themselves, and nurture passions and employ every ounce of confidence.
TRT: How has the work been so far?
GH: Sanitation and reproductive health is a significant program undertaken by the organization. We would wish to launch once a month, but due to the unavailability of resources, Girls’ Pride has slowed down the process of its work. The monthly meetings are also held for LBIQ women to freely share their ideas and seek relationship and reproductive health advice. These meetings create a safe space for LBIQ women, and during the sessions, we learn about sandals making and beadwork; customized rainbow-colored bracelets. Through this, members can sell and buy, divide part of the profit and channel some towards buying girls sanitary towels.
TRT: What is your hope for the LGBTIQ community in Africa?
GH: I can only hope for the establishment of social order in Africa in which sexual orientation will not be a barrier to the enjoyment of all the rights and freedoms that are due to us as human beings irrespective of our gender, age, social class, religion, tribe, and race.
TRT: How can our readers connect with you and your work?
GH: We can be reached through our telephone number – +254-710-795-749, or on Facebook – GIRLS PRIDE Kisauni. You can also send an email to pridekisauni@gmail.com or visit our website at www.girlspridekenya.com.
