From Agence France Presse: Writing on Sunday, AFP shines a spotlight on the discrimination and violence members of the LGBT community face in certain African countries. As a strong advocate of equality and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, Senator Coons believes LGBT rights are human rights. He has repeatedly called on African leaders to abandon efforts to criminalize homosexuality.
Until a new anti-homosexuality bill caused a wave of homophobia in Uganda, John and Paul could hold hands in the streets of the capital Kampala and kiss in night clubs.
Then the nightmare started — people began insulting and then assaulting them, and then they had to run away to Kenya. The couple have been in Nairobi since May of last year.
Like other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, they came to this urban jungle seeking anonymity, explained the official running a programme that looks after these refugees.
His organisation, which last year alone looked after 67 LGBT cases in Kenya, did not want to be named for fear of endangering its refugees.
President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton have both stressed that fighting discrimination should be at the forefront of American diplomacy, a policy Chris strongly supports.
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