Homosexuality in Kenya is punishable by law with up to 14 years imprisonment
LONDON, March 27 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A schoolgirl struggling with her sexuality is suspended for kissing her classmate. A woman and her partner dream of fleeing home as angry mobs gather to oust gays. A young man walks past a gay bar and says "I could burn them".
These personal accounts from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Kenya inspired the anthology film "Stories Of Our Lives", a centrepiece screening at LGBT film festival BFI Flare, which wraps up on Sunday in London.
Produced by a group of artists, social workers and entrepreneurs in Nairobi called the NEST Collective, the film explores sexual orientation in a country where homosexuality is punishable by law with up to 14 years imprisonment.
While Kenya's anti-gay laws are rarely enforced, the collective knew the film would be a challenge to cast and shoot.
LGBT people in Kenya are routinely abused, assaulted by mobs and even raped by police, vigilantes and organised criminals, rights groups say.
Having spent months conducting interviews across Kenya, the collective, led by director Jim Chuchu, decided to turn some of the collected stories into short films - shot with just one DSLR camera by a team with no training in filmmaking.
"We wanted to do this project for many reasons, but mostly because we wanted to tell stories that are not often heard, stories that characterize the queer experience in Kenya," the collective said.
"Stories Of Our Lives" tells five separate tales of the internal struggles faced by LGBT people in Kenya, and the burden of hiding their sexuality from friends, family and society.
In 'Ask Me Nicely', two schoolgirls are hauled into the headmistress' office and questioned about their "peculiar" relationship. "Which one of you is the man?" she asks of the teenage girls, before suspending them and sending them home.
Another story titled 'Run' focuses on a young man called Patrick who is insulted and savagely attacked by his homophobic friend Kama after visiting a gay bar. "You have a dick, why can't you use it?" Kama screams as he kicks Patrick and threatens to kill him.
BANNED
The cast and crew chose to remain anonymous during filming due to fears of legal action and personal attacks, only revealing their identity at film's premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in October last year.
Having also screened in Germany, South Africa and the United States, the film has received plaudits worldwide, but unfortunately for the collective, it also drew the attention and ire of the Kenya Film Classification Board.
The board banned the film for showing "obscenity, explicit scenes of sexual activities" and "promoting homosexuality which is contrary to our national norms and values".
While the decision to ban the screening, sale and distribution of the film was predictable, the collective has continued to exhibit their work at festivals around the world.
"We made this film to open dialogue about identities, what it means to be Kenyan, and what it means to be different," the collective said. "By placing a restriction on this film, the board has chosen to delay this inevitable conversation.
"We hope Kenyans will get to see this film one day, because we made it for Kenyans."
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