Everyone who writes is writing about
Binyavanga Wainaina, so I might as well. First a confession, in the past I did
not like him – not him the person, but the whole “Westlands [upper class]
gays.” They had and continue to have, enormous social-political presence, with
ability to shift the paradigm of gay identity in the country, but chose not do
so [a personal choice that is to be respected]. They however felt entitled to
give opinion on how advocacy should be run – by lesser mortals such as myself –
I hated their pontification.
Yet, I must admit I like the way Binyavanga
creates linkage between the discourse on homosexuality with the broader economic-cultural
discourse or lack of it in the African continent through his 6-series ofmonologues on Youtube.
The “un-African-ness” of
homosexuality is an extension of “lack of imagination” that is so pervasive in
the photocopying Africa. As a
writer and an artist, I think that is a legitimate framing of this discourse.
Equality legitimate framing of this
discourse [I hope] is the poverty debate in the continent. In Kenya, close to
50% [perhaps even more], live below the poverty line – living on less than 1
$ a day. The numbers rise if you raise the threshold to less than 2$ a day.
Poverty, when defined in terms of welfare,
it is seen not just as shortage of resources but as a state of vulnerability,
which is marked by the lack of access to health services and education, low
self-esteem and a sense of powerless. The gay and lesbian debate fits very well
in this context of non-monetary aspects of poverty. A country cannot eradicate
poverty while it seeks to keep an essential section of its citizens in
conditions that limit their ability to access health services or education.
Reading through many of the social media
comments, on Binyavanga Wainaina’s coming out, - many were insulting, some of
them extremely insulting. To be sure, the Bible, and especially Leviticus
chapter 18 has never so often been quoted in the country before - [or I should
say, sections of it, because other sections of the same chapter would indict
the very guys quoting it- talk of speck vs plank in the eye]. For the moralists
and religious leaders this is ok – it’s their job.
For the policy makers and policy advocates
[including human rights activists], there are a number of pertinent issues to
consider if they were to take this road.
Impact
of Group membership on Poverty: Groups may be
defined in many different ways including ethnicity, living neighbourhoods and
for our case sexual orientation. Whether one believes identity on the basis of
sexual orientation is endogenous or exogenous [the whole nature vs nature
debate], the fact is there is a gay community. Of interest to poverty
alleviation is the impact of group membership such as peer pressure,
role-modelling and social learning. Thanks to Binyavanga, we now know that
being gay is no reason not to be a success in your chosen career path.
Binyavanga’s contemporaries such as myself, will feel the peer pressure to
perform and be successful [with God’s help for my case]. More importantly however the
younger gays and lesbians will be influenced to perform better in their
education and even build careers because of his example – role modelling. This
has impact on poverty for the individuals, but also for their families and the
society.
Debate
“Aspirational” Argument on Poverty: Poverty stifles
dreams, and the process of attaining dreams, leading to a self-sustaining trap
of poverty. As individuals we are influenced by people we see as “similar” and
their success then begin to be seen as “attainable.” That is why Binyavanga’s
story is so useful. Now many, who identify with his story, will work hard to
realize what they now see as being “attainable.” That is good for them individually
but also for their families and the general society as a whole. When a society stifles
opportunities for Binyavanga’s narrative, it only enlarges rather diminishes the
scope of poverty. For a country struggling with a huge poverty burden, such
policies are rather self-defeating.
Impact
of Social Exclusion: The impact of social exclusion
is not limited to the victims of exclusion. When a lesbian, who is also a
single mother, is stigmatized and excluded, she suffers alright, but so do her children.
She may experience layered levels of stigma and disempowerment, as a woman, a
single mother and a lesbian, hence more likely live in poverty. But her
children failing to get education may end up engaging in crime – possibly killing
a breadwinner in a botched robbery attempt, rendering another family into a cycle
of poverty and criminality. The concept of EXTERNALITIES
is one that policy makers and advocates must pay heed to in this debate.
Just to stress this EXTERNALITIES point a little more [perhaps more than necessary], it
is not just about negative externalities but also and especially positive
externalities. Creating positive conditions, devoid of low self-esteem and a
sense of powerless, reduces poverty. The individual regardless of their sexual
orientation, realize their dreams, and this positively impacts their own lives
but also that of their dependents – and in Africa this could be anybody who
comes from your village.
For Kenyan policy makers, I have one point
for you to consider; I have potential to create successful businesses, and my positive cash
flow can attract appropriate financing. There are many individuals such as
myself, but we would be the biggest fools if we were ever to take up a bank
loan [hence money velocity impact]; we would immediately become targets of
blackmail. That is what criminalization – The Blackmailers Charter, as the anti-gay
laws are so aptly named, does. It limits economic output of openly gay
individuals – and with it the entire economy.
So next time you as a policy maker say we
are not creating enough jobs [hence reducing poverty], blame it on the
blackmailers charter! Is it really worth it to have the government dictating what happens in my bedroom, with another consenting adult? This impacts on my economic outcomes - limiting my potential to creates jobs; but it also impacts on my health seeking behavior and by so doing adds costs to the whole public health systems - ponder that. Is it worth it?
