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Kenya’s largest LGBTQ umbrella organization has partnered with Grindr to give its members access to important information about their rights.

GALCK+, a coalition of 16 LGBTQ rights organizations, announced a partnership with the gay dating app earlier this month as part of the “Grindr for Equality” initiative. GALCK+ is the second LGBTQ rights organization in Africa to enter into such a partnership with Grindr.

Grindr announced a partnership with IntraHealth Namibia, a non-profit healthcare provider based in the country’s capital, Windhoek, on July 11. IntraHealth Namibia is the first organization in Africa to provide Grindr users with critical information about sexual and mental health and safety.

Grindr is working with two African organizations to provide important information directly to LGBTQ users through the app, expanding these partnerships across 30 countries around the world.

“Supporting efforts that advance safety and sexual health for the LGBTQ+ community is a key pillar of Grindr for Equality’s work to create a safe, fair and inclusive world for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities,” Grindr said in a statement about its latest partnership. statement.

Grindr said its new partnerships with organizations around the world will give users access to location-specific, real-time information on issues that matter to them through a side drawer on the app’s home screen.

“We’ve partnered with GALCK+ to provide users in Kenya with in-app access to ‘Know Your Rights’, a safe page aimed at informing and empowering the LGBTQ community in Kenya,” Grindr said.

GALCK+ acknowledges its partnership with Grindr, butKnow your rightsResources on the platform not only inform LGBTQ people in Kenya about their legal rights, but also provide vital information on free therapy, dealing with extortion, and other issues.

“The Grindr app’s new tab, ‘Do I Have Rights?’, dedicated to the Kenyan community, is packed with important resources on safety and sexual health to help you feel confident and at ease with your experience,” GALCK+ said. said About X.

GALCK+, through its Grindr resources tab, affirms that queer rights are human rights that aim to promote the social and legal equality position of LGBTQ people in society, further pointing out that the rights highlighted aim to address the injustices faced by queer people by prohibiting homophobic discrimination and violence, and promoting changes in laws for easier access to health, education and public services, as well as the recognition of same-sex relationships.

However, GALCK+ points out that, despite queer people having the same rights as other Kenyans, there are still laws in place that criminalize consensual same-sex partnerships. Although there are laws protecting intersex and transgender people, they continue to suffer discrimination based on their gender identity and sexual orientation.

Kenyan LGBTQ groups also cite several constitutional provisions and laws.

“Article 19(3)(a) of the Constitution says that because you are a human being, your rights belong to you and are not conferred by the state,” GALCK+ said. “Some rights may be limited in some circumstances (Article 24), but some rights cannot be limited at all.”

GALCK+ also highlighted sections 162 and 165 of the Kenyan Penal Code to Grindr users, which list homosexual sexual acts that are illegal and carry fines and up to 14 years in prison if convicted. They point out that these two sections affect the sexual rights of queer people, as criminalizing consensual same-sex activity disrupts their lives.

“A person’s sexual orientation is an important part of who they are, and when it is not expressed fully and freely, it negatively impacts that person’s quest for happiness,” GALCK+ said.

GALCK+ stresses that laws criminalizing private, consensual same-sex conduct between adults will lead to violence and discrimination against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation.

“In some cases, members of the transgender and intersex communities are mistaken for gay, lesbian or bisexual and face violence and discrimination,” GALCK+ said.

GALCK+ tells Grindr users that identifying as LGBTQ is not a crime because Kenya’s anti-gay laws only criminalize acts, not identities, which are guaranteed freedom of speech and expression in the constitution. GALCK+ also tells Grindr users that employers cannot fire or refuse to hire them because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“According to employment law, it is the duty of governments and employers to promote equal opportunities among employees,” GALCK+ said.

The Employment Law, while not specifically addressing sexual orientation, provides for equal opportunities in hiring and promotion, and equal treatment in the workplace without discrimination of any kind.

GALCK+ also educates Grindr users about their right to housing without discrimination from landlords on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression under Article 43(1) of the Constitution, which states that everyone has the right to “accessible and adequate housing and reasonable standards of hygiene.”