OBAMA-AFRICA/GAY-CHURCH REAX Kenyans criticise Obama's push for gay rights in Africa

Record ID: 146281

  • Title: OBAMA-AFRICA/GAY-CHURCH REAX Kenyans criticise Obama's push for gay rights in Africa
  • Date: 26th July 2015
  • Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (JULY 26, 2015) (REUTERS) NAIROBI SKYLINE WORSHIPPERS IN CHURCH VARIOUS OF PRIEST GIVING SERMON VARIOUS OF CONGREGATION LISTENING TO SERMON PRIEST, PETER KAMOMOE, SEATED VARIOUS OF WORSHIPPERS LISTENING HYMN BOOK (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRIEST AT HOLY FAMILY BASCILICA, PETER KAMOMOE, SAYING: "Obama could be considering from another different perspective, you k
  • Embargoed: 10th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3UPQVYCLQTBSFD2CY251W7YHY
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Christians attending morning Mass at the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi on Sunday (July 26) criticised U.S. President Barack Obama's comments on gay rights, made during his trip to Kenya.
    In a speech on Saturday, Obama told Africans that discriminating against gays was like treating people differently because of race, drawing criticism from anti-gay activists who said he was imposing his morality on the continent.
    Kenya, like many African states, outlaws homosexuality and Deputy President William Ruto said in May that there was "no room" for gays in Kenya.
    Though many who attended Mass on Sunday said they were happy that Obama had finally visited his ancestral homeland, they said they disagreed with his views on gay rights.
    "Obama could be considering from another different perspective, you know, maybe from a secular point of view, secular point of view. But for us, we are talking on Christian point of view. That we continue to adhere to Gospel for marriage and family. We respect that is the family because we need, we have a family consists of a woman and a man, and of course the fruits of their coming together. The fruits of their marriage is having children," said priest, Peter Kamomoe.
    Anti-gay laws often have broad public approval in African nations where many hold conservative religious views and see homosexuality as immoral.
    Some African rights groups had urged Obama to tread cautiously on the issue to avoid inflaming public opinion. South Africa is the only African nation to allow same-sex marriage.
    Obama's comments exposed the divide on gay rights between Western states and religiously conservative Africa.
    Obama, who embraced gay marriage in 2012 during his re-election campaign, hailed last month's U.S. Supreme Court decision to allow same-sex marriage in the United States.
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