‘It kills the freedom or the spirit of people being who they are’: impact of sexuality-based stigma and discrimination on the lives of gay and bisexual men in Kenya
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Gay and bisexual men (GBM) in Kenya are subjected to frequent experiences of sexuality-based stigma and discrimination, yet how GBM navigate these experiences and their impact on mental health has remained understudied. The aim of this study was to understand how GBM in Kenya respond to everyday experiences of sexuality-based stressors. We conducted 60 individual in-depth interviews with GBM between the ages of 20-46 residing in Kisumu and Nairobi. The following four key themes regarding how GBM in Kenya respond to sexuality-based stressors emerged: enacting identity protection strategies, using alcohol and other substances, avoiding healthcare providers and services, and being hypervigilant to avoid violence. These findings highlight the urgent need for interventions that reduce sexuality-based stigma and improve access to safer social and healthcare spaces for GBM in Kisumu and Nairobi.
Source: Global Public Health
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,650
Funder: University of Michigan
OpenAlex ID: W4409464337