In order to end the discrimination against those who are identified as intersex, a Kenyan MP has asked the country’s parliament to pass a law that will recognize a third gender.
According to BBC, Isaac Mwaura, a member of the Kenyan parliament has asked that it recognise a third gender.
Mwaura is also asking for funds to undergo gender realignment surgery and create awareness that would supposedly end the shame showered on people who identify as intersex.
Inter sex people, who are people who are neither completely male or female.
Although they is no conclusive data report on how many inter sex persons there are In Kenya, the intersex community in the country has faced a lot of scrutiny over the past few years.
“They see me as a curse,” an unidentified intersex person told BBC.
Another intersex person, James Karanja, also told the BBC of his ordeal.
“My official name is Mary Waithera – the name that I was given by my mother after my gender was confused at birth. They thought I was a girl but I’m a boy.”
James Karanja also explained how people have been avoiding him due to his sex-situation and this has caused his family undue suffering, especially his mother.
“My mother had a mental breakdown because my relatives were avoiding me. Some say I’m a bad omen,” he said.
Mr. Mwaura has said he is pushing his colleagues at the parliament to put aside funds in the budget to take care of the medical expenses of 120 persons why have been identified as intersex.
Even though Kenya mostly takes traditionalistic approaches towards issues concerning gender identity and sexual orientation using cultural and religious beliefs, the country seems to be making progress in alleviating the problem intersex people face.
In 2014, a court had ruled in favour of a transsexual woman, who sued the educational authorities for refusing to amend her certificates to reflect her new name and gender, making the case to be a landmark in the history of gender cases in the nation.
