News
New report on family values and LGBTQ+ narratives in Kenya’s digital sphere
At Komons, we work to support communities and share knowledge that strengthens collective struggles. Together with Puentes and Kenya Comms Hub, we supported a team of researchers to explore how queer communities and women are represented in Kenya’s digital debates on “Family Values.”
The result is the report Family Values and LGBTQ+ Discourse in Kenya's Digital Sphere, which uncovers key dynamics shaping how ‘family values’ discourses are shaping conversations about LGBTQ+ people, women and families. Three insights stand out:
Judgment of parents is gendered and classed: single mothers are only praised when successful, while single fathers get credit regardless of income.
Pro-rights vs. anti-gender actors: top pro-rights voices often present themselves as health advocates, while anti-gender ones lean on religious or nationalist identities.
Everyday LGBTQ+ stories matter: narratives about family, love or humour foster empathy and bridge divides.
To access the full report, please email insights@komons.org briefly stating your motivation or the organization you collaborate with.
You can also dive deeper into the insights through these articles:
- Unjust Kidding: How Kenyans Weaponize Children to Demonize Queer People
- When Family Becomes a Container for Contradictory Narratives
Beware! A Narrow Lens on Family Values Creates the Illusion of Consensus
For additional context, you can read about our conceptualisation, research design, query methodology and query approach.