Binyavanga Wainana Reacts to Being Named One Of The ‘Top Homosexuals’ In Kenya Along With Maina Kageni And Makau Mutua

On January 19 2014, one of Africa’s leading literary figures Binyavanga Wainaina quietly came out of the closet. The bold move was done inform of an essay titled “I am a homosexual, mum”

To say this move was gallant and ground-breaking would not fully capture just how brave and important this was and how coming out of the closet as a man of his caliber and the impact his coming out had on society.

To come out of the closet in a country that is very homophobic and traditional risked being rejected his family, the writing community and ostracized by the community or worse persecute. But him coming out of the closet made it okay for others who had been in the closet to come out.

The Citizen recently named him one of the top gays in Kenya and he had a hilarious response to it:

Erm. I am not a top gay in Kenya. I am just a gay man in Kenya