Queer Objects to the Rescue: Intimacy and Citizenship in Kenya

In Kenya, bead necklaces, plastics, and even diapers have been used to represent the danger posed by homosexual behavior to an essentially "virile" construction of national masculinity. George Paul Meiu's book Queer Objects to the Rescue explores how these objects have played an important and surprising role in both state-led and popular attempts to rid Kenya of various imagined threats to intimate life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 13 December 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Campaigns urging police and citizens to cleanse their nations of homosexuality have gained traction worldwide. However, discerning the precise "homosexual threat" they purport to address can be challenging. To make this threat discernible, leaders, media, and civil society organizations have employed specific objects as symbols of queerness. In Kenya, for instance, bead necklaces, plastics, and even diapers have come to symbolize the peril posed by homosexual behavior to an essentially "virile" construction of national masculinity.

In Queer Objects to the Rescue, George Paul Meiu delves into the role of objects in both state-led and popular endeavors to rid Kenya of various perceived threats to intimate life. Meiu demonstrates that their utilization in the political imaginary has been instrumental in portraying the homosexual body as a societal menace and a target of anger, violence, and exclusion, while also crystallizing apprehensions about broader political and economic instability. To comprehensively comprehend and critique homophobia, Meiu proposes that we must take these objects seriously and acknowledge them as potential sources for emerging forms of citizenship, intimacy, resistance, and belonging.

The emergence of intimate citizenship in response to escalating anti-homosexual violence in Kenya is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. Bead necklaces, plastics, and even diapers have become symbols of the perceived threat posed by homosexuality to the nation's predominantly "virile" masculinity. These objects have been used by leaders, media, and civil society groups to perpetuate stereotypes and marginalize homosexual individuals. However, it is important to recognize that these objects are not mere symbols but rather tools that have been wielded by both state and non-state actors to shape public discourse and mobilize support for anti-homosexual policies.

In Queer Objects to the Rescue, George Paul Meiu explores the intricate relationship between these objects and the broader political and social context in Kenya. He demonstrates how they have been deployed as tools of exclusion, violence, and control, while also serving as sites of resistance and resilience for homosexual individuals and their allies. Meiu's analysis highlights the ways in which these objects have become embedded in the fabric of Kenyan society, shaping not only perceptions of homosexuality but also broader notions of gender, sexuality, and citizenship.

One of the key findings of Meiu's study is that the use of these objects has been driven by a range of political, social, and economic factors. State-led efforts to eradicate homosexuality have been heavily influenced by international donors, religious organizations, and conservative political groups. These actors have sought to promote a particular vision of gender and sexuality that aligns with their own interests, often at the expense of the rights and well-being of homosexual individuals. At the same time, popular movements against homosexuality have been fueled by a combination of cultural, religious, and economic factors. Many Kenyans view homosexuality as a threat to traditional values and social order, and they have mobilized to demand its eradication.

Despite the challenges posed by these objects, Meiu suggests that they also offer opportunities for resistance and transformation. Homosexual individuals and their allies have used these objects as symbols of their identity and resistance, reclaiming them from their negative connotations and transforming them into symbols of pride and resilience. Moreover, the broader political and social context in Kenya has been shaped by the presence of these objects, creating spaces for dialogue and debate about sexuality and gender.

In conclusion, the emergence of intimate citizenship in response to escalating anti-homosexual violence in Kenya is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. Bead necklaces, plastics, and even diapers have become symbols of the perceived threat posed by homosexuality to the nation's predominantly "virile" masculinity. These objects have been used by both state and non-state actors to shape public discourse and mobilize support for anti-homosexual policies. However, they also offer opportunities for resistance and transformation, as homosexual individuals and their allies reclaim these objects and use them as symbols of pride and resilience. The broader political and social context in Kenya has been shaped by the presence of these objects, creating spaces for dialogue and debate about sexuality and gender. It is essential to recognize the significance of these objects and their role in shaping the lives of homosexual individuals and their communities in Kenya and beyond.

Weight: 356g
Dimension: 151 x 230 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226830582