Makena Njeri reacts to government ban on LGBTQ content
Makena Njeri has described as ‘shocking’ a recent ban on LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) content in movies by the Kenya Film Commission Board (KFCB) is shocking.
The ban was announced by KFCB acting Chief Executive Christopher Wambua and Njeri, who is lesbian and an LBTQ activist, explained on her Instagram page that the ban had left her distressed.
“This isn’t really a shocking situation. As a filmmaker and a journalist and an advocate for the LGBTQ community this is my take,” she shared in part.
“I don’t think we should be worried about their progress but about our future and where we are going. I am extremely confident about our generation and where we are going. The people I speak to, the people I know, the people who are woke…I am even more confident in the generation that follows me, Gen Z,” said Makena.
The Bold Network CEO further explained the current generation wouldn’t be muzzled by old-school censoring methods as there were too many channels for them to share their content.
“These people are vocal, they are too many outlets to air their content. I think that we should stop looking at content from the lens of ‘promoting same-sex relations’. Let’s also think of the fact that people are going to get educated.”
“I want the Millenials to be educated about the community, I want the Gen Z community they need to have content that they can watch. Content that they can look at that they know that they aren’t alone.”
She concluded by saying that she is hopeful that as the times are changing, things will get better.
“It doesn’t shock me that people will try to run away from LGBTQ content that includes inclusivity but I am extremely hopeful cause I know where we are going.”
While announcing the ban in an interview with Spice FM, Wambua, explained that the country’s laws do not allow for same-sex relationships and it was thus logical for the same to be extended to movies.
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