Resilient Community: Nairobi's L.G.B.T.Q. Church Finds Sanctuary Amidst Persecution

Over the past decade, an underground church in Nairobi, Kenya, has relocated multiple times due to violence and discrimination. Despite the challenges, it has emerged as a vital safe haven, allowing L.G.B.T.Q. congregants to worship and connect with their identities away from persecution.

In Nairobi, Kenya, the only church led by and for L.G.B.T.Q. individuals has faced relentless challenges over the last ten years. This congregation, which has been uprooted from ten different locations, continues to provide a critical sanctuary in an increasingly hostile environment. The journey has seen them attacked by vandals at a center for sex workers and arrested by police at Nairobi’s Central Park. Access to city buildings was denied, and neighbors have physically assaulted them with stones.

Despite these adversities, the congregation has finally found a secret haven where they can gather and express their faith freely. On a recent Sunday, almost 100 worshippers came together in a nondescript building along a secluded street. As they entered, members of the church warmly screened all attendees, ensuring a safe environment. The pastor delivered a heartfelt sermon, which resonated deeply with the congregation, stirring tears and cheers in response to messages of acceptance and faith.

Many worshippers are refugees fleeing neighboring regions where L.G.B.T.Q. identities are met with lethal consequences. This clandestine service provides a precious opportunity for self-acceptance and worship, enabling individuals to embrace both their faith and sexual identities. The community's resilience is demonstrated each week, drawing between 50 to 200 attendees, who find solace, strength, and a sense of belonging in their secret sanctuary.