肯尼亚教堂欢迎同性恋者成员

AS IT IS 2015-10-04 Kenyan Church Welcomes LGBT Members 肯尼亚教堂欢迎同性恋者成员

In early September, the Anglican Church of Kenya cancelled the license¹ of clergymen suspected of homosexuality.

The suspension sent a message that Kenyan churches do not welcome homosexuals.

But one location offers religious services to gays, homosexuals, bisexual and transgender people.

Lilian Kimani is 28 years old. She sits in the back of a church in central Nairobi that welcomes people who live non-traditional lifestyles.

“For a long time, I had not attended normal church, well, because I felt like the likes of me are not accepted maybe. Many people don’t know that I'm gay, you know? If they knew, they would look at me differently. But I choose to go where I am accepted, where I do not have to hide my identity.”

Reverend Barasa Makokha reaches out and ministers to sexual minorities. But some Kenyans strongly oppose his efforts. The clergyman says he has been threatened several times for welcoming homosexuals. The name of his church is not publicized because he fears for the safety of his parish.

But he refuses to give in.

“It will be wrong for any clergy² to preach a message that can create some spiritual violence in terms of excluding people, in terms of judging people and in terms of making people even hate themselves, especially the LGBT people, because the church has to change its perspective, and the church also needs to understand the LGBT people.”

Other religious leaders disagree with Reverend Makokha. Reverend Silaz Mukulwa of the Anglican Church says ministers should help homosexuals develop an interest in members of the opposite sex.

“A man should not sexually involve himself with another man. That is evil, and if any church engages in such things, the church is not worshipping the living God because God’s teachings is against it.”

When President Barack Obama visited Kenya in July, he said sexual minorities should have equal rights. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta called it a non-issue.

Homosexuality is illegal in at least 36 African countries, including Kenya. Punishment includes jail terms and fines.

Many people say they oppose homosexuality because of their religious and cultural beliefs.

The few who attend Reverend Makokha’s weekly religious service find moments of peace, free of discrimination.

Words in This Story

attracted – v. to cause a liking³ or interest in someone

homosexual – n. someone who desires members of the same sex

license – n. permission to do, use or have something

location – n. a place or position

gay(s) – n. another description for homosexual

bisexual – n. someone who desires both genders⁴

transgender – n. people who have a sexual identify different from their biological identity

identity – n. the qualities or beliefs that make a particular person or group different from others

minister to – v. to help or care for (someone or something)

perspective – n. a way of thinking about and understanding something (such as a particular issue or life in general)

1 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

2 clergy   

n.[总称]牧师，神职人员

参考例句：

• I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望，我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。
• All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。

3 liking   

n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢

参考例句：

• The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
• I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。

4 genders   

n.性某些语言的（阳性、阴性和中性，不同的性有不同的词尾等）( gender的名词复数 )；性别；某些语言的（名词、代词和形容词）性的区分

参考例句：

• There are three genders in German: masculine, feminine and neuter. 德语中有叁性：阳性、阴性和中性。 来自辞典例句
• Japan was fourth among the genders of foreign students. 日本在二十个留美学生输送地中列第四位。 来自互联网