Lesbian Held Hostage Commits Suicide; Fourth Suicide.
Details Published and Written by Denis Nzioka in Identity Kenya magazine. Denis is the Chief Editor of Identity Kenya and a leading LGBTI activist and defender.
Unconfirmed reports say that a Kenyan lesbian who was being held hostage by her parents after realizing their daughter is gay, has committed suicide. The incident is said to have happened yesterday night.
The lady, identified as Joan Sandy Achieng, hailed from Mbita constituency and was living and working in Nairobi. She is said to have been held hostage by her parents who tried to marry her off to an older man after they discovered she was lesbian.
According to the reports, Joan's sexuality was known after her girlfriend attacked and stabbed her and on further inquiry by her parents, it was discovered the two were lovers.
Joan's close friend reports being stalked by unknown persons after trying to get in touch with her. Joan's parents allegedly cut her off from the world by confiscating her phones. She is also reported to have been held hostage since March in her parent's house.
Her parents are also said to have attacked Joan's friends who visited their home in an attempt to make contact with Joan.
'Her parents found one of her friends within the compound and thoroughly smashed the windows of her car, threatening to take legal action if they found her anywhere near their compound,' said a report.
It is also reported that Joan's father, in a bid to change her, and in collusion with her mother, got an older friend of his who was asked to 'impregnate' her. It is also alleged that the two were 'married off' secretly as part of this plan. Joan is reported to have said she was regularly abused.
It is also reported that Joan made a call to one of her close friends and said 'she had had enough and was ready to take her life and the misery that had become her life. She promised to call again to update her friends on her situation, but sadly, that call never came through.'
According to a source close to the family, Joan was found dead in her parent's house in what appeared to be a suicide. The source said they will provide more information only after the burial.
The case is being followed up by lesbian activists with assistance from Joan's close friends who included the last person she called three days to her death.
This is the fourth lesbian suicide according to activists. The latest case was in Kisumu where a lesbian couple committed suicide. They too had reported harassment.
Details Published and Written by Denis Nzioka in Identity Kenya magazine. Denis is the Chief Editor of Identity Kenya and a leading LGBTI activist and defender.
Unconfirmed reports say that a Kenyan lesbian who was being held hostage by her parents after realizing their daughter is gay, has committed suicide. The incident is said to have happened yesterday night.
The lady, identified as Joan Sandy Achieng, hailed from Mbita constituency and was living and working in Nairobi. She is said to have been held hostage by her parents who tried to marry her off to an older man after they discovered she was lesbian.
According to the reports, Joan's sexuality was known after her girlfriend attacked and stabbed her and on further inquiry by her parents, it was discovered the two were lovers.
Joan's close friend reports being stalked by unknown persons after trying to get in touch with her. Joan's parents allegedly cut her off from the world by confiscating her phones. She is also reported to have been held hostage since March in her parent's house.
Her parents are also said to have attacked Joan's friends who visited their home in an attempt to make contact with Joan.
'Her parents found one of her friends within the compound and thoroughly smashed the windows of her car, threatening to take legal action if they found her anywhere near their compound,' said a report.
It is also reported that Joan's father, in a bid to change her, and in collusion with her mother, got an older friend of his who was asked to 'impregnate' her. It is also alleged that the two were 'married off' secretly as part of this plan. Joan is reported to have said she was regularly abused.
It is also reported that Joan made a call to one of her close friends and said 'she had had enough and was ready to take her life and the misery that had become her life. She promised to call again to update her friends on her situation, but sadly, that call never came through.'
According to a source close to the family, Joan was found dead in her parent's house in what appeared to be a suicide. The source said they will provide more information only after the burial.
The case is being followed up by lesbian activists with assistance from Joan's close friends who included the last person she called three days to her death.
This is the fourth lesbian suicide according to activists. The latest case was in Kisumu where a lesbian couple committed suicide. They too had reported harassment.
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