Obama Will Not Hesitate to Bring Up LGBT Rights in Antigay Kenya

Obama is not caving to angry Kenyan protesters and a homophobic president, who want him to keep his mouth shut about gay rights on a forthcoming visit.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

July 08 2015 7:12 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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The same day that protesters in Nairobi warned President Obama not to bring up the issue of LGBT rights during his visit to Kenya later this month, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Obama would not be deterred in his push for equality.

"We do not want Obama and Obama, we do not want Michelle and Michelle," protesters chanted Monday in the Kenyan capital, reports Agence France-Presse. "We want Obama and Michelle and we want a child!" The approximately 100 evangelical Christian antigay activists are anticipating the president will encourage Kenya to embrace its LGBT citizens. But the homophobic group in Nairobi, many wearing shirts and carrying signs saying "Protect the Family," warned the president not to push what they consider a dangerous agenda.

"It is important for us as Kenyans to know that the U.S. is not God, and thus we cannot follow them blindly," Bishop Mark Kariuki, a protest organizer and evangelical Christian clergy member, told AFP.

The evangelicals are empowered by their president, William Ruto, who's currently on trial at the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity -- the day before tothe rally, Ruto railed against gays during a church service.

Meanwhile, in Washington, Earnest was asked by a reporter if the president was forbidden to discuss LGBT rights during his trip to Kenya. Earnest's response:

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"I had not been made aware of that particular announcement from Kenya. Obviously, we have been clear that when the president travels around the world, he does not hesitate to raise concerns about human rights. And that's been true when he's traveled to places like China; it will be true tomorrow when he meets with the General Secretary of Vietnam. And I'm confident that the president will not hesitate to make clear that the protection of basic universal human rights in Kenya is also a priority and consistent with the values that we hold dear here in the United States of America."

When pressed again as to whether a visit by the president is predicated on him not discussing certain subjects, Earnest said, "Absolutely not. Absolutely not."