'I fear for my life,' Letoya Johnstone opens up about hostile neighbours

Piece by: Peninah Njoki
Lifestyle

Kenyan transgender Letoya Johnstone says she fears for her life. After the courts refused to repeal section 162 of the penal code which criminalizes gay sex.

Letoya who is in the fashion industry says things have not been easy.

I am seeking for asylum as soon as possible.

Letoya added that things have become so bad that she is also living in fear in her neighbourhood.

Just look at this beauty. Look at this humility. Look at this law abiding citizen. Look at me, look at me now .

Just look at this beauty that is being attacked everywhere in the neighborhood because some people denied me a right to live. Why do you call me mean names ?

Letoya goes on to detail how overbearing the pain has become.

Adding that people are bashing her now but if she died today they would quickly place roses on her grave.

Don't you see me? Don't you even think of how I feel?

Keep kicking these doors of mine until you bring them all down.

And when am dead, lay a bed of roses in my grave.

She adds,

The pain is too much. Who are we not to shine ? "Anger" ends with the words "Why can't you see me? Everyone else can." while "Apathy" begins with, "So what are you gonna say at my funeral, now that you've killed me?"

In the middle of "Resurrection," , "Why are you afraid of love?

You think it's not possible for someone like you.

But you are the love of my life." Deep stuff, am I right?

What many do not understand is that some of these sexual orientations can be confusing to the individual as well.

Below are the differences.

Gay: The adjective used to describe people whose enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attractions are to people of the same gender (e.g., gay man, gay people). Sometimes lesbian is the preferred term for women.

Lesbian: Refers to a woman whose enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction is to other women.

Some lesbians may prefer to identify as gay or as gay women.

Bisexual, Bi: Refers to a person who has the capacity to form enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attractions to those of the same gender or to those of another gender.

Queer: This refers to an adjective used by some people, particularly younger people, whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual (e.g. queer person, queer woman).

LGBTQ: Acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer.