Disney Channel / Screenshots via Twitter
Cyrus confides in friend Buffy on Andi Mack
Kenya refuses to air the Disney Channel series Andi Mack because of its gay character and content.
Last month, Disney Channel made history with its first-ever LGBTI storyline.
In a recent episode, Joshua Rush’s character Cyrus came out to his friend Buffy. Future episodes plan to continue addressing this storyline, especially since Cyrus has a crush on the same boy lead character Andi does.
However, not everyone sees this as a good thing.
Dr. Ezekiel Mutua, CEO of the Kenya Film Classification Board, went on a Twitter rant about the series on Monday (30 October). In the tweets, he includes a press release from South African entertainment company MultiChoice announcing a ban on the series.
Attempts to introduce gay program in Kenya will be met with the full force of the law @StarTimesKenya @ZukuOfficial #GayProgWontAirInKenya pic.twitter.com/6FNug06qGv
— Dr. Ezekiel Mutua (@EzekielMutua) October 30, 2017
His first tweet reads: ‘Attempts to introduce gay program in Kenya will be met with the full force of the law.’
The press release states Andi Mack ‘will not be aired on any of the Disney channels in Kenya’.
Mutua followed up with several more tweets.
Homosexuality goes against the collective culture and values espoused by the people of Kenya #GayProgWontAirInKenya pic.twitter.com/GTexapslDn
— Dr. Ezekiel Mutua (@EzekielMutua) October 30, 2017
Children must be given correct information tht family is a union btwn people of opposite gender @InfoKfcb @Disney #GayProgWontAirInKenya pic.twitter.com/QvJIMhZQke
— Dr. Ezekiel Mutua (@EzekielMutua) October 30, 2017
Content promoting same sex relationships is against culture, retroggresive and illegal in Kenya#GayProgWontAirInKenya pic.twitter.com/qrG6TheiTd
— Dr. Ezekiel Mutua (@EzekielMutua) October 30, 2017
In his final tweet, he wrote: ‘Content promoting same sex relationships is against culture, retroggresive and illegal in Kenya.’
Mutua further drove the point home with a Facebook post on Tuesday (31 October), writing: ‘When it comes to protecting children from exposure to bad content we are resolute and unapologetic.’
Gay Content Will Not Air in Kenya. . .PERIOD!When it comes to protecting children from exposure to bad content we are…
Posted by Ezekiel Mutua on Monday, October 30, 2017
The move is not particularly surprising given Kenya’s track record with LGBTI rights.
The country’s penal code makes sodomy a felony and the Constitution bans same-sex marriage. The country also has no protections against discrimination based on sexual or gender identity. Furthermore, the country also prohibits LGBTI people from adopting.
