Kenyan author Binyavanga Wainaina has responded to a wave of anti-gay laws in Africa by coming out in a short story.

In the article titled, “I am a homosexual, mum” Wainaina writes,”Nobody, nobody, ever in my life has heard this.”

“Never, mum. I did not trust you, mum. And. I. Pulled air hard and balled it down into my navel, and let it out slow and firm, clean and without bumps out of my mouth, loud and clear over a shoulder, into her ear. ‘I am a homosexual, mum,'” he continued.

The article was published on Africa Is A Country is said to be a “lost chapter” from his 2011 memoir One Day I Will Write About This Place.

After the article was published, the award winning author told GlobalPost news website that it took a long time to finally decide to write it. He said,”Of course my friends knew [That I was gay] but I had been toying with how useful it would be to make a public statement for close to eight months.”

Binyavanga Wainaina is one of the highest profile people on the continent to come out. In Kenya, homosexuality is illegal and is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.