Wednesday 2 February 2011

Anti Gay Violence in Uganda

The shocking murder of Gay activist David Kato has reinforced the need for action to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Uganda. There has been a growing campaign of violence and prejudice. Ugandan citizens, including members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Uganda, fear being killed.

In an e-mail to General Assembly Executive Committee member, Rev David Usher, the Rev Mark Kiyimba of Unitarian Universalist Association of Uganda said yesterday:“Greetings and thanks for the message! Sometime I even lose the little strength and energy I may have for other poor and marginalized people like LGBT when such killing of Kato happens, and most surprisingly the police have just released a report and indicating that Kato's murder has nothing to do with Hate Crime!You should understand following the failure by the Government to pass the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, the campaigners Pastor Martin Sempa and Others started a news paper publication called the Rolling Stone! This News Paper was calling for the Hanging of Gay people in Uganda especially those who they had outed and Kato was among them, He took the newspaper to court and he had just gained an injunction that stops [them] from publishing more pictures of gay people. Just weeks away and he is murdered!”
Mark and his colleagues need our support at this dangerous and critical time. We cannot allow them to struggle alone. Whilst there is action we can take politically, your money can make a difference.

Our friends in the United States. the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), in partnership with the UU United Nations Office (UU-UNO), have launched the UUA/UU-UNO LGBT Uganda Fund, to help LGBT human rights activists—including members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Uganda—protect people whose safety is threatened and fight for social justice and LGBT rights.

I would urge you to give your support to this Fund.
For further information on the Unitarian Universalist Association of Uganda

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