Friday 30 November 2012

Screening Appeal


We posted a trailer for this a while back.

Call Me Kuchu is a film that was released this month, featuring murdered Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato.

To help raise awareness of what is happening in Uganda, we are looking for help screening the film all over the world.

If you're interested in getting involved, check out the Call Me Kuchu: Take Action site (screening details at the bottom).

If you hold a screening, please send us a picture and we'll feature you on the blog!

David Bahati Gets Told Off


It's turning into David Bahati day today.

Having just introduced you to him as the guy who invented the Kill the Gays Bill, we received word that he's about to be reprimanded for 'unbecoming behaviour'.

The bill was due to be discussed earlier this week, but parliament was suspended until next week. Why? Well, because chaos broke out over a proposed oil bill:


And guess who was among the rioters:

Other legislators named include: Aruu County MP Odonga Otto, Kitgum Woman MP Beatrice Anywar, Opposition chief Whip Winnie Kizza, Wafula Oguttu (Bukhooli Central), Odo Tayebwa (Ishaka), David Bahati (Ndorwa), Harriet Ntabazi (Bundibugyo), Vincent Kyamadidi (Rwampara) and Florence Namayanja (Bukoto).

Those cited will be asked to appear before the Rules committee.

Calls have been made for them to face disciplinary action.

Couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke.

Bahati Logic

David Bahati is the Ugandan MP who first dreamt up the Kill the Gays Bill and presented it to a bunch of American Evangelists in 2009.

He's even got a Facebook page dedicated to him:


Not one of ours, though we understand the sentiment.

If you'd like to let him know what you think of his bill, you can find his contact details on his parliamentary page, starting with his e-mail address: dbahati@parliament.go.ug

Must admit, we would like to question his logic, publicly, using the Twitter hashtag #BahatiLogic

Here's what we think might be going through his mind...


(click to enlarge)

(click to enlarge)

(click to enlarge)

Thursday 29 November 2012

Citibank and Barclays Petition


There are currently two big petitions running to put pressure on Citibank and Barclays to denounce the bill:

  1. Petition One (Started by Patrick Strudwick, currently 489,393 signed)
  2. Petition Two (Started by Collin Burton, currently 489,302 signed)

We urge you to sign both of them and also tweet 'Condemn Uganda’s 'Kill the Gays' Bill' to @BarclaysOnline and @Citibank

From Patrick Strudwick:

Barclays and Citibank - two of the largest banks in the world - both have millions of pounds invested in Uganda and wield a huge influence on the government. Citibank has nearly $300 million in assets invested Uganda, and is a major leader in a U.S. Chamber of Commerce based in Kampala, Uganda’s capital. Barclays is Uganda’s third largest bank, with more than 1,000 employees in the country.

From Collin Burton:

Citibank and Barclays are also well known for supporting their LGBT employees and protecting their employees and customers from anti-gay discrimination. Citibank is a huge supporter of LGBT groups in the United States, and has received a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index. And this year Stonewall named Barclays the most LGBT-friendly company in all of Scotland, and the bank is regularly is ranked as one of the best companies for LGBT people to work for in the world.

Combined, their influence could sway the bill.

Cleo's Letter


The above trans symbol has been taken from TransGroit: "News, opinions, commentary, history and a little creative writing from a proud African-American transwoman about the world around her."

We'd like to share the following open letter from a Ugandan SMUG supporter. It's also been published in the following article:


*

Dear Honorables,

I greet you all in your distinguished capacities. I have never even for a second thought that I would ever have to write a letter to parliament, that my words would even have to be read by a people as you. I find myself, though, at a point in my life, where fate-if you believe in it- has bestowed upon me this duty to speak for the many voiceless out there, who like myself, find themselves at a point where your decision will determine, if they will get to take another breathe in this country, as free citizens or not. I pray then, that my words may not be in vain, but that they may, appeal to that humanity, that I know lies at the core of each of you.

I go by the Alias of Cleo. Am a 26 year old Transgendered person. With my ambitious persona, and insatiable thirst for knowledge I’ve managed to see myself through school to the post graduate level. I am a public worker, a scientist and a researcher to be specific, and earn an honest living from that. Am a pentetocostal Christian, loving God, though with my liberalist and realist values I respect other people’s sentiments however divergent they are from my own.

I was born a biologically male child to two very loving parents, Batooro by decent. Despite the love and care that they bestowed upon me, my childhood was tainted with a lot of misery. Being a transgender person, with my atypical behavior, and dress code that seemed to clash terribly with the stereotypical gender requirements of my society, I was faced with a lot of rejection from friends and family alike.

My family and friends though, have-with time, and a lot of patience and struggle-come to understand my situation and not to judge me. And a few months ago when I made a monumental decision to fully transition into a girl, they have shown me so much affection and support, especially psychological. For me this I consider the biggest successes in my life, that my family and friends-despite our divergent values and their earlier negative sentiments-have finally managed through a very strainous process,-that I should say, was not without wounds and tears- to understand and accept me, as a person, as their child, as their friend, as their sibling, because that is the basic essence of what brings us together.

Being a transgendered person is not about who I am attracted to sexually, its about what gender I identify with. Being a trans girl, means that I was born biologically male, but with the physiology and psychology of a girl. At puberty I experienced a male, but largely female pubertal development that left me very confused, and rejected in all my social circles for I was the black sheep. My parents did not know whether to protect me from boys or girls, but finally it so happened that I was brought up in a girls’ hostel up to the age of 15.

Growing up a transgender person meant that, I had to deal with my teenage burdens alone with not a soul to tell, not my parents or peers or sibling, to disclose my darkest secrets to. But to cry myself to sleep every night, wishing I was dead, to battle with depression and suicidal tendencies that’s all I remember in my teenage life.

I wonder then, why people say it was my choice to be this way, why would anyone choose a life as lonely as this, a life of misery, pain, rejection, abuse and depression. And though, I made it, many haven’t, because their self-esteem, their confidence, and their vitality, fails them in light of all the negativities that surround them. It’s hardly the disgustingly abusive world that the media paints of us, for if there is any abuse sustained even then by any party, it’s by us.

I ask myself, how one can judge me, before one even know me. I understand this though, because for so long I was hated by people before they even knew me.

Being transgender, like being gay or a lesbian is not a choice. What is rather a choice is accepting it for a fact. What is a choice is if you-at some point in life -decide to not live a masked life, under the guise of a straight, or asexual person like I did, and restrain yourself, from everything that you know you are from the core of your being.

It is very hard living your life, through other people’s eyes, trying hard to make them happy while you restrain yourself of who you are, or even demonize your actual being because of their negativities. It a strange reality, that I can loosely liken to solitude in a crowd, for even though there were so many people around me, none of them knew me, for who I was, for I deliberately concealed a part of me, that I considered a flaw to my being.

At some point though, I realized , just like everyone does in life, that I could not live entirely on other people’s perceptions of who I was, battling to make other people happy at my own life’s expense, for we all have but one life to live. I came to the realization that I alone knew better who I was, and that I had a rare opportunity to let people know who I was, and not let them tell me who I was. It had been a sad existence of existing, but not quite living, of living a lie, trying to convince myself and ultimately others that I was, what I wasn’t, and I was determined to end that cycle.

As a transgender person, I envision an utopia of gender neutrality, where all the genders in all their entireties are able to co-exist together, and live in utter harmony, and mutual respect of one another. So that if not to accept, they might tolerate each other just like we have tried to as people of different tribes, colors, religions, value systems and races; it’s the measure of our maturity as a civilization.

I believe then that in that same regard that all diversities; racial, tribal, religious, sexual, and gender alike instead of being criminalized and demonized should be celebrated and empowered, so that other than to condemn a sect of a few people to social redundancy, all the human resource that Uganda boasts of can be fully tapped.

Let’s not then condemn ourselves, that when people in the future look back at us, they will do so, just like we do at our ancestors, and exclaim at how inhuman and selfish they were to disregard the existence of a few people because of their color and race. Gender diversity, and sexual orientation is no premise to crucify someone, just because you do not agree with how someone dress like, what they act like, or who they sleep with.

What then, I ask myself, are we teaching the future generations, morality even at the expense of life?, morality in the eyes of a few self-righteous people?, that all people aren’t the same, if they are different?, that it is okay to be selfish

But being transgender as much as it is my gender identity does not holistically define who I am.

As people, like facets of a gem, we are complex in our ambitions, and aspirations, we are unique in our personalities, talents, and value systems, It is these things in their entirety, but neither of them in unison of others that defines us. The binary reductionist paradigm of looking at life, as being either black or white but rather as a continuum of several shades fails to address the issues of life as it is. Am only different because I am transgender, but other than that I am human, with red blood coursing through my veins just like you, with family and friends that care for me deeply, with personal sentiments and feeling like you do, I cry and laugh like you do, but I cannot be reduced and labeled as transgender as an item on a supermarket stall, because that’s not all I am . As a person I am more than that.

Being transgender and having been rejected most of my life, has taught serenity in the storm, it has taught perseverance, even when the storm wails on, it has taught me to respect other people despite their differences and has taught me to be patient. It has taught me, that life is not about being perfect, because in our flaws, in all our insecurities and in our inadequacies, we all have something to offer on the table, and that we are meant as humans to shine together but not in solitude, and that we must help our brothers and sisters to shine but not to trample upon them. To exist and live together, that is what humanity was meant for, for no man or woman is an island for alone we burn out, and fail, but together we flourish.

Finally we must not forget our ultimate calling and obligation for by virtue of our humanity we ought to love others like we love our selves, and treat them with the same delicacy and sensitivity that we wish be accorded us.

I pray then, that in your deliberations, by the power vested in, you, you may not forget our concerns, as humans, as Ugandans, as your brothers, sisters, mother and fathers.

With respect

Cleo. K.

Wednesday 28 November 2012

India Against the Bill

(Image from Dehli Pride march this month)

Tweet from Kasha Jacqueline (‏@KashaJacqueline) today: Parliament adjourned to next week. Now people send in those statements and opinions. We have some free days to lobby more. phewwwwwww. SIGH

So get writing those letters!

There's also a fantastic new Facebook group started up:


As they say: "Uganda is about to pass a bill to "KILL GAYS". It is not an isolated case, if it is passed there would be other countries citing the example to pass similar legislations."

Join up and show your support.

Tuesday 27 November 2012

Bill on Today's Order of Business


The bill is on today's Parlimentary Order of Business, commencing at 2pm EAT.

It does not appear to be listed for reading or voting, but comes under Notice of Business to Follow. They may set a date for the vote.

Check out post on How a Bill Becomes Law.

Here is some information posted to the SMUG Facebook group by Spectrum Uganda.

***
2012-11-27
Join to condemn the re-introduction of anti-gay bill in Ugandan parliament.

Spectrum Uganda Initiatives Inc speak on behalf of the MSMs (men who have sex with men) and gay people throughout Uganda to condemn the re-introduction of the anti-gay bill in the parliament of Uganda as indicated on Today 27th November 2012, the bill is number 1 on the order paper as business to follow.

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill under consideration by the Ugandan Parliament not only violates the fundamental human rights of Ugandans, but will also impede efforts to combat HIV/AIDS.

Uganda is in great danger of taking a step backwards – away from realizing human rights for its people and away from an effective, evidence and rights-based HIV response. Studies from the past three decades of the HIV epidemic have shown that recognizing the rights of people with different sexual identities is a crucial element of efforts to respond to the virus.
The efforts by health care providers where both stigma and discrimination has been eased, men who have sex with men to pursue HIV prevention, care, and support and treatment services will be hindered.
Politicians and religious fundamentalists have risen and continue to rise against oppressive structures like colonialism, apartheid, despotism and dictatorships. LGBTI persons however continue to experience oppression and violence that derive from colonial laws against adult consensual sex, ideas of morality disguised as African traditional values and religious fundamentalism.
The proposed bill has continued to fuel stigma and discrimination, harassment and arbitrary arrests, alienation from family and faith, lack of access to social services including health, justice, housing, education and dignified livelihoods to the LGBTI community in Uganda, despite Uganda being signatories to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, particularly Article 2, and the AU values of equality and non-discrimination. 
The anti gay bill is "Anti Public Health Bill", or the "Anti-Constitution Bill" as a matter of fact, this Bill represents one of the most serious attacks to date on the 1995 Constitution and on the key human rights protections enshrined in the Constitution of Uganda.
We call upon parents, teachers, land lords, local council authorities, medical and health care providers, civil society leaders, whether in a Community Based Organisation, NGO, or academic institutions , religious leaders, Members of Parliament , media houses to speak loud against the anti gay bill before parliament of Uganda .

We call upon our regional and international partners and allies for support in denouncing this bill in simultaneous demonstrations at Ugandan foreign missions in your respective countries.

We call upon the entire world to protest and demonstrate against this proposed barbaric anti gay.

On behalf of Spectrum Uganda Initiatives Inc, we thank you for your continued support.

For further details please contact:

Moses Kimbugwe
Manyagwa2000@yahoo.com
+256-782854391

Kizza Samuel Ganafa
kgsamuel2000@yahoo.com
+256-772120070

Wambere abudullah
jlongjones@gmail.com
+256-772635542

American Evangelist Involvement

There was some discussion yesterday about US Evangelist support for the Kill the Gays bill.

Sadly, there's a lot of evidence to suggest it.



Although Pastor Rick Warren is a highly disturbing character:


He's not the only one:


+


A Ugandan gay rights group [SMUG] filed suit against an American evangelist, Scott Lively, in federal court in Massachusetts on Wednesday, accusing him of violating international law by inciting the persecution of gay men and lesbians in Uganda.

It's well known that Obama went after the gay vote strongly during his first election campaign. In February 2010, Obama condemned the Kill the Gays bill as 'odiouse', but we don't seem to have heard much from him on the subject since?

There's an interesting summary article here:


But why did the Ugandan government decide that this was the time to solidify anti-gay hatred in the law? Why not earlier? Few realize the influence that the U.S fundamentalist right has on many Ugandan political and religious leaders. David Bahati, the bill’s main backer, is not only a member of Uganda parliament but was also part of “The Family”, a secretive American Evangelical political organization founded in 1935. Bahati was invited to the organization’s “National Prayer Breakfast” in 2008, where he first introduced the idea of executing homosexuals.

Worrying times. If you'd like to write to register your concern, you can tweet Rick Warren at: @RickWarren, find him on Facebook or e-mail: PastorRick@saddleback.com

You can e-mail David Bahati, the Ugandan MP who first dreamt up the bill here: dbahati@parliament.go.ug (further contact details).

You can also visit the United States Select Committee on Foreign Relations website, and send an e-mail to all those listed down the right-hand side. If you have trouble contacting anyone, you can look them up on the List of Senators. You don't have to be American to do this. It might help to hear views from across the world.

Try to keep it civil, formal and polite.

[Note Dec. 2012: another one to add to the list. Disturbing video of an American Evangelist, David Dykes, calling for funds towards the bill.]

BBC Documentary

A short documentary by the BBC from 2010 about the attitude to homosexuality in Uganda.





Monday 26 November 2012

U.S. Envoy to Uganda


Today's main news:


The top U.S. diplomat in Africa met over the weekend with leaders in Uganda to express concerns about an anti-gay bill pending before the country’s parliament that could be headed for a vote as soon as this week, according to the State Department...

“As we have regularly said, we call on the parliament of Uganda to look very carefully at this because Uganda’s own Human Rights Council has made clear that if this were to pass, it would put the country out of compliance with its own international human rights obligations,” Nuland said. “And so, Assistant Secretary Carson had a chance to make that point again and our strong opposition to this, to the president, to the parliament and to key decision makers in Uganda.”

There's another article here:


Which makes the important point: “Uganda’s own human rights council has made clear that if this were to pass, it would put the country out of compliance with its own international human rights obligations."

Conservative MP Calls for Aid Cut

Mike Freer, Conservative MP for
Finchley and Golders Green
Following on from UK MEP Marina Yannakoudakis' call to cut aid to Uganda should the Kill the Gays bill be passed, gay Conservative MP Mike Freer has added his voice to the campaign:


In his letter to Justine Greening, Mr Freer writes: “As you will be aware, the Ugandan Government are taking an increasingly strident tone to the issue of homosexuality. New laws are about to be passed which will further persecute the LGBT community in that country.”

He adds: “Indeed, the Speaker of Parliament has described the new legislation as a ‘gift to the people’.

“I do not believe it is appropriate that we continue to use British taxpayers money to aid a regime that not only refuses to respect the rights of minorities, but actively encourages their persecution including physical attacks.

The article goes on to state:

The proposed Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill will no longer include capital punishment after scrutiny by a parliamentary committee.

The bill had initially proposed the death penalty for certain homosexual acts, but still presents an array of draconian punishments including life imprisonment.

It has now been approved by Uganda’s Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

Hold onto your seats, people.

Sam Kutesa

Sam Kahamba Kutesa
Foreign Minister for Uganda

A few days ago, we mentioned Yokasi Bihande, the Ugandan anti-gay Minister of Parliament convicted of embezzling 20 million shillings (£4,700/$7,500).

Whilst compiling an updated list of contacts for the Kill the Bill letter writing campaign, we noticed something else you might find interesting.

Back in December 2009 (yes, this is how long this 'odious,' to quote Obama, bill has been running), GayUganda blogged the following:

In a statement issued yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa said the government does not support the promotion of homosexuality “just like we cannot promote prostitution.”

That's the same Foreign Affairs Minister, Sam Kutesa, mentioned on our letter writing list.

Yes, the same Foreign Affairs Minister, Sam Kutesa, who reportedly resigned in October 2011 over corruption allegations:


Perhaps whilst writing to him about the Kill the Gays bill, you could also pose the question: "How on earth are you still Foreign Minister?" -  info@mofa.go.ug

Also, his Wiki page currently reads more like a CV. Would somebody like to do the global knowledge base a favour and pop in a little mention of the 'corruption controversy'?

It's becoming clearer and clearer that this bill is, at least in part, a distraction technique to hide the millions of shillings being stolen by serving politicians.


Sunday 25 November 2012

Urgent Call for Action


Please send statements to the addresses below.The Anti Homosexuality Bill could pass this week.We condemn the Bill in its entirety. All the articles are already provided for in the  constitution and penal code.

"Courage is our virtue. Freedom is our goal" - Kasha Jacqueline

For further information on the campaign, please contact her:

Email: jnkasha@gmail.com
Tell: +256 (0) 7724 63161


To write to express your opposition to the bill, please use the following contact information. 

If you are in the UK, please also use Write to Them to contact your local MP and members of the House of Lords.

We ask that you please follow Amnesty International's Letter Writing Guide. Be firm in your opposition, but keep it civil. Here are some tips on phrasing your letter.

***
[We have had reports of some e-mail addresses bouncing from the list below. We're constantly working to update this information, so check back. Keep trying, and if you know of any changes to contact details, let us know.]


***
 

President: Yoweri Museveni 
Title: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Museveni 

Address:

Parliament of the Republic of Uganda
Plot 16-18 Parliament Avenue
P.O BOX 7178, Kampala, Uganda.


Fax: +256 (0) 414 436 102
E-mail: museveni@starcom.co.ug

--

Secretary Office of the President: Mrs. Thecla Kinaalwa
Email: Ugandasecretary@opm.go.ug

--

Speaker of Parliament: Rebecca Kadaga 
Title: Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga   

Address:

Parliament of the Republic of Uganda
Plot 16-18 Parliament Avenue
P.O BOX 7178, Kampala, Uganda.


Fax: +256 (0) 414 346 826.
Email: rakadaga@parliament.go.ug

--

Prime Minister: Amama Mbabazi
Title: Rt. Hon. Amama Mbabazi

Address:

Postel Building 
Yusuf Lule Road 
P.O. Box 341 Kampala 

Fax: +256 (0) 414 341 139   
Email: ps@opm.go.ug      
Website: http://www.opm.go.ug/


--

Minister of Foreign Affairs: Sam Kutesa


Address:
 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
P.O.Box 7048, Kampala
2A/B Apollo Kaggwa Road
Kampala
256
Uganda

Fax: +256 (0) 41258722/232874
E-mail: info@mofa.go.ug


--

State Minister of Ethics and Integrity: Simon Lokodo
Title: Hon. Simon Lokodo  

Address:

Parliament of the Republic of Uganda
Plot 16-18 Parliament Avenue
P.O BOX 7178, Kampala, Uganda.


Fax: +256 (0) 41434 3177
Email: info@dei.go.ug 

--

Minister of Health: Christine Ondoa
Title: Hon. Dr. Christine Ondoa

Address:

P.O. Box 7272 Kampala Uganda
Plot 6 Lourdel Road

Nakasero
 

Fax: +256 (0) 4142 31584
Email: info@health.go.ug


--

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs: Kahinda Otafiire
Title: Hon. Kahinda Otafiire
Fax: +256 (0) 4125 4829     
E-mail: info@justice.go.ug

--

Minister of Gender, Labour & Social Affairs: Kabwegyere Tarsis 
Email:  support@whatcouldbe.info  

--

You can also voice your support for LGBT rights in Uganda to:

Director General Uganda AIDS Commission: Dr. Kihumuro Apuuli   

Address:

Office of The President Parliament Avenue
P.O. BOX 7168 
Kampala
Uganda

Email: uac@uac.go.ug

Saturday 24 November 2012

Rights Around the World


After Wednesday's post outlining why the struggle for LGBT rights in Uganda is important for the world, here's an article exploring rights around the globe.


Homophobic persecution and discrimination is rife in large parts of the world, and the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are still not recognised or protected by international law. Nonetheless, progress towards equality is being made thanks to the defiance and bravery of activists...

It goes on to say that the "total criminalisation of homosexuality contin­ues in nearly 80 countries." That's approximately 41% of the countries in the world.

It also explains that: "homophobic oppression is most extreme in the Islam­ist states that impose the death penalty for same-sex relations, in­cluding Saudi Arabia, Iran, Mauritania, Sudan and Yemen."

Of the 193 member states of the UN, only a handful have re­pealed nearly all major legal inequalities against LGBT people: the Netherlands, South Africa, Belgium, Spain, France, Brazil, Germany, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Portugal, Canada, New Zealand and, more recently, the UK.
 
Britain’s record was not always so positive. Until 1999, when legislative reform began, the UK had the largest number of homo­phobic laws of any country on earth – some of them dating back centuries. Thanks to an astute 20-year twin-track campaign of di­rect action protest and parliamentary lobbying, today the UK is one of the world’s most progressive countries on LGBT rights.

The article ends on an upbeat note:

In almost every country on earth, there are LGBT freedom movements – some open, others clandestine. For the first time ever, countries like the Philippines, Estonia, Columbia, Russia, Sri Lan­ka and China are hosting LGBT conferences and Gay Pride cel­ebrations. Via the Internet and pop culture, LGBT people in small towns in Ghana, Peru, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Vietnam, St Lucia, Pal­estine, Fiji and Kenya are connecting with the worldwide LGBT community. The struggle for LGBT liberation has gone global. We’ve begun to roll back the homophobia of centuries. Bravo!

Which echos GayUganda's mention of how important support from the international LGBT community is. 

Keep following the blog, keep writing to the Ministers, keep contributing.

Friday 23 November 2012

MPs Drop Death Penalty

(Image from this article)

NOTE (1st Dec. 2012): This report was wrong. Further investigations show that the death penalty still stands. Read this article for an update.



Breaking news today:


A committee of Ugandan MPs has endorsed the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill but dropped the death penalty provision, an MP has told the BBC.

MP Medard Segona said "substantial amendments" had been made to the bill but said he was not allowed to reveal further details.

Please don't start celebrating just yet.

As one member of the SMUG forum pointed out:

Meaningless, I'm afraid. After all, which is better? A quick death, or a slow one in a UG prison? (Also, last time they said this, they didn't drop the hanging, they just changed some words to make it LOOK as if they dropped the hanging. You can't trust these people.)

SMUG's Advocacy and Policy Officer went as far as to say: "VERY VERY BAD NEWS! Change of words not penalty."

This is just a neat little move to try to relieve international pressure. Not killing people is not the same thing as promoting equality and basic human rights. Until the bill is off the table altogether, we'll keep reporting on it.

Thursday 22 November 2012

David Cecil

David Cecil


[UPDATE: Jan. 2013 - David Cecil is now free.]


A Ugandan court has postponed legal proceedings for British theatre producer David Cecil until next year, his lawyer has said.

The 34-year-old was due in court on Thursday to face charges of ‘‘disobeying lawful orders’’ of the Uganda Media Council after refusing to let officials review his play, the River and the Mountain.

The play, whose main character is a gay businessman who finally gets killed by his own employees, was performed eight times at theatres in Kampala during August.

According to AFP, John Francis Onyango, Mr Cecil’s lawyer said the trial had been adjourned until 2 January 2013 because police were still carrying out investigations.

Mr Cecil has now been granted a request to travel to the UK before the next hearing, although Sky News reports that his family have been forced to remain in Uganda in order to make sure the producer does not abscond.

BBC Article: "Mr Cecil faces two years in jail if convicted."

You can sign the petition here.

Wednesday 21 November 2012

Nigeria Moves Against Gay People


Here's why the fight for equal rights in Uganda is so important. It sets a president for countries all over the world. If the persecution of any group is ignored in one country, it sanctions abuse in others.

There is a video attached to the following article, outlining what is happening in Nigeria:


14 years' imprisonment for gay couples. 

The reasoning from Senator Ahmed Lawan:

The population of this world would diminish.

What a tragic damnation of Nigeria's education system, that a Senator does not possess even basic mathematical reasoning.


In a quarter-century, at the rate Nigeria is growing, 300 million people — a population about as big as that of the present-day United States — will live in a country roughly the size of Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada. In this commercial hub, where the area’s population has by some estimates nearly doubled over 15 years to 21 million, living standards for many are falling.

The last thing Nigeria needs is more population growth.

Whereas only 2-10% of a population is thought to be gay. Even if 10% of the population of Nigeria were gay, it wouldn't come close to stemming their population increase problems.

And they put this man in charge of decision making?

Chilling.

If you'd like to write and point this out to him, his parlimentary e-mail address is: alawan@nigeriansenate.org

Let us know how you get on.