Asylum Support Task

Huge shout out to the LGBT Asylum Support Task Force:

The LGBT Asylum Support Task Force was formed because LGBT persons are fleeing countries where it is illegal for them to be gay. Their families back in their country of origin may have disowned them, they could have been fired when their sexual orientation became public or was assumed. They might have become homeless or recipients of torture, imprisonment, or horror and they could have even watched friends and lovers die. 

The Task Force started in 2008 when a Jamaica gay man told his lawyer, through his tears, that he was hungry, had no resources, and didn’t know where he would sleep that night. 

You can find them and support them online.

Uganda Celebrates Ignorance and Hate

(Image from this article)

Seems neither America nor the EU could talk any rational sense with the Mugabe-in-the-making maniacal President of Uganda.

Instead, Museveni has been rolling in his own ignorance like a pig in filth, leading a celebration of his country's descent into the dark ages.

Uganda throws a party to celebrate passing of anti-gay law: Rally shows how homosexuality is being used to represent all the evils besetting the nation

At a stadium in Kampala, 30,000 Ugandans gathered to give thanks to the president, Yoweri Museveni, for passing the anti-homosexuality act. Monday's event combined the fanfare of a mass political meeting with the party atmosphere of a cultural festival.

Uganda president leads anti-gay rally

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has led a rally celebrating his country's new anti-gay laws, saying homosexuality creates grave health problems and that gays have always been regarded as abnormal by Africans. 

Museveni made the comments on Monday at a "thanksgiving service'' organised in the capital Kampala by a coalition of Ugandan religious leaders and government officials who said the president deserves credit for defying Western pressures over the legislation.

Anti-Gay Rally in Ugandan Capital Draws Thousands

Anti-gay hostility in Uganda ratcheted up a few more levels on Monday, when the country’s president, Yoweri Museveni, spoke to a crowd of thousands—including many children—who had rallied in support of the administration’s horrific “aggravated homosexuality” law, which was approved in February. According to reports from Reuters, the throng “applauded when Museveni declared homosexuality ‘unhealthy’ ” and included kids sporting signs “with the word ‘Sodomy’ crossed out.”

As The Guardian article points out, gay people are being used as a scapegoat for all the evils besetting Uganda at the moment, and that's a lot of evils, mostly in the form of corrupt government officials. 

When ignorance and indignation combine, very bad things happen.

Brendan Eich Destroys Firefox's Reputation

Brendan Eich, CEO of Mozilla Firefox

[UPDATE: Result - he's quit.]

Brendan Eich, CEO of Mozilla Firefox, has single-handedly started a firestorm that sees him at loggerheads with the company he heads.

Whilst Mozilla have gone out of their way to assure their customers that they fully support equal marriage, their CEO has farted on his company's equal ops policy by stating that he may continue donating money to fight equal marriage for LGBT people.

You'd sack an employee for racism or sexism, but you promote a homophobe to head of your company? 

Go figure.

Here's five facts you need to know about this limp willy. Including the news that dating site OKCupid have blocked Firefox browsers in protest.

Credo have launched a petition currently over 73,000 people, and Change.org have done the same with almost 100,000 signatures, calling for his dismissal.

Get signing!

EU to Meet With Kutesa

Well, today should be interesting:

Uganda, EU hold talks over anti-gay law

Ugandan officials said the country’s foreign minister, Sam Kutesa, would be meeting on Friday with the head of the EU delegation in Uganda, Kristian Schmidt. 

“It is a dialogue between the European Union and the Uganda government on the anti-homosexuality Law,” Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman, Fred Opolot, told AFP.

Sam Kutesa, in case you didn't know, is the current Foreign Affairs Minister who resigned in 2011 over corruption allegations.

The government allegedly lost some $150m (£95m) in various scams during the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in the capital, Kampala, reports say. - BBC

Along with MP Yokasi Bwambale's conviction for theft, this led to the UK suspending aid in November 2012.

Facebook Reinstates Gay Hate

In a dramatic U-turn Facebook have just reinstated the Ugandan Youth Coalition Against Homosexuality page, claiming that it is not hateful against gay people!

Two days ago they reviewed the site and deemed it offensive enough to remove.

(click to enlarge)

Today, they changed their minds.

(click to enlarge)

Redouble the effort to get it removed. Go here to find out how.

Absolutely disgusting decision by Facebook. Clearly their 'Community Standards' don't count for jack. Presumably they only protect communities that are white, straight or predominantly male? Feel like stirring up hatred against people because of their sex, colour, or orientation? Facebook, the perfect place to do it.

We will continue to document their failure in the history of gay rights.

[UPDATE: It appears to have been taken down again - for now.]

Fox Odoi Speaks Out

Thoroughly Decent Human Being: Fox Odoi

Shortly before Museveni signed the bill into law in February, West Budama North MP Fox Odoi pleaded with him not to. There have been only a handful of Ugandan politicians brave enough to raise their voices against the persecution of gay people, and his is one of the loudest. 

Former Vice President Dr. Wandira-Kazibwe is another, and together they are launching a campaign to challenge the constitutional legality of the bill.

Before it became legally mandatory to persecute gay people, Sexual Minorities Uganda were in the process of suing Simon Lokodo, laughingly called the Minister for Ethics and Integrity, for infringing on gay people's constituted human right to assembly. The case was predictably postponed again and again until the bill was passed into law and it became a criminal offence to admit to being gay. At which point the prosecution naturally dwindled.

Well, Fox Odoi and his free-thinking human rights defenders are putting forward a similar case: that the Bahati Bill is illegal because it is unconstitutional. In the following article, he outlines their case:

Uganda: Fox Odoi - Why the Anti-Gay Law Is Illegal

We argue, under the first ground of our petition, that Parliament was not legally constituted to deal with and pass this legislation. The problem is that if you do not have sufficient quorum, you do not have Parliament to deliberate on any matter. 

The rationale is if we have a very important issue that binds us as a country, it should as much as possible have all shades of opinion that represent the country. So, if you allow Parliament to pass a law without quorum, it will make it permissible for two people sitting to make a decision or law or constitutional amendment that will bind the whole country. 

I was not in Parliament that afternoon but I know for a fact that the Rt Hon Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi raised the question of quorum and I know that when the issue of quorum is raised, the presiding officer is supposed to call the register to ascertain by carrying out a head count. This was not done... 

We are also contending that by the law criminalising consensual same sex among adults, it contravenes equal protection before the law and is discriminatory and as such in violation of Article 21. What happens between two consenting adults should not be a concern to their neighbour.

These guys are our heroes. It cannot be underestimated how brave it is to stand up against this, whether you're risking your freedom as a political activist, or your career as a politician. These are hugely courageous men and women. Show them your support whenever and however you can.

Active Perspective

Activist, Clare Byarugaba

It's easy to get caught up in the politics of the Bahati Bill, but let's not forget the effect it has on human beings. Here are two perspectives from gay rights campaigners.

The Reality of Uganda’s Brutal Gay Ban: Clare Byarugaba endures the fear and violence that have followed her nation’s cruel crackdown. In Los Angeles, she and other female activists reported on their struggles for equality.

She has seen friends lose their jobs and get assaulted by the police. “A transgender friend, a mob attacked her and undressed her in public,” Byarugaba said. “I know people who have tried to commit suicide. People call me on a daily basis and say, ‘Give me five reasons why I shouldn’t kill myself.’” 

The ban is politics, plain and simple—the result of “U.S. anti-gay extremists” such as Evangelical pastor Scott Lively “coming to Uganda and saying ‘the gays are after your children,’” which inspired the president to seize on the issue, Byarugaba said.  

Activist, Frank Mugisha 

I am a gay Ugandan about to go home. This law will tyrannise my life: A day after the anti-homosexuality act was passed, a tabloid listed me as a 'homo'. This hatred is new to my country, and driven by US evangelicals

Uganda has always been a conservative society in which certain things are not discussed, but it never used to be a cruel environment for gay people. Twenty years ago we were not pursued by mobs, tortured by police, or run out of our homes. When I came out as gay the sort of hysteria that has since overwhelmed my country was unthinkable. If I were a gay 13-year-old in Uganda today, I probably wouldn't tell anyone. 

Many people I have met with over these past few weeks, including Britain's foreign secretary, William Hague, have asked me: what has changed so dramatically? It is true that same-sex sexual acts between consenting adults have been illegal in Uganda ever since the British introduced their penal code at the beginning of the 20th century. But this recent era of expanded criminalisation and virulent homophobia has been another gift from the west, this time from the United States.

It is certainly interesting to follow the logic of some vehement bill supporters: being gay is a Western import, which we will fight with Christianity, which is a Western import. 

USA Redirects Millions in Aid

The USA has joined the World Bank and a host of other countries in redirecting aid away from Ugandan gay-bashers:

Obama Administration To Take Action In Response To Uganda’s Anti-Gay Law

Money will be shifted away from the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, a group that has publicly come out in support of the anti-gay law and has received millions of dollars in grants from the United States to help fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Some $2.3 million will continue to go to the IRCU to continue treatment for some 50,000 current patients, but an additional $6.4 million intended for the IRCU will go to other organizations... 

because any LGBT person or LGBT ally who now enters Uganda is at risk, money intended for tourism programs will be redirected. 

“Therefore, approximately $3 million in funding designated for tourism and biodiversity promotion will be redirected to NGOs working on biodiversity protection,” Lalley said. 

And finally, the Department of Defense had several events scheduled in the country later this spring and those will be moved to other locations. “Certain near-term invitational travel” for Ugandan military and police personnel has also been suspended or canceled.

It is heartening to see such decisive action being taken, and hopefully this experience will lead to more responsible aid giving by economically developed countries in the future. Accountability needs to go hand in hand with grant-giving.

As for those who point out the level of homophobia in certain areas of America: it's not about the world we have, it's about the world we want to have. This is a positive step towards that.

Uganda's First Lady an Idiot

Janet Museveni

Facepalm moment:

Uganda’s First Lady: ‘If cows aren’t gay, how can humans be gay?’

Uganda’s First Lady has said if cows can’t be gay, then humans can definitely not be gay.

We hope the experts America sent have taken flipchart paper and plenty of crayons.

Letter from an Angry Lesbian

Nice letter on the FARUG  forum: 

A LETTER FROM AN ANGRY UGANDAN LESBIAN: 

Angry letter to the govt.. 

I am an adult. My family paid for my education I pay for my child. My family fed me I feed my child. I work my ass off I even create jobs. I pay my taxes, pay my water & electricity bills. I give my soul & sweat to my country. Where in the world does this govt get off by telling me what to do with my freakin body? How can they dictate on who I f*@^? Dont f@#&*n tell me what to do in my house.. dont tell me who to share my body with coz it's my goddamn freakin right to live my life and use my body as I please.. & btw nobody gave me a lesson about my sexuality coz it is inborn. Just like you one day realised your were normally having sex with your heterosexual partner, I was normally having the same feelings for my girlfriends. You cant change that just like i cant change you. I am lesbian and was born this way. The faster you realise this the easier it will be for all of us: me my girlfriend & the gov't! 

Signed ..Angry Lesbian..

UK Charity Commission Petition

The problems with the UK Charity Commission and Paul Shinners refuse to die. They're once again in the spotlight with a petition calling on them to act. Gay bashing is not a charitable purpose:

Please:

Sign the Petition

• Tell people about the petition
• Spread the memes on this page 
• Give this Facebook group a thumbs-up
• Write to the Charity Commission to make a complaint against Passion for Souls, Charity No.1131321: RSI@charitycommission.gsi.gov.uk

America to Send Gay Experts

John Kerry To Send Homosexuality 'Experts' To Tackle Uganda Anti-Gay Law

Secretary of State John Kerry announced on Tuesday U.S. plans to send homosexuality "experts" to Uganda to discuss the country’s new Anti-Homosexuality Act with President Yoweri Museveni, according to Buzzfeed.

Maybe after that they could send a couple of anti-corruption experts?

Museveni the Murderer

President Museveni opens his mouth on CNN and proves to the world what an ignorant tit he is. You'd get more sense talking to a brick wall, and certainly greater kindness. A 'modern leader' who stepped straight out of the Dark Ages.

Meanwhile, videos reporting to show 29-year old gay Ugandan Ssekasi John being beaten to death in the street continue to circulate. 

Travel Bans for Chief Homophobes

Dressed like this, it's surprising Huckleberry Finn and Judge Dread haven't been arrested for crimes against fashion, but at least we won't be seeing much of them in Europe any time soon.

Museveni, Kadaga Face Travel Bans

The Brussels-based European Parliament has backed a resolution imposing travel and visa bans against "key individuals responsible for drafting and adopting" the anti-homosexuality laws in Nigeria and Uganda. 

During its sitting on March 13, the members unanimously criticised the laws passed in both countries and said they were a "grave menace" to human rights. The members approved the non-binding resolution by a large majority which said the two countries violated the Cotonou accord on human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law. 

This means that individual countries will choose whether to effect the bans or not.

Let's see which countries have the mettle to stand up against homophobia.

It comes as freelance journalist Kevin Childs explains:

Persecuting Uganda's LGBT People Must Have Consequences: Target the Culprits Not the Population

The response from American and European governments has been strong on words, but with little action. Only the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway have indicated that they would change their aid policy towards Uganda, but the news last week that the World Bank has postponed a loan intended for healthcare projects, because the passing of the law, amongst its many violations, discriminates against LGBT people in terms of access to health information and treatment, may mean that other major donors will review their policies. 

Targeting the poor of Uganda with aid cuts could be counter-productive and morally dubious. Targeting the sponsors of the Bill and its extra-Parliamentary flag-wavers by imposing travel bans and asset freezing would hurt only those individuals in a way that doesn't disturb the population at large. No more invitations to conferences and junkets; no more participation in U.S. or European sponsored programs in Uganda itself and elsewhere; it's the least they deserve for what amounts to the attempted annihilation of Uganda's LGBT community.

He goes on to list the key culprits:

• Rebecca Kadaga
• David Bahati
• Simon Lokodo
• James Nsaba Buturo
• Stephen Tashobya
• Pastor Martin Ssempa 
• Pastor Solomon Male 
• Giles Muhame
• The staff of the tabloid Red Pepper: Richard Tusiime, Chief Executive Officer, Arinaitwe Rugyendo, Chief Marketing Officer, James Mujuni, Chief Commercial Officer, Patrick Mugumya, Chief Operations Officer, Johnson Musinguzi, Chief Finance Officer, Ben Byarabaha, News Editor, Gazzaman Kodili, Deputy News Editor.

You can search most of those names on this blog, plus a few more.

The Fear of Persecution

Ugandan Campaigner Clare Byarugaba

The recent bill has torn apart families, as Clare Byarugaba highlights:

Ugandan gay rights activist says her own mother threatened to hand her into police over anti-gay laws

Clare Byarugaba, a Ugandan human rights officer, has spoken up on her experiences as a lesbian since the passage of recent anti-gay legislation, including an account of where her own mother threatened to turn her into the police. 

The advocacy officer at the Constitutional Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law delivered her speech on Friday at Los Angeles’s first Women in the World luncheon. 

She gave a harrowing account of how her life and the lives of other gay Ugandans have changed since President Yoweri Museveni decided to sign the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law.

Tireless campaigner Frank Mugisha, who was last year awarded a doctorate by Ghent University, has also voiced concern over his personal safety:

Frank Mugisha, Ugandan Gay Activist, Fears He May Be Imprisoned If He Returns Home

Ugandan activist Frank Mugisha was travelling outside his country when the notorious anti-homosexuality bill was signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni late last month. And now he’s not sure if he will be arrested and imprisoned upon his return, or thrown out of his home -- or both.

You can listen to his interview below.

Lively forms Deadly Alliance

The utterly repugnant Scott Lively is spending the lengthy time before his 2015 trial forming an anti-gay hate coalition.

Anti-gay advocates launch global ‘pro-family’ group

Two anti-gay advocates on Friday announced a new organization designed to combat the global LGBT rights movement. 

Scott Lively of Defend the Family International and Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality unveiled the Coalition for Family Values at the National Press Club in downtown Washington... 

Matt Barber of Liberty Council Action, Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern and Brian Camenker of MassResistance are among the more than 70 anti-gay activists and religious leaders from the U.S., Canada, Australia, the U.K. and Brazil who have thus far joined the coalition.

No doubt the Ugandan Youth Coalition Against Homosexuality is related to this.

EU Calls for Sanctions

The EU urges action over growing homophobia in certain African countries:

European Parliament calls for sanctions against Uganda and Nigeria over anti-gay laws

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution condemning homophobic laws in Nigeria and Uganda. 

The resolution calls on the European Commission and member states to take immediate action in regards to political cooperation, aid, and asylum, by using the Cotonou Agreement, which organises political relations between the European Union and 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries... 

MEP Ulrike Lunacek, co-president of the LGBT Intergroup, added: “These laws gravely undermine the most basic right of all: the right to life.  We know that the mere examination of these laws has already led to deaths.”

Major Facebook Fail

Facebook has always been rather confused between free speech and hate speech.

Time and time again they refuse to address blatantly homophobic and gay bashing groups. If you substituted the word 'homosexuality' above for 'Judaism' or 'whites', would they take more notice?

The above Facebook page exists here. 

1. Click the cog (Settings)
2. Report Page
3. I think it shouldn't be on Facebook
4. Hate speech
5. Drop-down menu: Targets based on gender or orientation
6. Continue
7. Tick Report to Facebook and Continue

A little while later you'll likely get a report stating that Facebook don't agree that it's anti-gay, and patronisingly suggesting you block the page if you don't wish to see it anymore.

(click to enlarge)

It seems to be numbers that make a difference. They said the same thing about Isabirye Richard's posts, but eventually took him off air.

Just think of all the energy that could be spent on real campaigning instead of battling Facebook over every piece of blatantly homophobic content. Whilst they ummed and aahed about taking down Isabirye's page, he was busy outing gay people and inciting others to violence. Facebook's delay may well have cost people their safety.

Perseverance people. Perseverance.

[UPDATE: Couple of weeks later, small triumph. Page removed.]

(click to enlarge)

[UPDATE: One day after posting that update, Facebook reinstated the page.]

(click to enlarge)

[UPDATE: It appears to have been taken down again - for now.]

Ugandan LGBTI Campaigners Challenge Bill

Dr Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe

Whilst Ugandan former Vice President Dr. Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe spoke out against the bill:

“In recent months, I have engaged with governments, public officials and civil society leaders in Africa, where we are seeing a dangerous resurgence of discrimination and homophobia in some countries.  

In Uganda, I highlighted to President Museveni that the criminalization of homosexuality only serves to fuel stigma and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons and risks undermining the national AIDS response, which is otherwise making significant progress.”  

Kazibwe further said in her meetings with members of Parliament, she expressed extreme caution that the passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Act would have negative public health implications and serious consequences for Uganda’s international reputation and support from donors.

The anti-homosexuality law was being challenged in court:

Rights activists have petitioned Uganda's Constitutional Court in a case challenging the validity of the country's new anti-gay measure. 

The activists — under a group called Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law — filed the petition Tuesday in the presence of some prominent Ugandan gay activists. 

Nicholas Opiyo, a Ugandan lawyer who helped to draft the petition, said the new anti-gay law violates the country's constitution because it encourages the discrimination of people based on sexual orientation. He said it will be several months, even years, before judges reach a decision in the case.

Probably about as many years as it'll take to bring Scott Lively to trial in America. The wheels of justice turn slowly, if they turn at all.

Lebanon Shames US, Australia and India

Whilst America allows lunatics like Scott Lively and Lou Engle to travel the world stirring up anti-gay hatred, Australia annuls gay marriages and India re-criminalises gay people, Lebanon joins the ranks of Scotland and South Korea in proving that love, human dignity and rational thinking is possible even at the highest levels of government: Historic Pro-LGBTI Court Ruling In Lebanon

A HISTORIC court ruling in Lebanon has made it the first Arab nation to no longer consider same-sex relations a crime.

Let's hope, unlike Australia and India, this moment of progress lasts, and is not suddenly revoked.

Gays Invaded Crimea, Says Lively

'Nazis were a bunch of aggressive gays' author, Scott Lively, has now decided that:

LGBT people are responsible for Russia’s invasion of the Crimean peninsula. - full article

Somebody should buy him one of these...

A Putin butt-plug, to putin your butt.

Same Sex Kissing Gives You Worms

Wonderful tongue-in-cheek post by The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science:

Look, it’s not because President Yoweri Museveni is an Evangelical Christian leading a fundamentalist Christian nation (with some sprinkling of Islam thrown in for the anti-gay cherry on top) that he just signed a bill into law that means life imprisonment for gay people and anybody who doesn’t report them. It’s that science shows us just how unhealthy same-sex relationships can be: President Museveni says same-sex kissing can give you worms.

Some of the comments are worth a read:

Typhon: Museveni and his ilk are not in the least bit interested in backing their faith-based position with real science...The fact what they refer to as science is laughable to start with and only selectively applied is almost irrelevant, for these individuals it is emotion/intuition that determines what is and is not true science and facts be damned. 

Springbox: These guys really spend a lot of time thinking about this issue don't they. They bash gay sex in the church, in public office and in the streets. They spend a great deal of time thinking about it and talking about it....I wonder. I mean I'm straight and I never think about gay sex and my friends who are gay don't even spend much time on the issue, it simply is what it is. 

Sue Blue: Just another travesty we can thank American Evangelicals for. They're like plague-carrying rats, spreading death and social havoc wherever they go.  

antipodesman: It is too painful to read of such ignorance particularly when it resides in the minds of those controlling the lives of others.

Stop Gary Skinner

Posted by God Loves Uganda:

Megachurch pastor Gary Skinner and his Ugandan Watoto Church are fierce supporters of Uganda’s draconian anti-gay law. They are about to tour the USA again to raise money from unsuspecting U.S. donors, while exploiting young orphans.

Please help stop the anti-gay Skinners from funding their hatred in the USA: complain to the US State Department and the churches hosting the Skinners.

Find out how you can help stop him HERE.

Save Cheptoyek

Bernard Randall, the British man deported from Uganda recently, has appealed to the British government to help save his Ugandan partner, Albert Cheptoyek.

Gay British man deported from Uganda urges government to help his partner: Bernard Randall says ministers need to do much more for Albert Cheptoyek, facing seven years' prison on indecency charges

The 65-year-old, who is battling to get his partner, Albert Cheptoyek, out of the country, where he faces up to seven years in jail on indecency charges, said that other countries had sent strong messages to Uganda over its persecution of gay people, but Britain needed to be "much more aggressive"...

Randall met Cheptoyek in Entebbe on 5 January last year while on holiday with a friend from Conyer who introduced him. "The attraction was instant – it was love at first sight," said Randall, whose wife died in 2011 from ovarian cancer. "I knew that I was gay as a teenager, but 50 years ago it was a completely different world. Gays were portrayed in a very negative way, whereas now there is much more much positive coverage."

Given the UK's history of deporting and murdering gay Ugandans, we don't fancy his chances, but we urge you to help by doing the following:

Write to:

Home Secretary Theresa May: mayt@parliament.uk / fax: +44 (0)20 7219 1145

Immigration Minister: ministerforimmigration@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Ask them to intervene and allow Albert Cheptoyek safe passage to Britian.

Orange go Red (Pepper)

Oh, tut tut.

World communications giant Orange have been caught advertising - and thus financially supporting - Red Pepper.

Let them know it's not alright by changing your provider, spreading the above meme, and signing the All Out petition. You can also tweet them at @Orange

[UPDATE: Orange have reportedly pulled their advert.]

What Can You Do?

Logo of Uganda’s Civil Society Coalition on
Human Rights and Constitutional Law

Good article in HuffPost: Why All LGBT People Should Care About Places Like Russia, Uganda and Gambia - "Welcome to being LGBT in 2014."

Wherever you are in the world, there is always something you can do to help.

Find an updated version of What the World Can Do here on Melanie Natha's blog. It includes sections on how LGBTI Ugandans can help the global campaign, as well as updated guidelines on how national and international campaigners can get involved.

Meanwhile, keep educating yourself through following this blog and other groups fighting for LGBTI human rights. Find your voice and get active!