Commonwealth Condemned as Ugandans Flee

Both the Commonwealth and UN have recently promoted lead Ugandan homophobes to positions of power within their institutions. 80% of Commonwealth countries criminalise gay people.

Commonwealth Condemned At Pride London Parade

'We are calling on 42 Commonwealth countries to repeal their criminalisation of same-sex relationships and to protect their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) citizens against discrimination and hate crime - in accordance with the principles of the Commonwealth Charter,' said Peter Tatchell, Director of the human rights organisation, the Peter Tatchell Foundation. 

'We are urging the organisers of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July to require every competing nation to sign a pledge to not discriminate in the selection of athletes for their national team. Article 7 of the Commonwealth Games Federation constitution prohibits all discrimination. But it is widely believed that most Commonwealth nations would refuse to select a LGBT athlete,' he said. 

Peter Tatchell has written to the Chief Executive of Glasgow 2014, David Grevemberg, asking him to ensure that all countries participating in the Commonwealth Games sign a non-discrimination pledge. 

See the letter here: http://bit.ly/1jlLqud

The Commonwealth, perhaps. Common sense - not so much.

Meanwhile: Hundreds of LGBT Refugees Have Fled Uganda 

According to organizers of Ken's U.S. speaking engagements and media interviews, not only Ken himself but the entire organization he represents would be in grave danger if his identity were known to those opponents of LGBT rights back home in Kenya.

"In our organization, we have 102 members who have come from Uganda in order to escape the antihomosexuality law and the violence and oppression it has created," Ken tells The Advocate in a phone interview.

Since Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act into law in February, virtually any Ugandan arriving at a refugee camp in Kenya is automatically assumed to be an LGBT person by other refugees, Ken says. The draconian law prescribes life in prison for many LGBT people and lengthy jail terms for anyone who "conspires" to commit homosexuality, or supports, houses, or affirms an LGBT person.

"The thinking is that Uganda is a relatively stable country for this region," says Ken. "The only reason to be a refugee from Uganda is because you are running away from the antigay law, because you are gay."

That assumption has led to acts of violence, deprivation of basic necessities, and the ostracizing of both LGBT and non-LGBT Ugandan refugees living inside Kenyan refugee camps.

May all those leaving their homeland to find safety find what they are looking for. May the Western douchebags who helped implement this regime of violence be held accountable for it.