Kasha Jacqueline Receives Nuremberg Award

Congratulations to LGBTI rights campaigner Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, who today received the 2013 Nuremberg International Human Rights Award:

On Sunday, 30 September, 2012, the jury of the Nuremberg International Human Rights Award, chaired by the Lord Mayor of the City of Nuremberg, Dr. Ulrich Maly, met in the Hirsvogel Hall of the Tucher Mansion Museum and made the following decision concerning the tenth award [pictured above].

The Award will be presented in Nuremberg Opera House on Sunday, 29 September, 2013.

You can read more about Kasha, and why she's up for the award, here.

In 2011, a fellow collague of Kasha's, Frank Mugisha, was awarded the Rafto Prize and, earlier this year, a doctorate by Ghent University for his work with SMUG.

Women Deserve Rape

Carrying on Uganda's farcical list of ministers, including the Minister for Ethics who raided an LGBTI workshop, thinks women should be arrested for wearing short skirts and that raping girls is natural.

Now we have the Youth Affairs Minister, Ronald Kibuule, who believes that women are responsible for being raped if they are not dressed 'appropriately,' and should even be arrested for inviting the crime:

In the Daily Monitor of 24th September, Youth Affairs Minister Ronald Kibuule went on record with the notion that women dressed indecently have asked to be raped and suspects who have raped such women should be released. To quote the newspaper he said "If she is dressed poorly and is raped, no one should be arrested". He also said that in cases of rape, police should first ascertain the dress code of the victim, and if they were dressed indecently, they should also be charged with inviting the crime. By these words, Mr. Kibule is promoting the rape of women based on their dress code; he is excusing rapists for their crimes against supposedly scantily clad women and; he is ensuring that victims of rape are afraid to come forward for fear of being persecuted for being raped. He should lose his position immediately since he clearly does not represent the well being of his constituents.

SIGN RONALD KIBUULE PETITION

There's also a Twitter hashtag: #KibuuleMustGo

The ironic part is that the lead campaigner to get him dismissed is Speaker of the House, Rebecca Kadaga. Ho hum.

Lively: Hero, Demon, Joke

Continuing his global campaign of venom, bile, and self-denial, everyone's favourite hate preacher, Scott Lively, is shown above suggesting that the only tragedy about someone punching a gay man in the face was that he later died, leaving the innocent puncher accused of murder.

'The rainbow belongs to God': Anti-gay US pastor sets sights on Sochi Olympics

When President Vladimir Putin recently banned “homosexual propaganda” in Russia, he joined sides in a new global culture war: a struggle to stop the march of gay rights abroad even as advocates wave rainbow flags in America. Now, as the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics approach, both sides are bracing for unrest — and an American pastor is taking credit for the law that started it all.

Scott Lively is a hero to some, a demon to others and a joke to still more...

Last month a federal judge allowed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit to proceed against Lively that alleges the pastor persecuted gays in Uganda and committed a potential “crime against humanity” — one that contributed to a bill that would have made homosexuality an act punishable by death. And yet the grey-haired 57-year-old has refused to quiet down.

Meanwhile, news today from SMUG, who are bringing that case:

Once again, Another victory in SMUG vs Scott Lively case today: Judge denied Pastor Scott Lively's effort to prevent case from moving to collection of evidence. Thanks Centre for Constitutional Rights CCR.

What a shame they don't revoke his passport whilst he's waiting to stand trial.

Toronto Holds Benefit Concert

Big shout out to Lauryn Kronick and Jacqie Lucas for organising a benefit concert to raise funds for Ugandan LGBTI rights campaigners.

A Luta Continua, isn’t just a way to raise money for LGBT safe-house programs in Uganda—it’s also a way for Toronto’s queer community to show solidarity with one half a world away. The proceeds will benefit Gender Equality and Health Organization Uganda, a group that provides safe houses for gay Ugandans who have been driven out of their communities.

LGBT people in Uganda face extreme discrimination. Homosexuality is punishable by life in jail, and violence is a constant threat.

“GEHO provides a place for about 180 LGBT Ugandans who’ve been kicked out of their homes and communities for their sexual orientation,” says Kronick. “Lately, they’ve been getting requests for more and more help. They run three safe houses, and they’re going to be holding pride celebrations later on this month.”

GEHO was started by Andrew Waiswa, a gay refugee from Uganda who lived in Toronto for several years before returning to his homeland to help his fellow Ugandans fight for their rights.

Some of the money will also go to help a GEHO Uganda volunteer who was attacked for her work earlier this year and now faces steep medical bills.

You can find out more about GEHO Uganda on their website.

If you'd like to do something to raise awareness, you might also like to consider holding a screening of Call Me Kuchu.

Sweden Welcomes Mwesigye

Reverend Canon Aaron Mwesigye

The town of Nyköping in Sweden this week welcomed the slightly creepy-looking Reverend Mwesigye to town, embracing him as a business partner:

Anti-homo-pastor visiting Nykoping (English translation)

Anti-homo-pastor besöker Nyköping (original article)

Reverend Canon Aaron Mwesigye is one of Uganda's presidential advisors, but also a spokesperson for the Church of Uganda and one of those who wants to put homosexuals in jail. Today he visits Nyköping.

Mwesigye is looking at the company Wedholms, which is one of the final candidates in a huge order of milk coolers to Uganda. He is welcomed by the Governor Liselott Hagberg, who has no plans to bring the situation of homosexuals into the speech.

Interesting he went for the same spectacles as this guy.

Peterson Ssendi

Peterson Ssendi

Interesting first-hand account of the dangers of journalism by gay Ugandan presenter Peterson Ssendi:

'What I do is deadly,' says Ugandan gay journalist

The radio presenter, 53, gave an interview with English Breakfast radio show in Netherlands where he discussed Uganda's anti-gay laws and what his experience has been like blogging about LGBT rights.

Ssendi revealed he has received threats for writing publicly about LGBT issues in Uganda since he started his blog in 2004.

You can find Ssendi's blog online, along with fellow LGBT rights journalist Patience Akumu.

Duplicitous Kadaga

Rebecca Kadaga is nothing if not a master of duplicity.

First, she famously promises to kill LGBTs as a Christmas present to the Ugandan people.

Having set forth her genocidal intent, she then gets a pat on the back from the Pope, promoted to Chairwoman of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Committee, and praised by The British High Commissioner, Alison Blackburne, for her outstanding stance on human rights!

Feel the bile rising?