Appeal to World Bank to protect LGBT Ugandans

Six social justice organizations are appealing to the World Bank not to approve a $90 million loan for health services in Uganda until fair treatment of LGBT patients can be guaranteed. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim put that loan on hold in February after Uganda President Yoweri Museveni signed that country’s harsh Anti-Homosexuality Act. … Continue reading →

As activists advise, no U.K. travel ban on anti-gay Ugandans

The United Kingdom is following the advice of Ugandan activists in its decision not to ban visits by homophobic Ugandan politicians in response to the enactment of the harsh Anti-Homosexuality Act there. During a House of Commons debate, Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire pointed out other steps that the government has taken in Uganda in … Continue reading →

Uganda kids ask: Why do Christians cheer over jail for gays?

How can a parent explain anti-gay hatred to a child? Stella Nyanzi — a Ugandan anthropologist, social science researcher and mother — writes here about her children’s puzzlement over why so many people were celebrating the passage of the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Act in a parade and public gathering on March 31. (Nyanzi photographed the anti-gay … Continue reading →

The rotten roots of Uganda’s anti-gay celebration

LGBT rights activists in Uganda were rattled by the display of widespread anti-gay sentiment and the ill-informed homophobic speech given by President Yoweri Museveni during today’s Parade and Thanksgiving Celebration for the enactment of the country’s harsh new Anti-Homosexuality Act. In his speech, Museveni disregarded the broad scientific consensus that homosexuality is a natural phenomenon, … Continue reading →

4 steps U.S. is taking to counter Uganda’s anti-gay law

BuzzFeed reports that the United States will take these four measures in response to Uganda’s new Anti-Homosexuality Act: 1. 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 … Continue reading →

WRONG: Uganda moves slowly on anti-gay law

CORRECTION: The Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act was published (“gazetted”) on March 10, which is contrary to what this article reported  on March 22. The newly italicized portions of this article turned out to be incorrect. — Editor, April 2014] Ugandan supporters of LGBT rights have clarified the status of the country’s new Anti-Homosexuality Act, [which has … Continue reading →

LGBT activists seek Obama’s help in African crisis

March 13, 2014 President Barack Obama The White House Washington, D.C., 20500 Dear Mr. President, Thank you for your leadership in advancing the human rights of all people and for repeal of laws that codify discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (LGBTI), most recently in response to new laws in Nigeria and … Continue reading →

LGBT Ugandans: Here’s how you can help us

Ugandan supporters of human rights, including LGBT rights, have published  guidelines for their local and international allies on how best to fight against the country’s new Anti-Homosexuality Law. Travel advisories; advocacy by celebrities, businesses and churches;  strategically targeted aid cuts, but not general aid cuts, are among the actions endorsed by the Civil Society Coalition … Continue reading →

Uganda opposition takes aim at anti-gay law

Agence France-Presse reports from Kampala, Uganda: Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye on Wednesday [Feb. 26] criticised tough new anti-gay laws, saying that homosexuality was not “foreign” and that the issue was being used to divert attention from domestic problems. “Homosexuality is as Ugandan as any other behaviour, it has nothing to do with the foreigners,” … Continue reading →

Ugandan advisers falsified report to boost anti-gay bill

Anti-gay advisers to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni tampered with a report that Ugandan scientists prepared for him as he deliberated about whether to sign the harsh Anti-Homosexuality Bill. Museveni had asked for a panel of experts to advise him on whether homosexuality is fixed at birth or is learned behavior that can be chosen. “The … Continue reading →