Sign this Change.org petition to speak out against Uganda's 'Kill The Gays' bill

The Ugandan legislature could vote any day on a so-called “Kill the Gays” bill that could result in legalizing the death penalty for any LGBT person in the country. But Citibank and Barclays together have hundreds of millions of dollars invested in Uganda and wield significant influence in the country, just as banking lobbyists wield influence with Congress in the US. If Citibank and Barclays speak out against the "Kill the Gays" bill, Ugandan legislators will take notice in a hurry.

Collin Burton is a Citibank customer -- he’s also gay. Collin started a petition on Change.org asking Citibank and Barclays to speak out against the "Kill the Gays" bill. Click here to sign Collin’s petition right now.

Citibank and Barclays are both big supporters of LGBT rights for their own employees, yet they invest money with a government that is threatening to execute LGBT people. "I expect Citibank and Barclays to live up to the values of equality and fairness, not just list them on their websites," Collin says.

If Citibank and Barclays speak out against the "Kill the Gays" bill, Ugandan legislators will see that they are risking the business relationships that keep their government afloat.

Abstinence group with ties to Ugandan preacher who advocates death penalty for gays got millions in federal funds

The founder of a Florida teen abstinence group has ties to Ugandan pastor Martin Ssempa, who has advocated for a national law that includes the death penalty for those convicted of homosexual acts and is the star of the infamous 'Eat Da Poo Poo' viral video on YouTube. Project SOS, based in Jacksonville, has received more than $6.5 million in federal funding.

Ugandan LGBT activist murdered

David Kato, a spokesman for an LGBT rights organization in Uganda, was found murdered at his Kampala home this week. Kato was involved in a suit against a tabloid paper that had published pictures of people it said were homosexuals under the headline, "Hang Them!" The killing was condemned in a statements issued by the White House and the State Department, with President Barack Obama saying, "The United States mourns his murder and we recommit ourselves to David's work."

Uganda's death-penalty homosexuality bill killed in committee

A draconian Ugandan bill that would have called for the death penalty of homosexuals in certain circumstances has stalled in a legislative committee and is unlikely to be passed this session, sources say.

Below is the infamous YouTube video in which the chairman of The National Task Force Against Homosexuality in Uganda rails against the evils of homosexuality and the "eating of poo poo."

Ugandan activist to talk gay rights in the United States

One of Uganda’s most outspoken and prominent human rights activists, Ms. Valentine (Val) Kalende, is visiting the United States under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program to focus on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) advocacy. Ms. Kalende will have discussions with members of government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, faith groups, and the media, as well as with local and federal government officials. In turn, she will talk with U.S. interlocutors and broader audiences about the Ugandan human rights situation and challenges faced by members of the LGBT community.

As a human rights-LGBT rights advocate and Programs and Communications Manager of Freedom and Roam Uganda, Ms. Kalende has been deeply involved in opposition to a proposed “anti-homosexuality” law introduced in 2009 in the Ugandan parliament. The controversial law would sentence some LGBT people to life in prison or even death. A former journalist, Ms. Kalende has written a full accounting of the anti-homosexuality movement in her country. She has also raised awareness of how this legislation would impact all of Ugandan society. Ms. Kalende has been harassed, beaten, and arrested because of her advocacy work. She has been featured by U.S. and international news organizations as one of the most courageous human rights activists in Uganda.

Ms. Kalende’s program includes visits in Salt Lake City, Utah (July 7-10) and Louisville, Kentucky (July 10-13) before concluding in Washington, D.C. (June 13 – 15). This exchange experience is designed to provide her with an in-depth understanding of U.S. government systems and political organization at all levels; civil rights protections and equal opportunity laws in the United States; advocacy strategies adopted by organizations to influence policy and effect positive change; organizing strategies across sectors, from building a movement to peaceful protests; challenges and work of the American LGBT movement; faith communities and LGBT issues; media coverage of human rights issues and use of media to advance organization’s message; and, the work of international human rights organizations focused on Uganda and gender issues.

Obama: Anti-gay Ugandan bill "odious"

This morning, President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke out against the pending anti-homosexuality bill in Uganda at the 58th National Prayer Breakfast. Hosted by members of Congress and sponsored by the Fellowship Foundation, otherwise known as The Family, the breakfast was attended by foreign leaders, U.S. government officials and invited guests. The breakfast has been attended by every president since President Eisenhower, and takes place annually in Washington, DC.

 

During his address, President Obama stated that it is unconscionable, at home or abroad, to target lesbians and gays for who they are. Moreover, he described the Ugandan anti-homosexuality bill as “odious.” Secretary Clinton stated that she has spoken to President Musseveni of Uganda about the despicable nature of the pending legislation. In addition, she ensured breakfast attendees that her Department will continue to address international human rights violations of lesbians and gays.

 

Read more at www.HRCBackStory.org.

Call to Action: Protect gay Ugandans from state-sanctioned murder

HRC reports that if we don't act quickly, a terrifying bill now being considered in Uganda could make homosexuality punishable by life imprisonment or even death.

Act now by clicking here and sending an email make sure our leaders use their influence to help protect LGBT Ugandans from this homicidal bill.

Good news and bad news for Ugandan anti-gay law

The good news is that Ugandan authorities have indicated the death penalty is likely to be removed from the country's controversial proposed anti-gay legislation. The bad news is that "serial offenders" would still face the prospect of life in prison.