Dear friends,
Last week, I joined LGBT Ugandans in Kampala to celebrate Pride. The first few events exploded with love, passion, and hope from this community.
But then, during a Pride beauty pageant on Thursday, the police violently raided the venue.
Whips, clubs, and fists were used against anyone who stood their ground. 16 people were arrested and people were beaten, sexually assaulted, and humiliated by the police. Some needed hospital treatment.
One attendee at the pageant was 22-year-old Jonas*. He hasn't told anyone he's gay. It took him four hours to muster up the courage to go by himself. It was his first LGBT event.
He's told us how happy he was that evening – seeing queer people like him at the event, celebrating themselves without shame. But when the police stormed the building, he was terrified, thinking of the violence he would face from his family if he were outed or arrested.
This gut-wrenching fear led to him to jump from the fourth floor of the building. He survived, but is seriously injured and faces large medical bills he cannot pay.
Saturday's main Pride Parade was postponed after Reverend Simon Lokodo, Uganda's Minister of Ethics and Integrity, threatened to incite mob violence against participants. A day later, he said gay people needed to be ‘rehabilitated’ to lead ‘normal’ lives.
Our friends and partners know what this means. Lokodo is hunting them down.
They can’t go home. They can’t use their phones and email freely. They need immediate help renting safe houses outside the city so they can avoid arrest or attack.
I spent all of last week with these LGBT heroes. I saw the never ending reserves of strength they find to continue fighting with pride, dignity, and determination. Please show them that you stand with them too and make an urgent donation today.
Thanks for going All Out,
Matt Beard
Executive Director
*Identity changed for protection
