Dear friends,
I have an important update for you from Pride here in Uganda.
Once again, the Minister of "Ethics and Integrity", Simon Lokodo, has done all he could to stop Pride. For the past few days, he has mercilessly monitored and intimidated LGBT activists. Lokodo went as far as threatening to arrest people for simply gathering at a public bar.
Activists have been forced to cancel tomorrow's Pride march, for their own safety.
I'm in Uganda's capital city of Kampala now and I can tell you that people are devastated. That's why we're asking All Out members from around the world to send a personal message of support to Ugandan LGBT activists – I'll make sure it's sent directly to them.
I've been meeting with activists all day and I know this small act of solidarity will mean so much to the courageous people who won't have a chance to march tomorrow.
As you can imagine, it's a constant battle to live safely and openly as an LGBT person in Uganda. It can be dangerous. It can be emotionally exhausting. It can seem like you're on your own.
But our friends here in Kampala told me these messages of love and solidarity help them to stay strong. Your words will boost Ugandan activists as they re-group in their impatient, defiant, and brave struggle for equality and dignity.
Thanks for going All Out,
Matt Beard, Executive Director
In Kampala, Uganda
