Uganda gay rights activist David Kato killed

[sabrina 1]

There is a seriously disturbing anti-gay climate in Uganda where being gay can land someone in jail for up to 14 years. So when a Ugandan tabloid recently published the names, addresses and photos of 100 gay men suggesting that they be hanged, many gay people went into hiding.



Ugandan Tabloid Tells People To Hang Homosexuals

Uganda has a strong anti-gay climate, where the legislature is currently debating a proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill that would further criminalize homosexuality with harsh prison sentences or death.

But one Ugandan tabloid has taken the anti-gay hatred a step further. The newspaper included an article on Uganda’s “top” homosexuals, inviting people to attack the men listed. The front page of the newspaper read “100 Pictures of Uganda’s Top Homos Leak,” next to a banner reading “Hang Them.”

The newspaper released the men’s photos, names, and addresses. Since it was published, at least four of the gay men on the list have been attacked, and many others are hiding to protect their lives.

David Kato was a Gay Rights Activist. Last year he spoke out against that proposed law, which caused controversy around the world, that would have made being Gay punishable by death. World wide outrage when news of the proposed law was published, has caused the government to freeze the law for now.




Ugandan Gay Rights Activist, David Kato

Uganda gay rights activist David Kato killed

A Ugandan gay rights campaigner who last year sued a local newspaper which named him as being homosexual has been beaten to death, activists say.

Police have confirmed the death of David Kato but say they are investigating the circumstances.

Uganda's Rolling Stone newspaper published the photographs of several people it said were gay next to a headline reading "Hang them".

.....

Witnesses have told the BBC that a man entered Mr Kato's home near Kampala, and beat him to death before leaving.

His Sexual Minorities Uganda (Smug) group said Mr Kato had been receiving death threats since his name, photograph and address were published by Rolling Stone last year.

His Gay Rights group had complained about the tabloid's publishing of the article. He also had spoken out in protest about the proposed Death Penalty for Gays law.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a statement calling for the Ugandan Government to pursue this case diligently and to find the killer or killers of Mr. Kato.

"David Kato's death is a tragic loss to the human rights community," said HRW's Maria Burnett.

He was a very brave man and truly is a great loss to the Gay Community in Uganda and elsewhere in the world.

We are told that violent words spoken by elected officials and entertainers are not threatening or dangerous to those they are aimed at.

But here is another case where someone who was unbalanced enough to kill most likely read that tabloid and took it as permission to go murder someone.

R.I.P. David Kato ~ I hope this senseless killing and the world wide attention it will probably get, will cause enough outrage in Uganda to begin to bring about a change in the climate of hatred for Gays in that country.

It should surprise no one to learn that the anti-gay sentiment in Uganda is "led by politicians and clergy members with deep ties to conservative U.S"

[Joanne98]

1. Rachael Maddow needs to do more shows about the "Family"

[sabrina 1]

2. They have their tentacles everywhere ~

Even in other countries.

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. Kick for exposure. Maybe our President can speak publicly about this?

That would help enormously.... exposure-wise.

OK. Well, I can dream, can't I?


How about Biden? Clinton?

Anyone.

[sabrina 1]

4. Actually Obama did address the issue of Uganda's anti gay

climate and the law that was being proposed there. I think that worldwide condemnation stopped that law from passing.

Obama condemns Uganda anti-gay bill as 'odious'

US President Barack Obama has criticised as "odious" proposed anti-homosexuality legislation in Uganda.

The bill calls for long jail terms or the death penalty in some cases of homosexual intercourse.
It is "unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are," he told politicians and religious leaders at a prayer breakfast in Washington.

He was pretty strong on the issue, and Uganda backed away from the bill later.

[Smarmie Doofus]

8. Good on Obama. OTOH....

...that was a year ago. Let's have MORE. It doesn't seem to have resonated in the MSM here. ( I never heard about it, for example. For whatever that's worth.)

And since American rw-ers seemed to haver injected themselves into the toxic mix there... it's inarguably a domestic issue in the US.... as well as a moral and human rights issue internationally.


DEMs in the senate and House?? Anything happening there?

And... off topic ( but not really) : 14 year penalty for being gay wasn't enough; they escalate it to LIFE; that doesn't work. Homosexuality endures. Next stop: the murder penalty. Ya gotta marvel at the psychotic consistency of their logic.

[LeftishBrit]

5. RIP David Kato.

This is horrifying. There is blood on many hands, from the actual killers to the Rolling Stone 'journalists' to those politicians and church leaders in Uganda and abroad who whip up hatred for gay people.


Sadly there are a few nutters in the UK who support the Ugandan persecution of gays, such as Stephen Green of 'Christian Voice':

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/12/21/christian-leader-supports-death-penalty-for-gays/

[sabrina 1]

9. And in the article in the OP, it states that the politicians

who are pushing the hatred in Uganda, are 'very close' to religious people here in the U.S.

Not happy to spread their hatred at home, they are going abroad to do it also.

Thanks for the link ~

[Octafish]

6. The same crowd who instigated the hatred in Uganda wants to do the same in the U.S.

"David Kato's death is a tragic loss to the human rights community."

His death is a tragic loss for all humanity.

[sabrina 1]

10. Yes, his death diminishes all of us.

The long arm of U.S. fundamentalism reaches around the globe it seems. Spreading their hatred abroad as the article points out.

[Starry Messenger]

7. recommend.

[suffragette]

11. I'm sorry I wasn't able to recommend this

Only heard of it just today.
Such a sad loss.
R.I.P. David Kato