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William769

(55,124 posts)
Fri Jun 27, 2014, 03:55 PM Jun 2014

Activists: Hundreds of LGBT Refugees Have Fled Uganda

Hundreds of LGBT refugees — whose existence has been criminalized under Uganda's draconian Anti-Homosexuality Act — have fled Uganda for neighboring Kenya after facing threats and being blackmailed, kidnapped, arrested, evicted and assaulted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, says a Kenyan activist and LGBT community organizer.

"Ken," who is currently touring the U.S. to raise awareness about the plight of LGBT people in east Africa with the help of American Jewish World Service, is traveling under a psuedonym for his own safety, the safety of the LGBT social services organization he runs in Kenya, and for the safety and security of its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex members.

According to organizers of Ken's U.S. speaking engagements and media interviews, not only Ken himself but the entire organization he represents would be in grave danger if his identity were known to those opponents of LGBT rights back home in Kenya.

"In our organization, we have 102 members who have come from Uganda in order to escape the antihomosexuality law and the violence and oppression it has created," Ken tells The Advocate in a phone interview.

http://www.advocate.com/world/2014/06/27/activists-hundreds-lgbt-refugees-have-fled-uganda

I realize that the U.S. has stopped funds to Uganda, but so much more needs to be done. They are literally fleeing for their lives.

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Activists: Hundreds of LGBT Refugees Have Fled Uganda (Original Post) William769 Jun 2014 OP
DU has a hard time with this issue because Catholic and Anglican Bishops support the anti gay law Bluenorthwest Jun 2014 #1
I know the feeling. William769 Jun 2014 #2
I feel for them, I really do. Imagine what it must be like to find that your counterparts are Bluenorthwest Jun 2014 #5
Yep. Look at that jackass in Texas. William769 Jun 2014 #8
And "Rev" Scott Lively is running for gov of Massachusetts theHandpuppet Jun 2014 #17
Attacks on women's rights, too RainDog Jun 2014 #15
yup La Lioness Priyanka Jun 2014 #3
Francis' silence speaks to his character. Dawson Leery Jun 2014 #6
+1. closeupready Jun 2014 #11
Pius XII is on his way to sainthood, never underestimate the derp geek tragedy Jun 2014 #13
Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2014 #4
I hope you like pizza. William769 Jun 2014 #7
Pizza is Roman, they might not care for it arcane1 Jun 2014 #9
Well, they got it anyway. William769 Jun 2014 #10
Pizza is from Napoli, not Roma.... Bluenorthwest Jun 2014 #14
Spoil-sport :P arcane1 Jun 2014 #16
They never learn.. served up instantly in most cases.. piping hot! Cha Jun 2014 #20
i do not have trouble with this issue too often christianity and taliban not that different. dembotoz Jun 2014 #12
This is so incredibly sad William. sheshe2 Jun 2014 #18
Kicking for visibility. icymist Jun 2014 #19
Mahalo for this, William.. from your link.. Cha Jun 2014 #21
Disgusting. Behind the Aegis Jun 2014 #22
 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
1. DU has a hard time with this issue because Catholic and Anglican Bishops support the anti gay law
Fri Jun 27, 2014, 04:02 PM
Jun 2014

and Francis supports them and DU wants to love Francis. So they pretend there is no pogrom. I have seen some Francis supporters openly mocking mention of the plight of LGBT Ugandans.

 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
5. I feel for them, I really do. Imagine what it must be like to find that your counterparts are
Fri Jun 27, 2014, 04:15 PM
Jun 2014

people like the Bishops in Uganda. But that's the fact and they need to either be proud of it or take some action, they should not expect others to help then maintain their illusions of righteousness. Especially considering the Church just keeps up the attacks in this country as well.

theHandpuppet

(19,964 posts)
17. And "Rev" Scott Lively is running for gov of Massachusetts
Fri Jun 27, 2014, 05:01 PM
Jun 2014

The seat he should really be running for is at the Hague.

RainDog

(28,784 posts)
15. Attacks on women's rights, too
Fri Jun 27, 2014, 04:45 PM
Jun 2014

People don't like it when others point out the obvious cognitive dissonance of holding to liberal political beliefs while fronting for an organization dedicated to homophobia and sexism.

It's especially irks me when people note that 85% of Catholics don't even bother to listen to their clergy on issues such as birth control, yet their support creates hardships for all women.

Maybe when it's also men whose lives are at risk, because of homophobic policies, some people will decide not to support religious groups that are dedicated to harming others, whatever lip service they give to the issue of poverty.

When the Vatican sells some treasures to elevate the lives of the poor, then I'll care about Frank choosing to sit on a simple throne.

Response to William769 (Original post)

dembotoz

(16,739 posts)
12. i do not have trouble with this issue too often christianity and taliban not that different.
Fri Jun 27, 2014, 04:30 PM
Jun 2014

the inquisitions (there were 3) were not carried out by the buddists ya know....

Cha

(295,907 posts)
21. Mahalo for this, William.. from your link..
Sat Jun 28, 2014, 12:51 AM
Jun 2014

"Ruth Messinger, American Jewish World Service president, tells The Advocate that her organization has made fighting for the rights of LGBT people worldwide is a major part of its mission because Jewish people understand what it is like to be oppressed by official government policies and government officials.

“In Africa and around the world, LGBT people are ostracized, threatened, and assaulted just because of who they are and whom they love,” Messinger says during a phone interview. “As Jews, we certainly understand all too well the reality of living in countries in which states sanction hate against minorities and trample their rights."

In Africa and in Russia among other places that oppress our GLBT brothers and sisters and Need all the bright light shone on them in the world.. and, I thank you for doing that, William.

Here's Hoping..

"It remains to be seen if that supposed legitimacy will make its way from the diplomatic corps to ground-level U.S. immigration procedures — or if LGBT Africans fleeing persecution will be granted a reprieve on the regular requirements to demonstrate financial means and family ties in order to secure a visa for extended stay and political asylum in the U.S. Thus far, activists continue to report a complex system for requesting asylum that remains out of reach for many in Uganda's already marginalized LGBT population."

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