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Homosexuals demand acceptance
in society
17 August 2007- Kampala, Uganda-
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Ugandans held their first-ever press
conference at Speke Hotel yesterday to launch a media campaign to advocate for
their rights.
A rainbow banner declaring "God created us like this, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI), Let Us Live In Peace" hung above the row of
seven panelists, some of whom wore elaborate masks to hide their identity. The
atmosphere was almost festive, as many human rights and feminist groups gathered
in support.
The English/Luganda statement issued by the Sexual Minorities Uganda (Smug), a
coalition of four Ugandan LGBTI organisations - discussed issues of HIV/Aids,
police brutality and discrimination.
Smug demanded safe access to health care for LGBTI people, saying, "To
successfully stop HIV/Aids, we must treat every person with the dignity and
attention they deserve."
"Our goal with this media campaign is to reach out to all Ugandans so that
people realise we are not something imported from the West," said spokesperson
Laurence Misedah, a gay Kenyan who participated in the meeting to show
solidarity from across East Africa.
"We were accepted in our communities before the colonialists came and we ask you
for that same acceptance that was part of our African culture before we were
destroyed by laws from the West."
Medical doctor Paul Semugoma exposed the lack of education about LGBTI health in
medical schools. He said when an HIV positive gay man came to his office, he did
not know how to advise him on safe sex.
"A patient came to me, entrusted me with his
health, and even with all my training I did not know how to help him. That was
when I realised that if we were going to stop the HIV/Aids epidemic, we needed
to educate ourselves about sexual health for gays and lesbians, too," Dr
Semugoma said.
Citing the Kinsey report and the Stonewall studies, Dr Semugoma stated that
3-10% of the population is LGBTI. If three per cent of Ugandans are gay, and
there are 15 million Ugandans over the age of 18, it would mean that there are
at least 450,000 LGBTI Ugandan adults.
Aids activist Beatrice Were criticised the government policy because it does not
include outreach to gay people for prevention, testing, or treatment.
"We are off target with our policies and efforts," Ms Were said. "Because we are
denying a population education and treatment. Blame and exclusion will only cost
us lives."
Police
A man wearing a mask, and a name card with the alias "Douglas," condemned the
brutality and corruption of police treatment of LGBTI people. "The goal of the
police is to protect all people within the borders of Uganda," he said. "It is
not legal for the police to beat or bribe people."
However, LGBTI people report that police have repeatedly demanded sexual favours
or personal bribes in exchange for release from custody.
"This is not protecting Ugandans, it is threatening people for profit. That is
certainly not within the law,"" exclaimed Douglas.
Public opinion
Sarah Mukasa, a human rights defender and long time women's rights activist,
sympathised with the persecution facing LGBTI people in Uganda.
Ms Mukasa compared the current demands from homosexuals with the fight for a
woman's right to choose her life partner.
"We have big problems in Africa, but two consenting adults choosing to have a
relationship is not one of the big issues," she said.
Minister of Ethics and Integrity Nsaba Buturo continues to state that
homosexuality is illegal and should not be considered a human right. The
community affairs official for the Uganda Police declined to comment on the
assertions made at the press conference regarding police corruption and
brutality.
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