UGANDAN HOMOSEXUALS Close Media Campaign: “LET US LIVE IN PEACE”

Press Release by Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG)

For Immediate Release: 08/10/2007

Today, Ugandan homosexuals announced the official close of the national media campaign “Let Us Live in Peace”. In 45 days of public conversation with the media, we, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) Ugandans, opened up our lives and shared stories about our experiences with the nation. The intensive dialogue on TV and radio stations and in newspapers brought about changed attitudes, increased understanding, and respect for homosexuals’ right to be left to live in peace.

Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), the umbrella organisation of four Ugandan LGBTI organisations, led the media campaign. “Through the media campaign, we wanted to have a dialogue with our own people. We wanted to start a discussion, for people to know the real picture of who we are, not just harmful myths,” explains Frank Mugisha, a member of the board of representatives of Sexual Minorities Uganda and chairperson of Icebreakers Uganda.

We, as homosexuals and transgender people, opened up these discussions to help our communities understand the suffering we go through on a daily basis because of horrible discrimination that many people did not realise was happening. We have explained how excluding homosexuals from HIV/AIDS programmes simply stalls the progress of the nation. Turning a blind eye to suffering and denying proper access to protection, care, and treatment to any human being is inexcusable.

Leaders in the police were publicly acknowledged and congratulated for their recent strong stance for justice and their enforcement of the law, which provides equal protection for all people against harm. Police, LDUs, and local government officials were urged to end discrimination and act in an upright and lawful manner in the course of their duties, respecting and protecting the dignity of all human beings.

The media campaign began with a remarkable press conference in which eight Ugandan homosexual and transgender persons we had chosen as our spokespersons for the community, each shared about an aspect of our lives. A respected medical doctor and a number of leaders in the women’s movement also gave public statements about the importance of respecting the human rights of all people.

During the press conference, some LGBTI people revealed their faces while others wore masks to represent the fact that anyone could be born homosexual or transgender. In fact, many LGBTI people took off their masks that evening and went home and sat with their families and friends to watch the evening news. We cooked your food that night, you ate it and nothing happened to you. We drove you around the following morning. We gave you a hug when you were so sad, and we were the ones there for you as a friend when you needed it. We cared for you when you were sick. You can see that we are part of the fabric that makes up this society.

The campaign helped to bring about greater understanding. We are thankful for how hospitable the media has been in providing a forum and discussion space during the 45 days. Throughout the dialogue, religious leaders, lawyers, doctors, teachers, and government officials offered their perspectives on the importance of providing protection for LGBTI people to be left to live their lives in peace. Through this campaign many people’s eyes have been opened to the fact that we were created as homosexuals and transgenders by God and that each person is an incredible, diverse expression of His creation, made in His image.

“I would like to thank the public for joining in the dialogue we opened. It’s been powerfully challenging for many who believed homosexuality is a myth,” says Julian Pepe, Office Administrator of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). “Even as we close this public campaign, I would like to urge you to leave the dialogue space open in your hearts, in your homes, schools, markets, and places of work. Our desire is to live calm lives in this beloved country of ours. Although we are no longer proclaiming from the media houses, our words still ring in every home, ‘Let Us Live in Peace.’”

For More Information Please Contact:

Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG)

Telephone: +256 312 294 859,
+256 753 103 348,
+ 0772370674,
+256 753 116 034
Email: info@sexualminoritiesuganda.org

Members: Freedom and Roam Uganda, Icebreakers Uganda, Spectrum Uganda, Integrity Uganda