From a Metropolitan Community Churches news release, Jan. 26, 2012, disseminated by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ( GLAAD )
As hundreds of churches across the United States are preparing to light a candle this Sunday for David Kato on the first anniversary of his assassination, church leaders praised David Kato's life and the lives all advocates throughout the world who daily risk their lives to defend sexual minorities. In Uganda, leaders bravely light candles for David in a climate rife with hatred, threats and state sponsored persecution.
Signs of hope are celebrated in the midst of dire threats. Ugandan and US faith leaders are welcoming the historic statement of former South African President Mbeki who was in Uganda during the anniversary events. Mbeki compared the anti-gay laws in Uganda to the laws under Apartheid that allowed the police to raid people's homes in the middle of the night if there was suspicion that people were being intimate across racial lines. Although the infamous Ugandan "Kill the Gays" bill is tabled, many believe it is not dead and being gay is already illegal and punishable by imprisonment.
"President Mbeki made history in his statement and the world must take note, that the days are gone when persecution of people simply because of whom they love or how they express their gender will go unchallenged," said the Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson, moderator of the Metropolitan Community Churches. "There is no religion and no culture that can excuse the beatings, the bullying, the family rejection, the imprisonments, assassinations and executions that have harmed and killed gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people around the world."
"From South Africa to Uganda, people of good will are realizing that we need everyone to create a civil society," said Bishop Christopher Senyonjo of St. Paul's Center for Reconciliation. "We are working hard to bring everyone into conversation so that we can move forward united rather than divided."
Mbeki's words come a little more than a month after President Obama issued a White House directive for United States officials across the world to begin supporting programs and asylum for sexual minorities in fear of violence. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton then addressed the United Nations Commission on LGBT human rights and received a standing ovation. Days later, a United Nations report called on all governments to comply with international law by protecting the rights of all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The report noted that LGBT individuals are at risk of violence, killings, torture and abuse at the hands of family, community members or government officials.
Bishop Yvette Flunder, Presiding Bishop of the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, said, "As the leader of the world's largest network of predominantly African American congregations that affirm full equality for same-gender-loving people and gender non-conforming people, I am thrilled to hear the words of such global leaders as President Mbeki, President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton. We are here to tell the world that it is not homosexuality that is 'un-African' but homophobia. Before the colonizing and enslavement of Africans, indigenous African religion did not teach shame about sexuality and body. We are clear that hatred breaks apart families and communities and is neither African nor Christian."
Pastor Joseph Tolton who attended the events around David Kato's one year anniversary in Uganda said, "MCC and the Fellowship have joined together to create the Global Justice Institute which is working around the world in places like Uganda, Jamaica, Eastern Europe and China to challenge Christians to live up to the Gospel of love rather than falling prey to self-righteous judging that harms our families and communities. Religion is supposed to support people when they find love and family, not destroy them."
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Metropolitan Community Churches ( known as MCC ) was founded in 1968, and today includes over 200 ministries in 37 countries. From the beginning, MCC has been at the vanguard of civil and human rights movements and continues to be a powerful voice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ) equality and other human rights movements.
The Global Justice Institute is an independent 501 ( c ) 3 that serves as the social justice arm of the Metropolitan Community Churches. The GJI partners with The Fellowship of Affirming Churches on ministries in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Eastern Europe, Jamaica, Pakistan, China, Taiwan and more.
The Fellowship of Affirming Churches is network of primarily African American Christian leaders and laity moving towards a theology of radical inclusivity to serve all in need without prejudice or discrimination.
