UCC Coalition urges prayer and advocacy in response to murdered Ugandan activist

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

UCC Coalition urges prayer and advocacy in response to murdered 
Ugandan activist

> Written by Gregg Brekke
> January 28, 2011

The UCC Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns 
has issued a press release calling on congregations to pray and take 
action in response to the slaying of Ugandan LGBT activist David Kato.

Kato was originally targeted last October, along with other persons, 
by a Ugandan magazine that published pictures, addresses and contact 
information for those they deemed "Uganda's Top Homos" along with a 
banner that read "Hang Them."

The Rev. Barbara Mason Rathbun, the Coalition's moderator, asked for 
UCC congregations to "hold the LGBT people of Uganda and their 
families in prayer."

The complete release, including contact information for the Ugandan 
Embassy and U.S. State Department, is below.

Coalition calls for prayers Sunday for slain Ugandan LGBT activist 
David Kato, urges letters to Ugandan embassy

In the aftermath of the murder Wednesday of a gay rights activist in 
Uganda, the United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns today 
called on members of the church to pray this Sunday for the 
persecuted LGBT community in Uganda.

David Kato was killed in an attack in his home. Kato's funeral in his 
home village Friday was marred by a pastor's denunciation of 
homosexuality as "ungodly" and the refusal of Kato's neighbors to 
bury the coffin.

Kato was one of several LGBT activists in Uganda whose photos and 
addresses were published by a Ugandan newspaper last year under the 
headline, "Hang Them!"

"Let each congregation in our church hold the LGBT people of Uganda 
and their families in prayer," said the Rev. Barbara Mason Rathbun, 
the Coalition's moderator. "Let's show in our own communities that 
violence against any human being because their sexuality or gender 
identity is different, or perceived to be different, is violence 
directed against all of us."

The Gospel reading in many congregations this Sunday will be Jesus' 
"Sermon on the Mount" (Mt. 5:1-11). "When we hear the words, 'blessed 
are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,' let's 
remember David Kato and all the women and men who face persecution every day."

"Under international law and the law of every civilized nation, 
governments have the obligation to create a safe environment for all 
of their citizens," said the Rev. Michael Schuenemeyer, executive for 
health and wholeness advocacy in the UCC's Wider Church Ministries. 
"While everyone has a right to a personal moral view about human 
sexuality, every citizen also has the right to freedom, dignity, and 
equal protection under the law."

Andrew Lang, the Coalition's interim executive director, drew 
attention to the connection between religious bigotry and violence 
against LGBT people. "When some American citizens in Uganda tell 
prominent civic and religious leaders that LGBT people are pursuing 
an 'evil agenda' to 'recruit schoolchildren,' they're adding fuel to 
the flames of hatred," he said. "Those who perpetuate the cycle of 
rhetorical violence should not be surprised when their words incite actions."

The Coalition is urging UCC congregations to contact the Ugandan 
embassy in Washington to demand that Kato's murderers be brought to 
justice and that the government assure the safety of all citizens in 
Uganda regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Copies of 
these letters should be sent to the U.S. Department of State.

> Contact information:

> His Excellency Prof. Perezi K. Kamunanwire
> Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
> Embassy of the Republic of Uganda
> 5911 16th Street NW
> Washington, DC 20011

> Assistant Secretary Michael H. Posner
> Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
> U.S. Department of State
> 2201 C Street NW
> Washington, DC 20520