MR. FRANK MUGISHA -- UGANDA: “The life and death of David will be honored as we struggle for justice and equality and win the hearts of people around the world because we are your sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.¨ Part Nine

Thousands of LGBT Advocates Pause to Grieve the Death of David Kato

·Anglican David Kato Remembered·

The National Religious Leadership Roundtable of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force:

In the wake of the brutal murder of David Kato, gay advocate in Uganda, thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender leaders attending the Creating Change conference in Minneapolis, February 2-6, paused to remember his life and vowed to work even harder to tell our stories and move public opinion to accept LGBT people in all countries.

At a memorial vigil on Friday night, February 4, LGBT faith leaders and advocates from across the country and the world grieved the loss of their brother, David.

“No form of intimidation will stop our cause,” said Mr. Frank Mugisha, executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). “The life and death of David will be honored as we struggle for justice and equality and win the hearts of people around the world because we are your sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. David is gone but the struggle will be won. David wanted to see a Uganda where all people will be treated equally. It is our turn to pick up the mantle and carry on.”

“Faith leaders have been working for the last year to expose the efforts of some American Christian conservatives to spread anti-LGBT attitudes to Africa, and Uganda in particular,” said Dr. Sylvia Rhue of the National Black Justice Coalition. “So-called ‘ex-gay’ ministries have failed so dismally in the United States that they are now exporting their damaging beliefs. They will continue to fail because diversity in sexual orientation and gender identity is inherent to humankind.”

“Jesus taught us that we must love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. But some of our Christian brothers and sisters in the United States and around the world turn Jesus' ministry on its head,” said the Rev. Rebecca Voelkel, faith work director for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “They preach judgment, condemnation and rejection and use fear to raise money and stoke violence. Where is the love? The murder of David Kato must be investigated and those responsible need to be brought to justice. But all of us--Ugandans, Americans and all our neighbors around the world--need to build societies in which love, respect and human dignity rule the day, no matter what faith tradition or culture we come from.” HERE

David Kato, one of our ¨Anglican¨ brothers

“David Kato was a member of the Anglican Church of Uganda. Sadly, most Ugandan Anglican leaders preach messages of rejection and condemnation under the guise of religion,” said the Rev. David Norgard, president of Integrity USA. “As members of the Episcopal Church, we have a long standing relationship with our LGBT brothers and sisters in Uganda as members of the global Anglican Communion and must face the fact that the Church has been a big part of the problem. It is long overdue for Christians, and good people of all faiths, to be the solution: to stop this violence, to sow love where hatred now festers and to respect the dignity of every human being.”

The Heroic ¨Kuchus¨ of Uganda

· Thanks to The ¨Kuchus¨ of Uganda
· Thanks to Integrity, U.S.A. and Uganda
· Thanks to SMUG, Uganda
· Thanks to The Reverend Canon David Norgard, TEC
· Thanks to The Global Anglican Communion
· Thanks to Creating Change Conference, Minneapolis
· Thanks to Mr. Frank Mugisha, Uganda

HERE