Uganda Celebrates Gay Pride One Year After Antigay Law Was Overturned
A Ugandan beach got a colorful makeover on Saturday as dozens of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people—and their supporters—marched with rainbow flags and umbrella just outside the country’s capital city of Kampala.
The event was the culmination of a week of pride festivities, including a transgender awareness day and film screenings. The celebration comes just one year after the country struck down one of the harshest antigay laws in Africa.
Last August, Uganda’s constitutional court overturned the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which contained a life sentence for those found guilty of “aggravated homosexuality.” Previous versions of the bill included the death penalty.
Despite these modest gains, it’s still not easy to be gay in Uganda. Homosexuality remains illegal, punishable with a jail sentence, and is still considered taboo. Threats of violence and workplace and housing discrimination have left LGBT Ugandans forced to hide their identity and live in secrecy. This culture of intolerance was largely introduced by American fundamental evangelicals, who fused religious doctrine with financial aid during mission trips. Members of the primarily Christian parliament are still looking for ways to crack down on LGBT activism, including legislation that would ban the “promotion of homosexuality,” meaning such a march would be a punishable crime.
Still, the Ugandan event was “not a protest but a celebration,” event organizer Richard Lusimbo told The Guardian, and focused on the progress that has been made.
Like play, like play, Uganda will attain LGBT freedom before the rest of the homophobic African nations.
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10 Comments
Kristopher
August 12, 07:24Photos or “ldontbelievit”
Oluwadamilare Okoro
August 12, 07:41I am lost. 4th paragraph says homesexuality is still illegal … How could day have a celebration? *insert confused smiley here*
Queen Mother
August 12, 07:47Ewo! What did I just read? Biko, iddonbelivit.
sinnex
August 12, 09:55Pictures or Addonbelivit.
Jeova Sanctus Unus
August 12, 11:08Nice ass
Rev; Hot
August 12, 11:19Jeova Sanctus Anus, sorry Unus – You’re very funny sha!!!!!!!!!!!! so that’s what you for from this post *shaking my head*
Jeova Sanctus Unus
August 12, 16:30I’m sorry my dear Rev, after I saw that ass I couldn’t be bothered by what the post had to say…butt, I’ll try read th…e….
Bia!! Where is our TAM?? No lemme swear for you oo.
Diablo
August 12, 12:44Brave people 🙂
Khaleesi
August 12, 12:57yes ooo, small small Ugandans will liberate themselves from homophobic oppression while Nigerians keep sneaking around furtively like criminals .. I still dont get how Uganda despite the prevailing homophobia can be ahead of Nigeria in this regard … oh well … *** steps out of closet and looks out over 40ft walls guarded by dragons and heavily armed fighters with a large deep moat***
Nightwing
August 12, 14:32Lol, creative imagination khaleesi. Guess Ugandans are marching on in the face of danger, guess this another bus ride for black folks even when law forbids it. *thumbs up*