GAY PRIDE CELEBRATED IN UGANDA DESPITE DISAPPROVAL OF HOMOSEXUALITY
(Photo: Reuters.com)
More than 100 members of the LGBTQ community in Uganda gathered at the Entebbe Botanical Gardens on Saturday to celebrate gay pride a year after the anti-homosexuality legislation was abolished.
Homosexuality condemnation is prevalent in Uganda and through most of sub-Saharan Africa. Abuse of members of the LGBTQ community is not uncommon.
Gay rights activist Moses Kimbugwe is hopeful that rallies of this nature can help move Uganda in the right direction.
“We feel and we think this is a step moving forward, and it is about trying to show the wider community that violence, discrimination, harassment, stigma against LGBT people is bad. So we are here to send a message to the wider population that we do exist and we want rights like any other Ugandan.”
Due to safety concerns, organizers of the gathering left the location undisclosed until after the event so as to avoid potential persecution or criminal prosecution.
Sanda Ntebi, another activist for the LGBTQ community, says she wants to be able to wear her rainbow colours proudly.
“Why do I have to celebrate it in an isolated place? Who am I showing that I am proud? Because we are celebrating to our own selves. But my dream is to see myself have this, wear this.”
