We the undersigned condemn in the strongest possible terms the murder of Mr David Kato, the Ugandan gay rights campaigner. We wish to state emphatically that homosexuality is neither a sin nor a social or cultural construct. It is a biological given. Homosexuals are human beings like everybody else. Scientific research has been helpful in clearing the fog of ignorance entrenched by some religious texts in regards to homosexuality. Our opinions of homosexuality must change for the better, just as our opinion of slavery has changed, even though it was endorsed by those same religious texts. All violence against gays and people deemed to be gay in Africa must cease forthwith.We call on the government of Uganda to find and prosecute all those involved in the murder of Mr Kato, including the newspaper that called for the hanging of gays. We also call on African governments to learn from the South African example by expunging from their laws all provisions that criminalise homosexuality or treat homosexuals as unworthy of the same rights and entitlements as other citizens. African states must protect the rights of their citizens to freedom and dignity. Homosexuals must not be denied these rights.
An open letter which has appeared in several newspapers around the world.
For a complete list of signatories - gratifyingly too long to post here - see comments.
A documentary about Uganda - The World's Worst Place To Be Gay? - will be shown by BBC3 on Monday February 14th.
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This letter was signed by
ReplyDeleteWale Adebanwi University of California, US
Diran Adebayo Writer, UK
Jide Adebayo-Begun Writer, Nigeria
Kayode Adeduntan University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Biola Adegboyega University of Calgary, Canada
Shola Adenekan Editor, The New Black Magazine, UK
Pius Adesanmi Carleton University, Canada
Akin Adesokan Indiana University, US
Chimamanda Adichie Writer, Nigeria
Faith Adiele Writer, US
Joe Agbro Journalist, Nigeria
Anthony Akinola Oxford, UK
Anengiyefa Alagoa Writer, UK
Ellah Allfrey Deputy editor, Granta Magazine, UK
Alnoor Amlani Writer, Kenya
Ike Anya Public health doctor and writer, UK
Bode Asiyanbi Writer, Lancaster University, UK
Sefi Atta Writer, US
Lizzy Attree University of East London, UK
Damola Awoyokun Writer, UK
Doreen Baingana Writer, Uganda
Igoni Barrett Writer, Nigeria
Tom Burke Bard College, US
Brian Chikwava Writer, UK
Jude Dibia Writer, Nigeria
Chris Dunton National University of Lesotho, Lesotho
Ropo Ewenla Artist, Nigeria
Chielozona Eze Northeastern Illinois University, US
Aminatta Forna Writer, UK
Ivor Hartmann Writer, South Africa
Chris Ihidero Writer, Lagos State University, Nigeria
Ikhide R Ikheloa Writer, US
Sean Jacobs New School, US
Biodun Jeyifo Harvard University, US
Brian Jones Professor emeritus, Zimbabwe
Bassam Kassab Writer and movie producer, US
Martin Kiman Writer, US
Lauri Kubuitsile Writer, Botswana
Zakes Mda Ohio University, US
Colin Meier Writer, South Africa
Gayatri Menon Franklin and Marshall College, US
Valentina A Mmaka Writer, Italy/South Africa
Jane Morris Publisher, Zimbabwe
Joseph Sndanni Mwella Advocate of high court, Kenya
Mbonisi P Ncube Writer, South Africa
Iheoma Nwachukwu Writer, Nigeria
Onyeka Nwelue Writer and filmmaker, India/Nigeria
Fred Nwonwu Writer and Journalist, Nigeria
Nnedi Okorafor Writer, Chicago State University, US
Ebenezer Obadare University of Kansas, US
Juliane Okot Bitek Writer, Canada
Tejumola Olaniyan University of Wisconsin, US
Ngozichi Omekara Trinidad and Tobago
Akin Omotosho Actor and filmmaker, South Africa
Kole Omotosho Africa Diaspora Research Group, South Africa
Samuel Sabo Writer, UK
Ramzi Salti Stanford University, US
Namwali Serpell Writer, Harvard University, US
Brett L Shadle Virginia Tech, US
Drew Shaw Midlands State University, Zimbabwe
Lola Shoneyin Writer, Nigeria
Wole Soyinka Nobel laureate for literature
Olufemi Taiwo Seattle University, US
Ngugi wa Thiong'o University of California, US
Kola Tubosun Writer, Fulbright Scholar, US
Uzor Maxim Uzoatu Writer, Nigeria
Abdourahman A Waberi Writer, US /Djibouti
Binyavanga Wainaina Writer, Kenya
Ronald Elly Wanda Writer& lecturer, Marcus Garvey Pan-Afrikan Institute, Uganda
Kristy Warren University of Warwick, UK
Cornel West Princeton University, US