Petrelis Files

Gay Uganda Says Thanks;
Nov 19 DC Vigil Details Announced

Today I received a note of thanks from a leader with Gay Uganda, who must remain anonymous for his or her safety, in response to my recent blogging on the situation in his country for our brothers and sisters, and I was quite moved by his gesture.

And I wish to expand and share his word of thanks beyond me to all the folks in London who protested at a Ugandan government office on November 7, and the growing number of people organizing demonstrations to take place next week.

I'm pleased to play a small role in any global solidarity actions for gay Ugandans and hope everyone reading this who lives near NYC or DC, is at the November 19 actions. Mark Bromley of Global Equality shared the following information on the action at the embassy:

Save Lives, Oppose Cruelty and Speak Up For LGBTQ Human Rights in Uganda And Against Bill No. 18: The Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda

WHAT: Demonstration in solidarity with LGBTQ Ugandans

WHEN: Thursday, November 19, 2009

TIME: 2:00 PM – 3 PM ET

WHERE: Ugandan Embassy
5911 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20011

CONTACT: Mark Bromley, mark@globalequality.org

Directions: 2 miles north of Columbia Heights Metro Stop on 16TH street; or 1 mile northwest of the Georgia Ave/Petworth Metro Stop on Quincy Street; also accessible via 16th Street buses.

The DC organizers explained the reasons for their action: "If passed, Bill Number 18 introduced in the Ugandan Parliament, will make homosexuality an offense punishable by death in Uganda. The vote on the bill may take place as early as January 2010. The Ugandan LGBTQ community has urged demonstrations of solidarity around the world in protest and to let Ugandan leaders know the whole world is watching. In America, we will let our leaders know that this bill, if adopted, would undermine Congressional funding for PEPFAR and other U.S. tax dollars that help Uganda fight AIDS. "

Carey Alan Johnson from IGLHRC sent along this info on another action for next week:

IGLHRC is also collaborating with the Coalition of African Lesbians and other groups for a demonstration at the Ugandan Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa on Tuesday next week. We are very much in favor of direct, public action as a strategic tool for LGBT liberation.

Hey, Mark and Carey, good work on this street activism at embassies and UN missions. We need more of it from you guys, and others in the gay community joining in your actions.

If anyone knows of a web site listing all the cities, times, locations, contact persons, etc., for the action, lemme know the URL. And if one doesn't exist, I'll create such a page here.