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Yesterday, leading LGBTQ activist David Kato was brutally attacked and murdered in his home outside Kampala, Uganda. For those of you who have been following the situation in Uganda, you know that David’s photo and address had been published in the Ugandan tabloid newspaper, Rolling Stone, along with a headline advocating for death by hanging for all homosexuals. David and two other activists filed suit against the newspaper seeking an injunction against further publication. And just recently, the High Court of Uganda ruled in their favor, citing a constitutional right to privacy and human dignity that was violated by the newspaper’s incitement to violence. Unfortunately, this legal victory was quickly overshadowed by David’s violent murder.
When is enough enough? It’s one thing to support free speech; it’s another thing to promote the spread of hate speech. It’s one thing to respect the sovereignty of individual nation-states around the world; it’s another thing to stand idly by and say nothing when those nation-states fail to protect the fundamental human rights of all individuals.
Fortunately, US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, just released a statement condemning David Kato's brutal murder. In it she states that we must,
"reaffirm that human rights apply to everyone, no exceptions, and that the human rights of LGBT individuals cannot be separated from the human rights of all persons."She goes on to say that,
"Our ambassadors and diplomats around the world will continue to advance a comprehensive human rights policy, and to stand with those who, with their courage, make the world a more just place where every person can live up to his or her God-given potential. We honor David’s legacy by continuing the important work to which he devoted his life."Undoubtedly, the US is a powerful voice whose influence carries much weight. With this voice, we have demanded that the Ugandan authorities immediately conduct a full investigation into this heinous crime and bring the perpetrators to justice. At the same time, we should not forget that we all have a role to play in standing up to intolerance and hatred. Whether we witness it in our own communities or see it take root thousands of miles across the globe, we must all speak out against homophobia and bigotry of all kinds.
