National Black Justice Coalition Condemns Uganda Parliament’s Criminalization of LGBTQ+ Community, Threats of Death Penalty
CONTACT: Jordan Wilhelmi | jordan@unbendablemedia.com
WASHINGTON – Following the news that the Ugandan parliament passed a bill criminalizing identifying as LGBTQ+, Dr. David J. Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), a leading Black LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, issued the following statement:
“We condemn the recent passage of a bill in Uganda criminalizing LGBTQ+ people and imposing the death penalty for some offenses. This legislation represents a reprehensible and heinous attack on the human rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ Ugandans.
“As an organization dedicated to advancing the rights and well-being of Black LGBTQ+/same-gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) people, we firmly denounce this legislation and call on the Ugandan government to repeal it immediately. The criminalization of LGBTQ+ identities, experiences, and relationships is a violation of fundamental human rights, and the imposition of the death penalty for simply being who they are is a barbaric punishment.
“We urge President Biden, the U.S. State Department, other nations, and international organizations to join us in speaking out against this legislation and taking action to support the LGBTQ+ community in Uganda. The international community has a responsibility to hold governments accountable for protecting the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.
“We stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ Ugandans and all those fighting for justice and equality on the African continent and throughout the Diaspora. African descendants who have witnessed and have had our legacies shaped by the savage policies and practices of colonizing European empires should never tolerate persecuting or terrorizing members of our beloved community. We should not accept African descendants being isolated, targeted, and discriminated against simply for how we move through the world or show up in love.
“Queer, trans, and non-binary/non-confirming Ugandans have always existed. Even before the terms existed, barbaric policies like this would not erase this immutable fact. We all deserve to be free—happy, healthy, and whole, just as we are. We will continue to advocate for the rights and well-being of Black LGBTQ+/SGL people in the United States and worldwide, and we will not be silenced in the face of discrimination and oppression.”
If you’d be interested in speaking further with Dr. Johns about the Ugandan parliament decision or We For All Rwenzori, an LGBTIQ-led nonprofit grassroots organization in Uganda, we’d be happy to arrange an interview.
