January 26, a mere 3 days ago, marked the 1 year anniversary of the tragic death of the Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato.
His death brought grief to many around the world who saw this man as a true hero.
David Kato boldly fought for the equality of his fellow members of the LGBT community in Uganda, a country where homosexuality is a legal offense and can, in some cases, be punishable by death.
Born on February 13, 1964, to a conservative family in rural Uganda, David Kato had a love of knowledge from the start.
He used his intellect to propel him into the best schools in the country.
His education fostered his dreams of being a teacher one day.
To pursue this, Kato moved to South Africa to search for a job in 1992.
Here, he was surprised to be welcomed by certain Christian churches that did not shun him away because of his sexuality, but instead accepted him openly. This had a profound affect on him.
Also while in South Africa, his passion for social justice and equality was awakened.
During this time in the country, the brutal apartheid was in place. David was angered by the institutionalized system of racism that was ingrained in every aspect of life. He could not sit aside and watch his fellow Africans suffer the way they were. Thus, he joined the fight for the end of apartheid.
Such an end came two years later in 1994.
This was an incredible triumph for mankind, leaving millions inspired.
To David, if the government instituted system of racial segregation and brutality could fall in South Africa, then perhaps, with a similar struggle, the system of oppression against the LGBT community in Uganda could fall too.
On fire, David returned to Uganda in 1998.
He quickly began working to bring down the walls of homophobia that were corrupting his beloved country, "We are really going back into Amin's regime."
David fearlessly held televised news conferences in which he urged for LGBT civil rights. This was taking an enormous risk, considering the relative prevalence of violence committed against open homosexuals in the country, especially in Kampala, the city where he lived.
His next move was to co-found SMUG, Sexual Minorities Uganda Group. This organization served as a means of support and a literal home for members of the LGBT community, open or not, who needed protection or just a place to be themselves.
Though safety was an urgent and legitimate concern, David never wanted to hide, "If we keep hiding, they will say we're not here."
He wanted to detach feelings of shame from the LGBT community. He wanted people to celebrate who they were, as shown in the rainbow flags sported around his compound, "My rainbow, it's a symbol of solidarity of the unwanted people of Uganda. So I really love this."
It was when a Ugandan tabloid newspaper, without permission, published the names, pictures and addresses of local gays and lesbians in their publication that David's career of activism took full affect.
He recognized the great danger this posed for gays and lesbians who were called out in the newspaper (he was one of them). In order to protect their privacy and their very lives, David sued the newspaper.
This lawsuit got the attention of the nation, which in turn highlighted the country's anti-homosexuality bill that was up for consideration in Parliament.
This bill, if passed, would make those accused of "aggravated homosexuality" or of being a "serial offender" homosexual subject to the death penalty. It would also allow anyone who failed to report to the police someone that they suspected to be homosexual liable to persecution.
In the face of all of this attention, David remained true to his original cause.
The international community rallied around him, as he gained followers all over the globe.
However, the attention came with a deadly price: on January 26, 2011, David Kato was beaten to death in his home.
He remains an incredible figure for tolerance, peace, and acceptance.
His legacy will forever live on.
R.I.P. David Kato. February 13, 1964-January 26, 2011.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/opinion/they-will-say-we-are-not-here.html?_r=3&ref=africa
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-dr-nancy-wilson/david-kato-a-hero-of-hope_b_1232137.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13392723
http://www.smug.4t.com/
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