Caribbean associations working on reproductive, sexuality and HIV issues have issued a brief joint statement of condolence   and tribute to the life of slain Sexual Minorities Uganda human rights defender, David Kato. The statement was forwarded to Guyana Chronicle by Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD).
It was signed by over 25 groups in 16 territories and calls attention, in the United Nations Year of People of African   Descent, to Kato’s international inspiration as an African defender of sexual rights. It notes the continuing danger that   sexuality, and the human rights defenders who work in this area, face in the Caribbean and elsewhere; and governments’   failure to champion people’s freedom over their own bodies when it comes to sexuality.
“In the face of a proposal in the Uganda parliament to execute citizens for consensual homosexual acts and a clergy-led   campaign to whip up animosity against gay sexuality, several Ugandan human rights groups have fought back. Kato’s picture,   captioned “Hang Them”, was featured on the cover of tabloid Rolling Stone in November, one of a number of instances of   media attempts to ‘out’ gay and lesbian people, several of whom, like him, received death threats and other harassment. He   and others successfully sued for damages, and the courts blocked the paper from further outing three weeks ago. On January   26, he reportedly suffered blows to his head with a hammer in his residence, and died. The European Union, United States   President Barack Obama and others have condemned the killing and paid tribute to Kato’s work,” the statement said.
“Across the Caribbean, those of us who knew Sexual Minorities Uganda advocacy officer David Kato as a friend, as well as   those who only read of his work, are deeply moved by his powerful and courageous life. As fellow sexual rights advocates,   we convey deepest condolences to all his loved ones and fellow activists on his awful murder. We have been horrified by the   inhumanity and hysteria of Uganda’s parliamentary, media and clergy campaigns to deny gay people like David the simple   right to liberty, privacy, dignity and joy. We join others throughout the African Diaspora in our pride in David’s   conviction and passion as an outspoken African champion of sexual autonomy – even when it put his liberty and life in great   danger – and his record as an internationally recognized human rights defender,” said the statement.
According to the statement, Kato’s inspiration stretches around the globe to those who also struggle against ignorance,   indifference and violence to create countries and a world where everyone can enjoy his sexuality as something good and   wholesome and worthwhile, free from shame and coercion.
It said that were it not for advocacy late last year, 13 Caribbean countries would have allowed “sexual orientation” to be   removed from an international statement of commitment to protect persons from unlawful killing because of who they are.
“David’s death, following threats against his life, is a gripping reminder of the importance of those protections, and a   sobering one of how much more work needs to be done to give people the right to freedom over their bodies in places like   Africa and the Caribbean, where battles against slavery, colonialism, racism, apartheid, genocide, gender inequality and   religious persecution ought to have taught us better lessons,” the statement said.
“David’s life and death are reason to renew international commitment to sexual rights, to increase our vigilance for our   colleagues in danger in Uganda. We respectfully urge Uganda’s politicians, media and clergy, and international Christian   advocates who have become entangled in this hostility to seize the opportunity to bring an end to yet another painful   chapter of intergroup violence in Africa,” said the statement.