Ugandan Activist Seeks Help from The US to Fight Homophobia

Homophobia is at an all time high in Uganda and individuals in the LGBT community there face life imprisonment and the death penalty if anti-gay legislation is passed in the country. Lesbian activist Val Kalende has been speaking out against that homophobic administration in her country, and lost her writing job as reporter because of it. Kalende blames the country's misunderstanding of the issues on  the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Kalende says that it is ignorance that drives fear of gays in the country. "People are always afraid of things they don't understand, or new things," said Kalende.

Val Kalende, out spoken activist

The Anti-gay legislation, which proposed capital punishment and/or imprisonment was introduced in 2009. But Ugandan parliament decided against it because government officials in the country feared they would lose aid from several Western Countries. US State Department, under Sec. Clinton made to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination in the country.

Kalende who has been working with the US government to advance civil rights says it's people like parliament member David Bahati, and President Yoweri Museveni who perpetuate lies and distort perceptions about gays and lesbians to the broader public. With backing from the US and international intervention, Kalende has been able to spark debate in the country and educate communities about human rights.

Current TV did a special report on the issue called Missionaries of Hate back this past May. You can watch it below to see what is going on in Uganda now.