There are many advocates who focus on the mistreatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the U.S., but never give it any thought to how the LGBT people are being mistreated in other countries. In a number of African countries, including Nigeria and Uganda, homophobia is on the rise. New anti-gay laws have been passed. Donations from evangelical organizations across the world are helping to make the problem worse. The result is that LGBT people living in these countries are afraid to come out, worrying they will be punished. While doing research on this issue I read stories of this happening. A woman named Gloria and a man named Peter came out to their families but were arrested, attacked, expelled from school and fired from their jobs because of their sexual preference. In 2012, the Center for Constitutional Rights filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the nonprofit group Sexual Minorities Uganda asserting that the activities of U.S.-based anti-gay extremist Scott Lively who is president of Abiding Truth Ministries, amount to persecution of LGBT people in Uganda.
In some countries in Africa, homosexuals have been sentenced to prison and have been put to death by stoning. In other cases, LGBT people are being beaten, raped or killed and the government refuses to do anything about it.
It is time for Americans to stand up for LGBT rights not only here in the U.S. but in Africa too.
