We the undersigned condemn in the strongest possible terms the murder of Mr David Kato the Ugandan gay rights campaigner. We wish to state emphatically that homosexuality is neither a sin nor a social or cultural construct. It is a biological given. Homosexuals are human beings like everybody else. Scientific research has been helpful in clearing the fog of ignorance entrenched by some religious texts in regards to homosexuality. Our opinions of homosexuality must change for the better just as our opinion of slavery has changed even though it was endorsed by those same religious texts. All violence against gays and people deemed to be gay in Africa must cease forthwith.
We call on the government of Uganda to find and prosecute all those involved in the murder of Mr Kato, including the newspaper that called for the hanging of gays. We also call on African governments to learn from the South African example by expunging from their laws all provisions that criminalize homosexuality or treat homosexuals as unworthy of the same rights and entitlements as other citizens. African states must protect the rights of their citizens to freedom and dignity. Homosexuals must not be denied these rights.
Undersigned
1. Wale Adebanwi, PhD, University of California, US
2. Diran Adebayo, Writer, UK
3. Jide Adebayo-Begun, Writer, Nigeria
4. Kayode Adeduntan, PhD, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
5. Biola Adegboyega, University of Calgary, Canada
6. Shola Adenekan, Editor, The New Black Magazine, UK
7. Pius Adesanmi, PhD, Carleton University, Canada
8. Akin Adesokan, PhD, Indiana University, US
9. Chimamanda Adichie, Writer, Nigeria
10. Faith Adiele, Writer, US
11. Joe Agbro, Journalist, Nigeria
12. Anthony Akinola, PhD, Oxford, UK
13. Anengiyefa Alagoa, Writer, UK
14. Ellah Allfrey, Deputy Editor, Granta Magazine, UK
15. Alnoor Amlani, Writer, Kenya
16. Ike Anya, Public health doctor and writer, UK
17. Bode Asiyanbi, Writer, Lancaster University, UK
18. Sefi Atta, Writer, US
19. Lizzy Attree, PhD, University of East London, UK
20. Damola Awoyokun, Writer, UK
21. Doreen Baingana, Writer, Uganda
22. Igoni Barrett, Writer, Nigeria
23. Tom Burke, Bard College, US
24. Brian Chikwava, Writer, UK
25. Jude Dibia, Writer, Nigeria
26. Chris Dunton, PhD, National University of Lesotho, Lesotho
27. Ropo Ewenla, Artist, Nigeria
28. Chielozona Eze, PhD, Northeastern Illinois University, US
29. Aminatta Forna, Writer, UK
30. Ivor Hartmann, Writer, South Africa
31. Chris Ihidero, Writer, Lagos State University, Nigeria
32. Ikhide R. Ikheloa, Writer, US
33. Sean Jacobs, PhD, New School, US
34. Biodun Jeyifo, PhD, Harvard University, US
35. Brian Jones, Professor Emeritus, Zimbabwe
36. Bassam Kassab, Writer and movie producer, US
37. Martin Kiman, Writer, US
38. Lauri Kubuitsile, Writer, Botswana
39. Zakes Mda, PhD, Ohio University, US
40. Colin Meier, Writer, South Africa
41. Gayatri Menon, PhD, Franklin and Marshall College, US
42. Valentina A. Mmaka, Writer, Italy/South Africa
43. Jane Morris, Publisher, Zimbabwe
44. Joseph Sndanni Mwella, Advocate of High Court, Kenya
45. Mbonisi P. Ncube, Writer, South Africa
46. Iheoma Nwachukwu, Writer, Nigeria
47. Onyeka Nwelue, Writer and filmmaker, India/Nigeria
48. Fred Nwonwu, Writer and Journalist, Nigeria
49. Nnedi Okorafor, PhD, Writer, Chicago State University, US
50. Ebenezer Obadare, PhD, University of Kansas, US
51. Juliane Okot Bitek, Writer, Canada
52. Tejumola Olaniyan, PhD, University of Wisconsin, US
53. Ngozichi Omekara, Trinidad and Tobago
54. Akin Omotosho, Actor and filmmaker, South Africa
55. Kole Omotosho, PhD, Africa Diaspora Research Group, South Africa
56. Samuel Sabo, Writer, UK
57. Ramzi Salti, PhD, Stanford University, US
58. Namwali Serpell, PhD, Writer, Harvard University, US
59. Brett L. Shadle, PhD, Virginia Tech, US
60. Drew Shaw, PhD, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe
61. Lola Shoneyin, Writer, Nigeria
62. Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate for Literature
63. Olufemi Taiwo, PhD, Seattle University, US
64. Ngugi wa Thiong’o, PhD, University of California, US
65. Kola Tubosun, Writer, Fulbright Scholar, US
66. Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, Writer, Nigeria
67. Abdourahman A.Waberi, Writer, US /Djibouti
68. Binyavanga Wainaina, Writer, Kenya
69. Ronald Elly Wanda, Writer & Lecturer, Marcus Garvey Pan-Afrikan Institute, Uganda
70. Kristy Warren, PhD, University of Warwick, UK
71. Cornel West, PhD, Princeton University, US
Swahili Version
Mauaji ya David Kato - Mwanaharakati wa haki za wapenzi wa Jinsia moja nchini
Uganda.
Sisi tuliosaini hapo chini, tunashutumu vikali mauaji ya David Kato,
Mwanaharakati wa haki za wapenzi wa Jinsia moja nchini Uganda.
Tunasisitiza kuwa mapenzi ya jinsia moja sio uovu wa aina yoyote, katika tamaduni zetu.
Hili ni jambo linalotokea kimaumbile na wapenzi wa jinsia moja ni binadamu tu sawa na wengine. Utafiti wa sayansi umesaidia kuondoa kasumba hii mbovu iliyowekwa na baadhi ya vitabu vya dini juu ya wapenzi wa jinsia moja.Lazima tubadilishe maono yetu na mawazo tuliyonayo juu yao ili tuboreshe uhusiano uliopo.
Lazima uhasama na chuki iliyopo dhidi ya wapenzi wa jinsia moja iangamizwe kabisa. Tunatoa wito kwa serikali ya Uganda kuwafungulia mashtaka wote waliohusika katika mauaji ya David Kato pamoja na gazeti hilo lililotoa wito wa chuki na mauaji ya wapenzi wa jinsia moja.
Pia tunatoa wito kwa mataifa mengine ya Afrika yajifunze kutoka kwa serikali ya Afrika Kusini na kuondoa tamaduni zinazoakandamiza wapenzi wa jinsia moja na kuwanyima haki zao za kibinadamu sawa na wananchi wengine. Mataifa ya Afrika yanawajibu wa kulinda haki na uhuru wa raia wao. Na wapenzi wa jinsia moja pia lazima wapewe haki hizi.
Arabic Version
عن إغتيال دافيد كاتو، الناشط الأوغندي في حقوق الإنسان لمثليي الجنس
نحن الموقعون أدناه ندين بشدة إغتيال السيد دافيد كاتو، الناشط الأوغندي في مجال حقوق مثليي الجنس. نود أن نعلن بكل ثقة أن المثلية الجنسية ليست خطيئة ولا خيار إجتماعي أو ثقافي، بل هي نابعة من التركيبة البيولوجية. إن مثليي الجنس هم بشر كغيرهم. وقد ساهمت الأبحاث العلمية الحديثة بمسح الجهل المترسخ بالعقول بسبب بعض النصوص الدينية حول موضوع المثلية الجنسية. يجب أن تتطور آراؤنا حيال المثلية الجنسية كما تغيرت حيال العبودية رغم أن الرق مشرع في النصوص الدينية نفسها. يجب أن تتوقف على الفور جميع أشكال العنف في أفريقيا ضد المثليين وكل المشكوك بميولهم الجنسية.
ندعو حكومة أوغندا للبحث عن كافة المتورطين في إغتيال السيد كاتو ومحاكمتهم، وإدانة الصحيفة التي حرضت على إعدام مثليي الجنس شنقا ً. كما ندعو الحكومات الأفريقية الى الأخذ بالعبرة من تجربة دولة جنوب أفريقيا في شطب جميع الأحكام التي تجرم المثلية الجنسية من قوانينها والفقرات التي تحرم مثليي الجنس من حقوقهم كغيرهم من المواطنين. يجب على الدول الأفريقية حماية حقوق مواطنيها في الحرية والكرامة. يجب ألا يُستثنى المثليون من هذه الحقوق.
French Version
lettre de pétition:
Sur la assassinat de David Kato, l'activiste ougandais défenseur des droits humains des homosexuels
Nous, soussignés, condamnons fortement l'assassinat de M. David Kato de la campagne ougandaise des droits des homosexuels. Nous tenons à affirmer que l'homosexualité n'est ni un péché ni une construction sociale ou culturelle. C'est simplement un trait biologique. Les homosexuels sont des êtres humains comme tout le monde. La recherche scientifique a été utile dans l'élimination du brouillard de l'ignorance entretenue par certains textes religieux en ce qui concerne l'homosexualité. Nos opinions de l'homosexualité doit changer pour le mieux comme notre avis de l'esclavage a changé même s'il a été approuvé par ces mêmes textes religieux. Toute violence contre les homosexuels et les personnes réputées être gay en Afrique doit cesser immédiatement.
Nous demandons au gouvernement de l'Ouganda de trouver et de poursuivre tous ceux qui sont impliqués dans l'assassinat de M. Kato, y compris le journal qui a appelé à la pendaison des homosexuels. Nous appelons aussi les gouvernements africains à s'inspirer de l'exemple sud-africain qui a annulé de la législation toute référence à la criminalisation de l'homosexualité ou du traitement des homosexuels comme indignes des mêmes droits et avantages que les autres citoyens. Les états africains doivent protéger les droits de leurs citoyens à la liberté et la dignité. Les homosexuels ne doivent pas être privés de ces droits.
Portuguese Version
Carta de Petição: sobre o assassinato de David Kato, o Uganda Gay ativista de direitos
Nós, os abaixo assinados condenam nos termos mais fortes possíveis o assassinato do Sr. David Kato o activista dos direitos gays de Uganda. Queremos declarar enfaticamente que a homossexualidade não é pecado, nem uma construção social ou cultural. É um dado biológico. Os homossexuais são seres humanos como todos os outros. A investigação científica tem sido útil para limpar o nevoeiro da ignorância enraizada por alguns textos religiosos em relação à homossexualidade. Nossas opiniões sobre a homossexualidade deve mudar para melhor assim como a nossa opinião sobre a escravidão mudou mesmo foi aprovado por esses mesmos textos religiosos. Toda a violência contra homossexuais e pessoas consideradas gay na África deve cessar de imediato.
Apelamos ao governo de Uganda para encontrar e processar todos os envolvidos no assassinato do Sr. Kato, incluindo o jornal que pedia a suspensão dos gays. Apelamos também aos governos Africano de aprender com o exemplo Sul Africano por expurgando de suas leis todas as disposições que criminalizam a homossexualidade ou tratar os homossexuais como indignos de os mesmos direitos e os direitos dos outros cidadãos. Africano estados devem proteger os direitos dos seus cidadãos à liberdade e dignidade. Homossexuais não devem ser negados os seus direitos.