Title: “The Struggle for GLBT Rights in Uganda”
When: Wednesday, January 11, 7:00 pm
Where: First Unitarian Church of Baltimore
(Corner of Charles and Franklin)

Mark Kiyimba has led the opposition against the anti-homosexual laws being advocated in Uganda by US evangelicals and adopted by the Ugandan Parliament.  In early 2011, following the issue of a warrant for his arrest, Kiyimba fled Uganda and has been living in sanctuary in the US and spreading the word about the GLBT persecution in Uganda.

This lecture is free and open to the public.

Read the action alert on Uganda from the International Humanist and
Ethical Union (IHEU):  <a href="http://www.iheu.org/taxonomy/term/123
“>http://www.iheu.org/taxonomy/term/123__MEET…
Announcement from First Unitarian:

<a href="http://firstunitarian.net/index.php/our-happenings/upcoming-events/calendar/view/20959/date/2012-01-11
“>http://firstunitarian.net/index.php/our-hap…
Mark Kiyimba is the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kampala, Uganda, a congregation which focuses its social mission on alleviating the profound generational pain caused by HIV/AIDS in African societies. In 2004, Rev. Kiyimba founded the New Life School, a residential K-8 school and orphanage for children whose parents had died of HIV/AIDS. The school and orphanage has grown to serve over 500 children, and Rev. Kiyimba and the faculty and staff of 13 persons represent the school’s greatest resource.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Kampala has spoken out against the anti-homosexual laws being advocated in Uganda by US evangelicals and adopted by the Ugandan Parliament. In 2010, shortly after LGBT activist David Kato was bludgeoned to death after being targeted for assassination in the Ugandan press, Kiyimba organized a conference,
“Standing on the Side of Love: redefining Valentine’s Day.” This conference brought together gay, lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual activists who were resisting the anti-homosexual laws for support and strategizing. In the ensuing months, Kiyimba remained vocal in his opposition; and in early 2011, an arrest warrant of Kiyimba was
issued. He fled Uganda and has been living in sanctuary in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is currently touring the United States and planning his return to Uganda.

Kiyimba will be on a “Standing on the Side of Love” tour of the Baltimore-Capital Region from January 6 to 19, 2010, and will speak at First Unitarian Church of Baltimore on Wednesday, January 11 at 7 p.m.
The intentions of this tour are:

* to allow Baltimore residents to “stand on the side of love” and to stand in the spirit of love with LGBT people and their allies in Uganda

* to raise consciousness about the criminalization of homosexuality in Uganda and many other countries around the globe

* to lift up Dr. King’s example of nonviolent protest, whether in word or in deed

* to raise funds for the New Life School and other projects of the UU Church in Kampala

* to consider what Unitarian Universalist congregations might do next to keep the momentum going, and invite others to join us

Rev. Kiyimba is available to address the media by telephone beginning immediately, and will be available for in-person interviews beginning on January 6th.

The Baltimore Coalition of Reason wishes to thank our member organization First Unitarian Church of Baltimore for extending this invitation to hear the Rev. Kiyimba. This lecture is part of the Zoerheide lecture series sponsored by First Unitarian.