Dear Friends,

Thank you for supporting Rainbow World Fund's humanitarian and peacemaking mission. In this issue:

• The Constitutional Challenge to Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act Begins
• Help LGBTQ+ Ugandans
• Add your wish to the RWF World Tree of Hope
• Celebrate Pride in Cuba May 16-26

Background: In May, Ugandan President Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act into law, allowing openly homosexual people to be punished with life imprisonment. The Act includes the charges of "aggravated homosexuality" and "attempted homosexuality" with sentences of up to 14 years in prison. Family members can be criminalized for not turning in relatives. The maximum penalty for "aggravated homosexuality" is death. The bill also requires any one to report any known LGBTQ+ person to the authorities and will punish any property owners/landlords who provide housing to LGBTQ+ persons. Click here to learn more about the law, how it came to be, and it’s impact.  

Impact: The law further scapegoated the LGBTQ+ community and has fueled widespread hatred. Many people have been outed and people’s past arrests under older indecency laws have been made public putting them in danger. The vast majority of Ugandans now believe that punitive measure should be taken against LGBTQ+ people. Many have been dismissed from their jobs, rejected by their families, and made homeless by their landlords and have had to flee for their safety. There have been many incidents of violence has Ugandans have taken the law into their own hands. People have been tortured, beaten, arrested, faced physical, sexual and psychological violence, including forced anal exams by the police. In August 2023, a 20-year-old man became the first person prosecuted for "aggravated homosexuality" under the law, for which he faces the death penalty. Several LGBTQ+ supportive NGOs have been shut down.

Photo Credit: "Marching in solidarity with Uganda's LGBTI community." by alisdare1 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Click here to view a copy of this license.

Frank Mugisha, Executive Director of SMUG - Sexual Minorities Uganda

The Challenge: Uganda’s Constitutional Court began to hear arguments on Monday, December 18, 2023.

“The Convening For Equality welcomes the expediency of the Judiciary in hearing the challenge. After so much violence and devastation brought about by this wrong-headed law, we are grateful that this day has finally come for the justices to hear the many ways the Anti-Homosexuality Act blatantly violates Uganda’s constitution,” said Frank Mugisha, of Sexual Minorities Uganda, and Convening For Equality (CFE) Co-convener. “It should have no place in Uganda’s law books.”

Arguments will center on the ways in which the law violates substantive rights to equality, dignity, privacy, freedom of speech, association and health as well as freedom from discrimination. Lawyers challenging the law will also argue that the parliamentary process lacked the opportunity for meaningful or adequate public participation as required by the constitution, among other procedural issues.

“The evidence of the discrimination and violence that has been wrought by government employees and private citizens since the law came into force is overwhelming,” said Clare Byarugaba, of Chapter Four Uganda and Convening For Equality (CFE) Co-convener “It cannot and should not be allowed to stand. Nullification of this law is the only way forward.”

Much of Uganda society has turned its back on the LGBTQ+ community. The challenge to the Anti-Homosexuality Act is sure to further increase the risk for the LGBTQ+ community. Please join RWF as we help our Ugandan brother and sisters.

Since 2014, Rainbow World Fund has worked with our trusted Ugandan partners to provide emergency legal and humanitarian aid to hundreds LGBTQ+ Ugandans who are fleeing persecution and those who have been arrested. In the past years, leaders, staff members, and consortium members of organizations that we support have been arrested for the “promotion of homosexuality” and have periodically had to go into hiding. The government has shut down the LGBTQ+ organizations websites and closing their offices.

RWF continues to be flooded with requests for aid from individuals in Uganda. RWF is sending funds to Uganda to provide for emergency shelter, food, medical care, travel support, and legal aid.

Donate now: Help LGBTQ+ Ugandan's achieve hope, safety, and dignity. Please select "Uganda LGBTQ+ Emergency Fund" when asked where to apply your donation.

Photo Credit "I AM A PROUD LESBIAN" by alisdare1 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Click here to view a copy of this license.

Be a part of this unique symbol of global unity! It's not too late to add your wish to the tree. Throughout December we will be adding wishes to the 18th annual RWF World Tree of Hope at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. All of the origami cranes on the tree are inscribed with wishes, hopes, and prayers for the future. Please add your wish to the tree, it'll be printed, folded into a crane, and placed on the tree. Adding a wish is FREE and open to all. 

The tree is RWF's gift to the world and reflects our philosophy of building bridges and sharing the message that we are all one human family.

Experience Cuba: May 16-26, 2024 - Learn about Cuban history from its colonial past to its revolutionary present and how the complex historical relationship between the U.S and Cuba remains ever-changing. March in the LGBTQ+ Pride parade (Conga) in Havana! Learn more here.

RWF is the world's first and only all-volunteer, LGBTQ- based humanitarian aid organization. Our mission is to promote peace, unity, and hope by leading the LGBTQ movement in participating in humanitarian relief efforts. RWF has donated over $6 million of life-saving aid and 85,000 of volunteer service hours.

Bring new hope to our friends and family around the world. Put your tax-deductible gift to work immediately by donating online or mail your donation to Rainbow World Fund, 4111 - 18th Street #5, San Francisco, CA 94114.