Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches calls for Action Against Global Anti-LGBT Violence

Your help is urgently needed to stem the wave of international violence against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people.

By taking just one or two of the actions listed in the right-hand column, you can take a stand for justice and help to protect the safety and lives of LGBT people.

On Monday of this week, the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, composed of 52 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, met to discuss the growing tide of global violence that targets people solely because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Many nations already have laws intended to protect all citizens against violent, and often lethal, attacks. But far too often, those laws are not enforced when LGBT people are the focus of hatred.

Uganda 

 
On September 10, 2008, Ugandan police entered the home of two LGBT activists, "Georgina" and "Brenda," and arrested them on charges that were based solely on a neighbor's gossip about their orientation. Despite having committed no crime, they were illegally held in detention for eight days, beaten, denied food, and subjected to the interrogation of a priest who was solicited to secure the names and locations of other LGBT people. 

Over the past two years, five known activists working for the human rights of LGBT people have been forced to flee Uganda or face certain persecution and possible death. "Georgina" and "Brenda" are now among those five. Just four days after their arrest, Uganda's National Fellowship of Born Again Churches honored one of their clergy for his work in "the fight against homosexuality."

Nigeria

On September 14, 2008, our own MCC pastor, The Rev. Jide Macaulay and his congregants in Lagos, Nigeria were forced to flee during Sunday's worship service. A journalist had secured names, addresses, and photos of many of the church's members, including Rev. Jide, and published them.

Rev. Jide escaped with his life, but has lost his home and possessions. The police have issued a warrant for his arrest. At least five congregants are in serious danger, and many more have been exiled from their familial homes, their communities and their means of support.

In the midst of the chaos, an Anglican priest and a Muslim cleric in Lagos have called on the National Assembly to "ban homosexuality," claiming the federal legal code that already penalizes openly LGBT people with 14 years of imprisonment is insufficient to rid the nation of "the rise of homosexuality."

Rev. Jide told me in a phone conversation today that the greatest need for LGBT people in Nigeria, especially those now targeted, is safe space. That has been the purpose and promise of Metropolitan Community Churches around the globe for all of our 40 years.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

On September 24, 2008, as organizers celebrated the opening of the first LGBT Pride Festival in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, dozens of young extremists attacked visitors to an arts and cultural exhibit.

Eight people were injured and organizers received death threats, which they believe were inspired by local religion-based hate rhetoric.

"This cannot continue to happen to our people," said The Rev. Elder Diane Fisher, who learned of the Sarajevo attacks while preparing to attend the meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, an intergovernmental agency under the United Nations Charter. "An increasing atmosphere of intimidation and a blatant disregard for treaties and laws that mandate protection of LGBT people by European Union member states and those applying for membership cannot and must not be tolerated. "

"I am calling on all spiritual and political activists today," she continued, "to deluge the Sarajevo government with demands to introduce hate crimes provisions designed to protect LGBT people or withdraw their application from the European Union."

"I am also clearly saying: Religion, no matter our particular persuasion, is about honoring the sacred presence in all life. Religious leaders advocating disrespect for that presence and even violence against it, must publicly acknowledge their culpability in the recent violence and call their communities to repentance."

Iraq

And only yesterday, MCC's Global Justice Team received word that the coordinator of Iraqi LGBT in Baghdad, a 27-year-old gay man named Bashan, was brutally assassinated while sitting in a barber shop. Clerics in that nation have repeatedly called for our deaths in the "worst, most severe way possible." 

We know of five other activists, all young men between the ages of 19 and 27 who were marched at gunpoint from their homes and have not been seen since. They were the world's source of information about the persecution LGBT people are facing in Iraq.

Around the same time, gunmen in the city of Najaf broke into the home of two lesbians who were caring for a young child they had rescued from the streets. All three were executed.

Much has happened in the past few days; much is asked of us.

Below you will find several actions you can take to make a difference for LGBT people who are facing threats to their freedom and lives.

Maybe we cannot each do all of these things, but each of us can do at least one or two of them -- and I know we can all pray fervently for the safety of every LGBT person around the globe, and for a change of heart in fellow believers and world leaders that will guarantee their protection.

Know that I welcome your correspondence on what you or your local MCC congregation will do; your e-mail messages may be sent in care of This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . And also know that I pray daily for you, for our brothers and sisters around the globe, and for peace and goodwill among all people, the gifts Christ came to bring.

Faithfully,

+Nancy
The Reverend Nancy L. Wilson
Moderator
Metropolitan Community Churches
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P.S. Within a matter of days, we will observe the 40th anniversary of the founding of Metropolitan Community Churches. Your participation in these global actions is a meaningful way to honor MCC's 40 years of human rights work and our Christian faith.

Here's what you can do: