Word of the Gay: "IsiNgqumo"

"IsiNgqumo" is a gay black South African linguistic slang among those who speak Bantu.

Organization Spotlight: Out in Africa - South African Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

The Out In Africa South African Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (OIA). The Festival seeks to address the lack of visibility of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex individuals (LGBTIs) in South African social and cultural life after decades of apartheid repression, to counter negative images of LGBTIs that prevail in traditional and religious communities, and to serve as a platform for discussion and debate about the situation of LGBTIs in a newly founded democracy.

Black History Month!

Black History Month held in February is the celebration and recognition of important people and events that shaped Black history. In honor of the month and in the spirit of the mission of the website, I would like to offer some elements of same-gender loving black history.

"I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice, but I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.' I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people" Coretta Scott King - Reuters, 31 March 1998.

Association for the Study of African-American Life & History - The founders of Black History Month and an educational resource for more info.

Brother Outsider - The life of Black/LGBT activist Bayard Rustin.

UKBlackOut - A space to disseminate information and for Black LGBT people to interact and discuss issues that are relevant to them.

National Black Justice Coalition - A civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Our mission is to end racism and homophobia.

Gay Men of African Descent - Empowering gay/bisexual men of African decent through advocacy, education, health and wellness promotion and social support.

Black LGBT Pride Parades - The links are for 2008, but the websites will reflect the 2009 dates.

Clip of Bayard Rustin honored during LGBT History Month:

Transgender Human Rights Activists Arrested in Uganda

"Please take action to protest the detention and intimidation by police of Oundo George and Kiiza Brendah, transgender human rights activists in Uganda who were arrested at home for allegedly attempting to "recruit people to homosexuality." This is a spurious charge that does not exist in Uganda's Civil Code, though homosexuality is illegal and freedom of gender identity is not recognized. Oundo George and Kiiza Brendah were held without cause for seven days and upon release were ordered to return to the police station on September 24."

Lt-Gen (retd) Yoweri Musevini,
Office of the President,
Parliament Building,
PO Box 7168,
Kampala,
Uganda

Contact President & Minister of Justice by Email

H/T to Trans News for the story

Demand Release of Gay Ugandans!

"KAMPALA, June 4 (Reuters) - Ugandan police arrested three gay rights demonstrators who stormed a major AIDS conference in Kampala on Wednesday in protest at the government's stance on homosexuality, which is banned in the east African nation.

Uganda's government said this week it would not focus any HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes on homosexuals because it is short of funds.

Ugandan courts can punish homosexual acts with life in prison, and even "attempted" homosexuality can draw a jail term of seven years."

Please exert pressure to demand the release of these prisoners as well as tell the government it is time to decriminalize homosexuality.

Email: Contact Ugandan State House Officials

Please also use the Parliament of Uganda's Contact Form:
Click Here!

Ugandan Police Force:
LOCATION: Plot 1303 Sserumaga Road, Bukoto behind Kabira Country Club.

CONTACT:

TOLL FREE LINE: 0800200019
HOT LINE: 0414-595133
FAX LINE: 0414-533608