SATURDAY 12 FEBRUARY, COMMEMORATION IN ROME OF DAVID KATO KISULE, PROMOTED BY THE RADICAL ASSOCIATION CERTI DIRITTI AND THE COMPAGNIA DEL TEATRO DELL'ELFO.
In memory of David Kato Kisule
Invitation
Rome, Saturday 12 February 2011 – 4pm at the Teatro Valle
The Radical Association Certi Diritti and the Compagnia del Teatro dell' Elfo, performing 'Angels in America' (a gay fantasy on national themes), a text-manifesto of battles for civil rights, will hold a commemoration-remembrance service at the Teatro Valle in Rome (Via del Teatro Valle, 21) for David Kato Kisule, a homosexual killed in Uganda by hatred and prejudice.
The invitation to participate in the memorial service for David Kato Kisule, a member of the Radical Association Certi Diritti, is extended to individuals and representatives of associations dedicated to promoting and defending civil and human rights.
The texts and interventions will be collected and shared with SMUG (Sexual Minorities Uganda), an organization headed by David Kato Kisule.
WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF, AMONG OTHERS,:
EMMA BONINO, Vice President of the Senate; LUIGI MANCONI, sociologist; OUATTARA' GUISSOU, African Movement; VLADIMIR LUXURIA, artist; IVAN SCALFAROTTO, Vice President of the National Assembly of the Democratic Party; AMALIA MACRI', Head of Sexual Discrimination Coordination – LGBT Amnesty International – Italian Section; PAOLO PATANE', President of Arcigay; RITA BERNARDINI, Radical MP, President of Certi Diritti; IMMA BATTAGLIA, President of DiGayProject; ROCCO BERARDO, Regional Councillor for the Bonino Pannella List, European Federalists – Lazio Region; MARIO STADERINI, Secretary of the Italian Radicals; ELIO POLIZZOTTO, No Peace Without Justice; SERGIO STANZANI, President of the Nonviolent Radical Party; MAURIZIO TURCO, Radical MP – Democratic Party; ELISABETTA ZAMPARUTTI, Radical MP – Democratic Party; ANDREA RUBERA, New Proposal; SERGIO ROVASIO, Secretary of the Radical Association Certain Rights.
WITH, AMONG OTHERS, THE ASSOCIATIONS:
THERE IS NO PEACE WITHOUT JUSTICE – AGEDO – NONVIOLENT RADICAL PARTY – MARIO MIELI CIRCLE – AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, ITALIAN SECTION; ROME RADICALS – LUCA COSCIONI ASSOCIATION – ARCIGAY – HANDS OFF CAIN – DIGAYPROJECT ASSOCIATION – ITALIAN RADICALS – NEW PROPOSAL, CHRISTIAN HOMOSEXUAL WOMEN AND MEN.
David Kato Kisule was a leading figure in the organization SMUG (Sexual Minorities Uganda), the main representative of the Ugandan gay movement. Thanks to the efforts of Elio Polizzotto and the NGO No Peace Without Justice, David was a guest speaker last November at the 4th Congress of the Radical Association "Certi Diritti," where he spoke about the persecution and actual lynchings of lesbian and gay people in Uganda, perpetrated by evangelical organizations of religious fundamentalism.
On October 16, 2010, the Ugandan magazine Rolling Stones published front-page photos of 100 Ugandan homosexual (or alleged homosexual) activists, calling for their arrest. Among the 100 photos was that of David Kato Kisule, the movement's most prominent figure. The climate of hatred against homosexuals is fueled by the religious fundamentalism of evangelical preachers, who find fertile ground among the population living in poverty and desperation.
Many international NGOs had mobilized in various countries around the world against this barbarity. The European Parliament, thanks to the international campaign No Peace Without Justice, had passed a resolution condemning Uganda. David had also been heard by the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights after attending the Certi Diritti Congress in Rome.
With great courage and determination, David launched a legal action against Rolling Stones magazine, and on January 7th, the Ugandan High Court ruled against the magazine for violating privacy laws, defending persecuted gay people. The High Court declared that none of the individuals whose photos were published had committed any crimes under the Ugandan Penal Code for homosexuals. At the time, the magazine was also ordered to be closed immediately.
During his stay in Rome, David Kato recounted how the situation in Uganda had become extremely dangerous for gay activists. During court hearings, he was protected by volunteers from international NGOs who followed the trial and defended by diplomats from Western embassies who saved him from several lynching attempts because he was recognized by the enraged mob.
The Radical Association Certi Diritti, together with the associations and NGOs SMUG (Sexual Minorities Uganda), Human Rights Watch, Global Rights, Global LGBT Advocacy, and NPWJ, has called on the Government to assume its grave responsibilities for failing to intervene to stop the campaign of hatred and violence against the LGBTI community and to protect activists in danger in Uganda, working as soon as possible to establish a climate of tolerance and dialogue between the authorities and political and religious organizations.
We will also remember his commitment during the work of the XXXIX Congress of the Nonviolent Radical Party, transnational and transparty, which will take place in Chianciano from 17 to 21 February 2011, in which David was due to participate.
