On August 13, Pope Francis met with African gay rights advocates; during the meeting, he expressed his advocacy for denouncing Uganda’s kill the gays law. The Pope agreed that the violence and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is “unnaceptable.”
Videos posted on X showed the Pope and Clare smiling and lightheartedly shaking hands in the Vatican. During that week, the Pope first met with Ugandan activist Clare Byarugaba, where they both sat down to discuss gay rights in her country.
Byarugaba’s meeting with the Pope marks the first-ever meeting between a Pope and an East African LGBTQ+ rights activist in history. She organizes Chapter Four Uganda’s equality and nondiscrimination program. During their discussion, Byarugaba said that Francis reiterated, “Discrimination is a sin, and violence against the LGBTIQ communities is unacceptable,” referring to the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), also known as the Kill the Gays law.
“His Holiness @Pontifix reiterated that discrimination is a sin and violence against LGBTI people is unacceptable,” Byarugaba shares on X. “He said the Church should never discriminate. He walks with everyone that has been denied their dignity. He further encouraged us to defend our rights.”
President Yoweri Museveni approved the law in 2023, which stiffens the punishments for homosexuality in Uganda. It imposes a life sentence for having gay sex and the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” with minor participation or HIV transmission.
In addition to meeting with Byarugaba, Francis also met with the director of Rightify Ghana, Ebenezer Peegah. Similar to the discussion with Byarugaba, Ebenezer Peegah shared the history of anti-gay rights and discrimination in Ghana, which is currently facing legislation similar to Uganda’s “kill the gays” law.
Since 1960, the Ghanaian Criminal Code has prohibited same-gender sexual intercourse, referring to it as “unnatural carnal knowledge.” The expected Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill will extend gay-sex prison sentences, and President Nana Akufo-Addo will be responsible for authorizing the law.
“With LGBTQI+ criminalization rising in Africa, and Ghana’s anti-LGBTQI+ bill pending, we shared our experiences as queer individuals in Ghana and expressed gratitude to the Pope for his progressive stance, especially his opposition to violence and discrimination,” says Peegah. “Pope Francis encouraged us to ‘keep fighting for your rights,’ and that’s exactly what we will do.”
Moving forward, many advocates and supporters have spoken up, such as Dr. Frank Mugisha, who expressed their gratitude regarding the Pope’s public support.
“The Holy Father, Pope Francis, meets with Ugandan LGBTQ activist Clare Byarugaba, sending a strong message to anti-rights and anti-gay Ugandans.”
Photo courtesy of social media
