Pope Francis denounces Uganda’s Kill the Gays law in historic first meeting with LGBTQ+ activist

Pope Francis on Tuesday met with African gay rights advocates and denounced the country’s draconian Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), also called the Kill the Gays law.

In a video posted to X, Ugandan activist Clare Byarugaba can be seen shaking hands and kissing the pontiff on both cheeks before the two sat down to discuss gay rights in her country. It’s the first time any pope has met with an LGBTQ+ rights activist from the East African nation.

Related:

Uganda’s president signs horrific “Kill the Gays” law. The Biden administration is reevaluating aid.

The law has drawn international condemnation, including from President Biden and Texas Republican Ted Cruz.

Both Byarugaba and the pope smiled broadly with the introduction.

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For the first time in history, @Pontifex met with an LGBTIQ rights advocate from Uganda. @clarekabale our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer met with the Pope at the Vatican🇻🇦

His Holiness reiterated that discrimination is a sin. #ReapealAHA23 pic.twitter.com/fucUBGtj1j

— Chapter Four Uganda (@chapterfourug) August 14, 2024

Byarugaba, the equality and non-discrimination program officer for the civil liberties group Chapter Four Uganda, said in their discussion that Francis reiterated, “Discrimination is a sin, and violence against the LGBTIQ communities is unacceptable,” referring to the AHA.

The legislation signed by President Yoweri Museveni in 2023 adds to previous penalties for homosexuality in Uganda, imposing life imprisonment for engaging in gay sex and the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” with a minor or transmitting HIV.

“His Holiness @Pontifex reiterated that discrimination is a sin & violence against LGBTI people is unacceptable,” Byarugaba posted for Chapter Four. “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.”

“His Holiness @Pontifex reiterated that discrimination is a sin & violence against LGBTI people is unacceptable. 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.” — @clarekabale pic.twitter.com/MksBLOvr9T

— Chapter Four Uganda (@chapterfourug) August 14, 2024

Ugandan human rights activist Nobel Prize nominee Dr. Frank Mugisha celebrated the Pope’s public show of support.

“The Holy Father, Pope Francis, meets with Ugandan LGBTQ activist Clare Byarugaba, sending a strong message to anti-rights and anti-gay Ugandans 🏳️‍🌈.”

Also on Tuesday, Francis met with the director of Rightify Ghana, Ebenezer Peegah, who shared the stories of LGBTQ+ people in his country in the face of discrimination and similar legislation to Uganda’s Kill the Gays law pending in Ghana.

“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. Pope Francis encouraged us to ‘keep fighting for your rights,’ and that’s exactly what we will do.”

On Tuesday, August 14, 2024, Rightify Ghana's Director @Ebenezer_Peegah had the honour of meeting Pope Francis @Pontifex at the Vatican.

With LGBTQI+ criminalisation rising in Africa, and Ghana's anti-LGBTQI+ bill pending, we shared our experiences as queer individuals in.. pic.twitter.com/tYfW1X4W6D

— Rightify Ghana (@RightifyGhana) August 15, 2024

Last month, Ghana’s Supreme Court upheld a 60-year-old law criminalizing gay sex, an artifact of British colonial rule.

The Ghanaian Criminal Code of 1960 says that sexual relations between people of the same sex are banned in the country, calling them “unnatural carnal knowledge.”

The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, now pending, would strengthen the gay-sex ban, lengthening jail time. The government would also be empowered to crack down on Ghanaians and NGOs suspected of promoting LGBTQ+ “lifestyles” and identities.

The bill is currently awaiting the approval of President Nana Akufo-Addo.

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