Bishop Christopher Senyonjo is a hero. The 78-year-old civil rights leader from Uganda has paid a heavy price for speaking out for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Bishop Senyonjo is the religious leader in Uganda who is leading the fight against the country’s proposed “Kill the Gays” bill, which would allow people with previous convictions for homosexuality and people who are HIV positive to be sentenced to death. Created at the encouragement of radical right-wing Christian leaders from the U.S., including author Scott Lively and Exodus International board member Don Schmierer, this hate-driven bill authorizes the country to engage in genocide of its LGBT citizens. “With the introduction of this new bill,” the Bishop has said, “there is a lot of fear what might happen… That is why we are talking against this bill. It is a draconian bill. Inhuman.”

Why are U.S. evangelicals crossing the Atlantic Ocean to try to pass anti-LGBT policies? They know that they cannot imprison LGBT people in the United States, so they are trying to spark a movement in places where our communities are less supported and less able to fight back. The LGBT movement around the globe depends on us all rallying to defeat this bill.

The Bishop has been touring internationally to raise awareness of the repression of LGBT people in his home country. He met with White House officials last week, along with Right Reverend Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the first openly gay bishop in a major Christian denomination. Both men are faith allies in the movement for LGBT equality and provide an important link between religion and LGBT issues. With U.S. anti-LGBT activists encouraging prejudice and hate abroad, Bishop Senyonjo’s work in the U.S. encourages LGBT supporters to also get involved in this crisis and stop the hate.

At the end of May, the Bishop’s tour brought him to the LGBT Community Center in San Francisco, where an ecstatic audience greeted him with a standing ovation the very moment he entered the room. He shared his story of advocacy for Uganda’s LGBT community, a story that started more than ten years ago when he began to act as a counselor for people questioning or struggling with their sexual orientation. Hearing the stories of many people who were afraid and often under threats of violence for simply being who they are, he became a fierce advocate and straight ally. He helped to found an LGBT community center and began to speak out for equal rights.

During his visit to San Francisco, Bishop Senyonjo told stories of harassment and rejection that he has faced simply for being an LGBT ally. “When I was passing along the road, people said oh, there is that man, that man supports something which is wrong,” he told the crowd at the Center. “One time, one old man, I was talking to him, I said, I know these people are also loved by God. He said, ‘what do you mean by that?’ He slapped me.”

 

Uncomfortable with his pro-LGBT stance, the Episcopal Church of Uganda expelled Bishop Senyonjo and stripped him of his pension. He had spent much of his life with the church; he had been ordained in 1964 and served as the bishop of West Buganda. The blow of being expelled was painful for him, but it hasn’t slowed him down even slightly. He has already traveled across the U.S. and is headed next to Ireland to continue his advocacy. “Some people are still afraid to come out, to say LGBT people are people like all others and they shouldn’t be harassed,” he explained to the crowd in San Francisco. “God has told me, speak this out. If I don’t say it, I don’t do this service to god, to myself. I feel other people will follow and understand this.” He also spoke about equality and acceptance, saying that “if we want to live, we should learn that love is the most powerful weapon. People talk about deterrents…the most powerful deterrent is love.”

The Bishop has also spoken out for equal rights for LGBT people in the United States. In Sacramento earlier in May, he talked to political leaders about his support of the Civil Marriage Religious Freedom Act (SB 906), introduced by Senator Mark Leno and co-sponsored by Equality California. Thanks to his support, this bill that would protect clergy from performing any civil marriage conflicting with his or her beliefs passed the State Senate on May 27.

The stakes are still alarmingly high for the Bishop. The “Kill the Gays” bill, if passed, would criminalize any expression of support for the LGBT community in Uganda. It would allow the government to punish individuals, nonprofit organizations, companies and media organizations for speaking out for LGBT rights. When he returns to Uganda, he is not only facing discrimination by his church but could even be imprisoned for his courageous fight. Amazingly, he is unafraid. Without hesitation, he will return home to Uganda when his tour is finished.

We would like to thank all the people who have supported Bishop Senyonjo during his visit to the United States and made his journey successful. He has reached out to countless people in the U.S. and made them aware of the horrific prejudice faced by LGBT Ugandans.

The proposed “Kill the Gays” bill is expected to be decided on this year. This bill is a human rights travesty in the making, and we must do all we can to prevent its passage. Bishop Senyonjo’s involvement in the LGBT movement as a straight ally is inspiring, especially considering the harsh consequences he could face for his support of LGBT rights. He is a testament to how powerful one voice can be in the continuing quest for LGBT rights. I hope you’ll join me in supporting Bishop Senyonjo in his fierce advocacy and in standing strong against this bill and the hatred it would make into law. The LGBT community across the globe hangs in the balance.

Donations to fight the “Kill the Gays” bill and support Integrity Uganda and Bishop Senyonjo in his advocacy can be made online to http://www.integrityusa.org/ and directed to The Hopkins Fund.