Ugandan Bishop Stripped of Church Responsibilities for LGBT Advocacy

Ugandan Bishop Christopher Senyonjo, formerly of the United Church of Uganda, spoke out against Uganda’s proposed anti-gay legislation during a discussion with religious leaders and civil rights advocates at Intersections’ New York City office Tuesday, June 15.

Senyonjo, a minister ordained in 1964 and former bishop of West Buganda, has been publicly censored by the Church of Uganda for his past and recent opposition to the legislation. If implemented, the bill would undermine human rights standards and Christian values.

As chair of Integrity Uganda, Senyonjo is meeting with political, religious, and civil rights leaders around the world to promote equality and inclusion in the church. The meeting at Intersections included secular and non-secular leaders, plus staff and ministers of the Collegiate Church of New York –– the oldest corporation in North America, dating back to 1628 –– in conversation about the human rights crisis in Uganda.

Uganda’s proposed anti-gay legislation aims to prohibit relationships between persons of the same orientation and to abolish same-sex relationships as an acceptable lifestyle. While it has been illegal to be gay or lesbian in Uganda for more than 100 years, the recent law pushes the East African nation to a conservative extreme. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has called the proposed punishments to enforce the law “draconian.” Possible punishments include life imprisonment and the death penalty. The Ugandan political climate does not view same-sex orientation as an identity; rather, it views same-sex relationships as sexual deviancy.

Many Western governments and human rights groups, including Intersections International, have strongly urged abolition of the bill but the Ugandan government and many of its evangelical Christians have declared their support. Worse, Ugandans who sympathize with this human rights struggle are further marginalized in a “with us or against us,” anti-gay, ideological atmosphere. The bill’s passage would criminalize any persons or organizations advocating on behalf of the gay and lesbian community, including nonprofits, NGOs, and certainly individuals like Bishop Senyonjo. The decision on the bill is expected to come this year.

“This bill should be ridiculous. President Obama spoke out against it. Members of the Ugandan Congress believe the bill will not pass,” said Senyonjo. “We need educational programs and need to learn about LGBT issues in order to have peace.”

Echoing the legacy of Africa’s colonial past, the conversation explored how the West also might be responsible for exporting homophobia. Ann Craig, Director of Religion, Faith and Values at GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) explained that “the same historical, colonial impact of exporting ideas from the west is happening today.” While countries like the United States have prominent and well-funded structural organizations to advocate on behalf of LGBT persons (i.e. Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, etc.), Uganda does not, making gay and lesbian persons particularly vulnerable to institutionalized homophobic policies.

Senyonjo believes that while Ugandans are “well educated in religion,” they overall have very little exposure to other education. "We need education in all areas … we need to have love and share it with all of our fellow Christians.”

Senyonjo's world tour is supported by Integrity USA and he will return to Uganda after it's completion.