Successful Conference

The Standing On The Side of Love Conference in Uganda is officially over and there was no disruption of violence! It was an affirming conference with about 200 people packed into a hotel conference room. There was a retired Anglican Bishop from Uganda who spoke as the main speaker. I have never met such beautiful, courageous, loving people and to imagine that they are basically being hunted by their own government who seem to want imprison them and maybe kill them in some cases. It is like a genocide of sorts. People are scared but today they feel solidarity with each other and those of us from abroad who have shown their support. CNN was here and BBC and I heard NY Times and Canadian Broadcast Network. Hopefully the world will see that there are people here trying to peacefully organize for their dignity and equality.

I was glad I could be a very small part of this historic effort and I hope it is an inspiration for a human rights revolution for LGBT people worldwide.

Love from Uganda!

Marlin

Rev. Marlin Lavanhar