Three arts and culture events this week look at the plight of the LGBT community in Uganda, where homosexuality is an illegal and punishable offence.

Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda. In 2009, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill proposed that there should be two categories of punishment for homosexuality: “aggravated homosexuality”, for which the offender would receive the death penalty, and “the offense of homosexuality”, for which the offender would receive life imprisonment. The category “aggravated homosexuality” applied to anyone HIV+ or in a position of authority. The Bill has not yet passed into law, and the proposal has been revised to remove the death penalty. Nevertheless, there is a renewed hatred for homosexuality in Uganda, and it is being fuelled by preachers from the US who are acting as consultants to the government.

Three separate arts and culture events in the UK this week address the plight of LGBT Ugandans.

Uganda Pride 
October 31-November 24, 2012 (12-6pm Daily) Free
Unity Theatre, 1 Hope Place, Liverpool, L1 9BG
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Rachel Adams’ exhibition ‘Uganda Pride’ is part of the Homotopia Festival 2012, and it is running from 31 October to 24 November. The country’s first Pride event was held this year on the shore of Lake Victoria, Entebbe, Uganda, despite the fact that homosexuality is a punishable offence. This exhibition documents the Pride event.

Call Me Kuchu
Dir: Katherine Fairfax Wright and Malika Zouhali-Worrall
Cert:12A • US: 87 min • Dogwoof • November 2, 2012 [UK]
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On November 2, the film Call Me Kuchu is on general release. In Uganda, LGBT people are called “Kuchus”. This documentary, by Katherine Fairfax Wright and Malika Zouhali-Worrall, tells the story of the activist David Kato, and the group of activists he leads. Kato is, remarkably, Uganda’s first openly gay man. His organisation is fighting the Ugandan government in the courts, on television, and at the United Nations. “If we keep on hiding,” he has said, “they will say we’re not here.” The film also takes a look at the US preachers, such as Scott Lively, who have worked actively with religious and political leaders in Uganda to promote anti-gay hysteria.

Just Me You And The Silence by Judy Adong
Dir:  Patricia Mcgregor
Old Vic Theatre, The Cut, London SE1 8NB • November 4, 7pm
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On November 4 the play ‘Just Me You And The Silence’ by Judy Adong is on at The Old Vic. Kevin Spacey has in fact donated the theatre free for the event. The play is set in Kampala, and follows the tragic story of Jacob Obina, an ambitious politician and family man. It shows the injustice and persecution LGBT people in Uganda suffer. The benefit reading is co-presented by the New York based organisation, Fuel | We Power Change, and The Kaleidoscope Trust, a UK charity working internationally to end the persecution of LGBT communities.

There is a politically motivated backlash against homosexuality in Russia, Indonesia and Africa, and it is drawing strength from US evangelical preachers who are exporting their culture wars to politically insecure regions and stirring up hatred. These three events show that opportunism for what it is – persecution hiding behind religious piety.