Our Mothers, Our Allies.

 

Letter from Our Mothers.

Browsing, I found this on the Monitor website. 

I was floored. Couldn’t believe it, but it was still there.
I read it. Exceeded expectations.
Pdfed and stored it. To read again later. And, I have read it multiple times now.

Why?

Will the President actually read it? Probably not. Nor will the self-important politicians smug with the victory of having passed that bill. Nor the supposed pastors and religious leaders that fruit hate instead of love. [by their fruits..]

That letter was, and is to me. And to every African kuchu on this continent. To every Gay Ugandan, every Queer African, to all who are weathering persecution.
It says things that we don’t hear spoken of in Uganda. Voices unheard, important for their very love, and sheer frank bravery. It resonates 

“Just like our children did not choose to be LGBTQ+, we too did not choose to be parents of LGBTQ+ children, but we have chosen to love our children for who they are.”

Utterly brave.

The ladies are pissed. They have outed themselves as thinking different. They will surely lose social position. The pastors that they have challenged are powerful, ruthless ideologues literally mad in their powers in this little country of ours. They will persecute them, simply because they have called them out.

And it is to kuchus-
because it takes a step and stand to humanise us in the face of the dehumanisation that constantly spills from our supposed elite leaders. They don’t come from an abstract position of ideologue, of ‘culture’ or ‘religion’. Theirs is of a very intimate knowledge of what it means to have a kuchu child.

“As Parents of LGBTQ+ individuals, we are not ‘promoters’ of any agenda; we are Ugandan mothers, who have had to overcome many of our own biases to fully understand, accept, and love our children.”

And, having born us, they loved us, and have cared for us through our self-discovery in very difficult circumstances. They assert that us having grown up doesn’t negate their parenthood. And they assert that it is in their power to protect us, with the little that they have. Maama Lionesses.

To the religious leaders who are ripping apart these mothers families in the name of ‘culture’ and ‘traditional family’, the message is pungent, resonating with kuchu experience

“All our children, no matter their age, sexual orientation and gender identity, need and deserve our love. This is the very basis of what a family unit is about. Home is more than just structures, it’s a safe haven and refuge of love, learning, and belonging.”

I humbly salute these brave ladies.
No, they didn’t want to be nameless. Their courage demanded more; I humbly salute and thank you: Jane Nasimbwa, Sylvia Nassuna, Janet Ndagire, Patricia Naava, Jackie Nabbosa Mpungu, Florence Matovu Kansanze, Josephine Amonyatta, and Shamim Nakamate.
Thank you. You probably cannot know how much Kuchus are grateful for this breath of fresh air, in Uganda’s polluted, poisoned atmosphere.

I contrast your courage to the leaders of the group think making the rounds in Uganda: the Church of Uganda bishops, locked in debate with their peers in the Church of England, spilling their bile on gay Ugandans;
the Catholic Church leaders in Uganda seem decidedly cowardly, given the stated position of the pontiff, Pope Francis. The ‘balokole’ pastors, purveyors of hate; by their very fruits they are known. Cant forget the Adventists, silent supporters.

And, to Monitor Media, our thanks. 
BBC would have no problem publishing such a missive. Monitor took a real risk. Thanks for the courage to publish the letter. I know soon such a gesture could be criminalised as 'promoting homosexuality'

To any kuchu, queer African who hasn’t had the chance to read that letter, I would humbly recommend it. This letter is to you , spend a little time reading it, appreciating it.

 

gug