Dear John,
As we close out 2024, I find myself reflecting on the power of solidarity — the kind of solidarity that drives Outright International’s work in places like Uganda, where being in a same-sex relationship is not just illegal — it’s dangerous, and even punishable by death.
This year, Uganda’s Constitutional Court upheld abusive and reactionary provisions of the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), further entrenching discrimination against LGBT people and making them prone to extreme violence. It’s a devastating reality — and the reason why your support is so urgently needed.
For us to achieve the world we imagine where no one is denied basic human rights requires action.
Please donate today, and every dollar will be matched up to $25,000 – but only if you take action before midnight EST tomorrow.
Thankfully, after the AHA was upheld, Uganda’s activist community didn’t give up — and neither did we. Together with 170 civil society organizations, we put pressure on the World Bank, one of Uganda's biggest funders, to uphold its own non-discrimination principles and demand accountability.
And we succeeded — the World Bank suspended all new lending to Uganda after determining that the country's laws contradict its guidelines. This action sent a clear message: growth and progress must include everyone, including LGBTIQ people. Today, activists are urging the Bank to maintain this stance and not resume lending until the Anti-Homosexuality Act is repealed.
This is the power of cross-border solidarity in action. And this is the kind of bold, creative work your support makes possible.
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