The front page article of a recent issue of the Rolling Stone, a Ugandan tabloid, was called "100 Pictures of Uganda's Top Homos Leak," and was published next to a banner reading "Hang Them."
The newspaper released the men's photos, names, and addresses. Since it was published, at least four of the gay men on the list have been attacked, and many others are hiding to protect their lives.
The article included ridiculous claims -- that an unknown, deadly disease was attacking Ugandan homosexuals and that gays were raiding schools and recruiting 1 million children. It was one of several installments of the "Hang Them" campaign to release information on homosexual Ugandans to the public.
The government's Media Council ordered the newspaper to stop publishing before the remaining installments were published because the newspaper hadn't registered with the government. Paul Mukasa, secretary of the Media Council, said that the Rolling Stone will be allowed to publish again after it registers -- despite their front page article.
The Rolling Stone should not be allowed to publish articles that target individuals and ask people to violently attack others based on their sexual orientation. Please ask the secretary of the Media Council to prevent publishing of the newspaper even after it registers with the government.
Stop the Rolling Stone’s Encouragement of Anti-Gay Hate Crimes
Greetings,
The front page article of a recent issue of the Rolling Stone asked Ugandan citizens to physically attack and harass gay Ugandans. The newspaper released the men’s photos, names, and addresses. Since it was published, at least four of the gay men on the list have been attacked, and many others are hiding to protect their lives.
The Rolling Stone’s “Hang Them” campaign is harmful, unfairly targets individuals, and asks people to unlawfully and violently attack Ugandan citizens based on their sexual orientation.
Please don’t allow the Rolling Stone to continue publishing the newspaper once it registers with the government. If the newspaper publishes again, they will release more private information on gay Ugandans, causing violent hate crimes against gay Ugandans. The Ugandan government has a responsibility to protect its citizens, regardless of sexual orientation -- and the “Hang Them” campaign has a devastating potential to kill gay Ugandans.
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