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National Prayer Breakfast Ignores David Kato’s Death, Vigil Called For New York City

02/03/11-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
The National Prayer Breakfast did not include any remembrance of the late David Kato. This is not surprising, even if it is disappointing. Bishop Gene Robinson and Reverend John Vaughn both released a statement regarding this fact. The statement, addressed to the organizers of the National Prayer Breakfast, the Fellowship Foundation or the Family as they are better known, reads:

“We are deeply disturbed that our request to remember the murdered Ugandan gay activist David Kato at the National Prayer Breakfast was ignored by its organizers, while the safety and human rights of gay Ugandans hang in the balance. We are watching, indeed the world is watching, innocent Ugandans living in an environment of violence and hate.

You are religious leaders with political influence in the U.S. and personal ties to Uganda, united by your belief in God’s Word. We urge you to stand true to that Word. We ask that you, ‘The Family,’ make a public statement that definitively calls out the pending anti-gay legislation in Uganda as a manifestation of sin. At this pivotal moment, exert your direct influence over those responsible for its creation and possible passage, such as MP David Bahati, Ethics Minister Nsaba Buturo, and President Yoweri Museveni.

The result we seek is the immediate and permanent withdrawal of this pending legislation. As people of faith, we ask that you join us and actively fight against this specific manifestation of violence and prejudice that is terrorizing about a half million people in Uganda. We believe God calls us to do nothing less.”

Robinson is the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, and Vaughn is the executive vice president of the Auburn Theological Seminary. The point of their statement is to highlight the violence that has been directed towards lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals in Uganda thanks to the works of the Family alum David Bahati and his “Kill the Gays” bill. The bill would sentence lesbians and gays to prison for life or execute them under certain circumstances.

While the Family may be willing to ignore the death of David Kato, others are not. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand tweeted “Murder of Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato was a horrific hate crime. Join @IGLHRC for vigil in NYC today at 4pm: http://bit.ly/et3zXC” The site she linked to sets up a vigil for Kato today beginning at 4pm EDT.

The Ugandan government is trying to cover up why Kato was murdered, and are trying to blame it on him by claiming he raped the man who murdered him. This is pretty much a lie that was probably coerced from the man who is accused of his murder through torture.