The Rev. Mark Kiyimba, minister of the New Life Unitarian Universalist Church of Kampala, Uganda, will speak about his activist work in support of gay rights in his native country. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 17, at 6 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington located at 2120 N. Fee Lane. Admission is free.

Kiyimba will address the often-dangerous work of organizing and speaking out for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community in Uganda, a country where anti-gay sentiment extends to many areas of social, religious and community life. A long-time, outspoken advocate for the GLBT community in Uganda, Kiyimba is one of the leading voices in his country protesting against discriminatory anti-gay legislation that is still before the Ugandan parliament. In 2009 and 2010, his congregation hosted conferences to protest previous anti-gay rights legislation that attracted more than 200 people, including gay and lesbian Ugandans and their allies who risked possible arrest for their participation.

In July 2012, Kiyimba received the National Education Association’s Virginia Uribe Award for Creative Leadership in Human Rights. Upon awarding Kiyimba with this honor, the organization released this statement.
Into this cauldron of hate [Uganda’s violently anti-gay culture] has stepped an extraordinary man . . . For his courage, he has received hundreds of death threats. In his speeches and sermons in the United States, Kiyimba’s . . . message has been, “You as westerners have the power to help us quench this terrible fire.�
In addition to founding the New Life Unitarian Universalist congregation in Kampala, Kiyimba also founded the New Life Primary School and New Life Children’s Home which, according to the New Life Web site, “provides a place for children who have lost parents to AIDS, who are themselves HIV positive or have AIDS or whose families simply no longer have the means to care for their children.�

The event will feature a speaking and video presentation followed by a meet-and-greet with light refreshments. Donations will be accepted, with proceeds going to support Kiyimba’s ministry and activist work in Uganda.

• TIME: 6 p.m.

• COST: free/donations accepted

• WHERE: Unitarian Universalist Church, 2120 North Fee Lane, Bloomington. 812-332-3695

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