[Engaged] Call Me Kuchu: For the LGBT Community in Uganda

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  • Jundo
    Treeleaf Founder and Priest
    • Apr 2006
    • 40396

    [Engaged] Call Me Kuchu: For the LGBT Community in Uganda

    Dear All,

    Kyogen Carlson, the Teacher at the Dharma Rain Zen Center in Portland, Oregon, has asked various Zen groups to post information on this documentary about a terrible situation. They are trying to raise funds. This concerns the tragic situation of LGBT Ugandans who were being violently attacked after the anti-gay law was passed there.

    He writes ...


    [Consultations], much of it with local and Ugandan Evangelicals, has led to several events here in Portland about this problem.

    First, we will be showing the award winning film “Call Me Kuchu” at a theater here in Portland. “Kuchu” is the term Ugandan LGBT folks have chosen for themselves. We have also arranged for a number of people who feature prominently in the film, including Bishop Christopher Senyonjo and LGBT activitsts, to come to Portland to be on a panel to address the audience after the film.

    Next, we are arranging for another showing of the film on the campus of a local conservative Christian University, with the blessing of the administration, and hosted by an institute of the University. The purpose of this event is to bring to awareness within their larger community the involvement of Evangelicals in stirring up this issue. A Ugandan Evangelical will be present to attest to the veracity of the film. This is a huge step.

    Finally, a dialog is planned to bring Christians and non-Christians, right and left, Gay and straight, together to meet about this and related issues. That will be challenging, but from my experience, promises to be rich and fruitful.

    ... We are looking for individuals, institutes, organizations, what-have-you, who would be willing to help fund the expenses involved in bringing the Ugandans to Portland. We are about a third of the way there, which is great on short notice.

    ... We have secured funds to bring Bishop Christopher and John Abdallah Wambere, a Ugandan LGBT activist. We hope to raise enough to bring Bishop’s assistant.
    To make a donation via PayPal for the Bishop Christopher, Call Me Kuchu Film Event, please use the link below.



    Here is information about the film. Maybe some folks would be interested in contacted Kyogen or the producers about arranging a similar event.

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    Gassho, J
    Last edited by Jundo; 06-23-2014, 03:56 PM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE
  • Myosha
    Member
    • Mar 2013
    • 2974

    #2
    Metta to all.


    Gassho,
    Myosha
    "Recognize suffering, remove suffering." - Shakyamuni Buddha when asked, "Uhm . . .what?"

    Comment

    • Kyonin
      Treeleaf Priest / Engineer
      • Oct 2010
      • 6749

      #3
      Lets donate.

      Thank you for the heads up, Jundo.

      Gassho,

      Kyonin
      Hondō Kyōnin
      奔道 協忍

      Comment

      • Byokan
        Treeleaf Unsui
        • Apr 2014
        • 4289

        #4
        Thanks for sharing this!

        Gassho
        Lisa
        展道 渺寛 Tendō Byōkan
        Please take my words with a big grain of salt. I know nothing. Wisdom is only found in our whole-hearted practice together.

        Comment

        • Mp

          #5
          Thank you Jundo ... lets support through donations and metta!

          Gassho
          Shingen

          Comment

          • Dosho
            Member
            • Jun 2008
            • 5784

            #6
            Thank you Jundo; an important issue that I'm glad to see is getting addressed. I will do what I can.

            Gassho,
            Dosho

            Comment

            • Ishin
              Member
              • Jul 2013
              • 1359

              #7
              Thank you, very sad situation, but not limited to Uganda. I will help and also sit for all experiencing these types of persecution/ discrimination.

              Recently my family was at Disney World in Florida which happened to be during one weekend which is an "unofficial" LGBT day there. It was all fine until we had to witness planes flying overhead from local Evangelicals in Florida. They carriedd banners "warning" everyone of the cooties they might get by going to Disney on these days.

              Gassho
              C
              Grateful for your practice

              Comment

              • Jundo
                Treeleaf Founder and Priest
                • Apr 2006
                • 40396

                #8
                Hi Clark,

                Here is a picture of the banner ...



                It seems to have been the product of one group ...



                But ya know, not all Christians or evangelical Christians feel so.



                I was pleased to see that now 55% of Americans seem to support Gay Marriage, a reverse from just 10 years ago, with nearly 80% of young adults supporting (a good sign for the future). That is wonderful.



                I had an older brother who was in a life of hiding because he was Gay during the 1950's. It caused him years and years of such great suffering and alienation.

                I usually do not speak on political issues and matters of personal values. However, this is a matter of human rights and equality for all.

                Gassho, Jundo
                ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

                Comment

                • Dosho
                  Member
                  • Jun 2008
                  • 5784

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Jundo
                  I had an older brother who was in a life of hiding because he was Gay during the 1950's. It caused him years and years of such great suffering and alienation.

                  I usually do not speak on political issues and matters of personal values. However, this is a matter of human rights and equality for all.
                  I agree Jundo, it is a matter of human rights and why I was so adamant that we have an option for LGBT folks to be accommodated at the retreat without having to ask for special treatment. However, in the end such an automatic option did not happen, although apparently for practical reasons (we still don't know exactly how anyone will be accommodated!). It definitely saddens me though that there is not implicit compassion and understanding for people who differ from "us", but in such insignificant ways compared to how we are alike.

                  Gassho,
                  Dosho

                  Comment

                  • Ishin
                    Member
                    • Jul 2013
                    • 1359

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Jundo
                    Hi Clark,

                    Here is a picture of the banner ...



                    It seems to have been the product of one group ...



                    But ya know, not all Christians or evangelical Christians feel so.



                    I was pleased to see that now 55% of Americans seem to support Gay Marriage, a reverse from just 10 years ago, with nearly 80% of young adults supporting (a good sign for the future). That is wonderful.



                    I had an older brother who was in a life of hiding because he was Gay during the 1950's. It caused him years and years of such great suffering and alienation.

                    I usually do not speak on political issues and matters of personal values. However, this is a matter of human rights and equality for all.

                    Gassho, Jundo
                    Agreed, I certainly did not mean to imply ALL Christians are anti-gay. My wife for one.

                    I do feel the younger generation is embracing diversity in sexuality much more so than mine did. I this regard i think they are way ahead of us old timers. My daughter and her friends are much more accepting than my generation was.

                    Gassho
                    C
                    Grateful for your practice

                    Comment

                    • Kokuu
                      Treeleaf Priest
                      • Nov 2012
                      • 6844

                      #11
                      A wonderful project. So many sad stories that really do not need to be happening. Here in the UK there have been campaigns to stop African LGBT immigrants (often illegal) being deported back to countries where they could face imprisonment or worse.

                      Involving the Portland Christian community seems like a great idea. Maybe they can talk to their brothers and sisters in Uganda?

                      Gassho
                      Andy

                      Comment

                      • Hans
                        Member
                        • Mar 2007
                        • 1853

                        #12
                        Hello,

                        if anyone is interested in reading about the many challenges and the human side of being a member of the LGTB community in Kenya, my dear old friend Kevn Mwachiro just had his first book published recently, called "Invisible":



                        Btw. I am aware that Kenya and Uganda are not the same country nor the same culture, but I do guess there are parallels in terms of influences.

                        @Dosho: Maybe it might be a good idea to raise your issues regarding the retreat accommodation in another thread and/or to contact the organisers directly, since your exclamation mark suggests a sense of urgency on your part. "However, in the end such an automatic option did not happen, although apparently for practical reasons (we still don't know exactly how anyone will be accommodated!)."

                        Gassho,

                        Hans Chudo Mongen
                        Last edited by Hans; 06-24-2014, 02:17 PM.

                        Comment

                        • RichardH
                          Member
                          • Nov 2011
                          • 2800

                          #13
                          This province of Ontario, the largest in Canada, just elected a lesbian Premier. Kathleen Wynne is a grandmother in a solid marriage with another woman. She is an exellent role model for gay people in moving beyond identity politics ....in a place where that is possible. She had inherited the office when the former Premier resigned, and although already elected as the MP for her riding, she had not faced a general election as First Minister. She will have to make some tough financial decisions during her term that might alienate some on the left. Being gay was a non-issue, and the win was a clear majority.

                          The idea that being gay is a crime in some places is sad, but not surprising. 30 years ago in this province being gay was reagrded as being broken, and gay people would carry that inside. The progess is amazing and heartening. There seems to be an anti-gay reaction in some parts of the world to the growing acceptance of gay marriage in the West. I don't buy cultural relativism on this one. Like feminism, the opening up of gender roles and gender identities is a global value. It's inevitable ...like a river... like evolution.


                          Gassho Daizan
                          Last edited by RichardH; 06-24-2014, 11:23 PM.

                          Comment

                          • Byokan
                            Treeleaf Unsui
                            • Apr 2014
                            • 4289

                            #14
                            I don't buy cultural relativism on this one. Like feminism, the opening up of gender roles and gender identities is a global value. It's inevitable ...like a river... like evolution.
                            Yes.

                            Gassho
                            Lisa
                            展道 渺寛 Tendō Byōkan
                            Please take my words with a big grain of salt. I know nothing. Wisdom is only found in our whole-hearted practice together.

                            Comment

                            • Nengyo
                              Member
                              • May 2012
                              • 668

                              #15
                              Thank you Jundo

                              If I'm already enlightened why the hell is this so hard?

                              Comment

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