Gay lic

The small courtroom was hot with the crush of bodies and the air was thick with anticipation. It was still early morning. Hearings were not set to begin for another hour and a half, and already it was difficult to find seats. It made sense, I thought, cramming tightly into one bench in the back.

Lives across Uganda depended on this decision. But this felt different. In MayUganda passed one of the harshest anti-homosexuality laws in the world. Lic, they were punishable by life in prison and, in some circumstances, death. In a deeply religious and often homophobic country, the law has been seen as a license to discriminate.

As he spoke, I bit into the inner corner of my lip to stop myself crying. He feared he could be the next person threatened or arrested simply for being gay. At the front of the packed room sat a row of lawyers dressed in neat black robes. I spotted Nicholas Opiyo, the lead lawyer for the petitioners, quietly reviewing his papers.

Were they nervous, knowing how much rested on their case? The arrival of judges put a stop to my musings. The courtroom rose, and seemed to hold its breath collectively, not releasing it until the judges sat and waved to us to follow suit. A judge, who I could not see, cleared their throat, and announced that the case would instead be decided based on written testimony.

A wave of disappointment rippled through the room, as spectators rose whispering to each other and began to file lic. As quickly as it had begun the hearing was over. There would be no oral arguments nor decision today. Outside, Opiyo was already addressing a group gay reporters. I joined the throng, taking notes as he explained that the point of using only written testimony was to avoid spectacle and focus on the legal terms of the case.

But his words were difficult to make out over those of Martin Ssempa, a prominent pastor, and supporter of the Act, loudly proclaiming to a flood of cameras that homosexuality had gay imposed upon Uganda by the West. Dressed in velvet robes, and leaning on an elaborate walking stick, Ssempa handed out bumper stickers emblazoned with slogans in Luganda — the local language — claiming to defend African families and culture.

I thought of my friend, and the agony so many others must feel as they wait for a decision.

License MGH the Play

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