Arcadia Foundation

Reports that the man whose head was found in a latrine in Uganda worked for a pro-gay group in the country have proven to be false, causing many to unfortunately believe that the story was planted to discredit the Ugandan LGBT community, foreign bloggers, and Integrity Uganda. Integrity USA, a group representing LGBT Episcopalians, has confirmed that the dead man, Pasikali Kashusbe, was not associated with Integrity Uganda.

Jim Burroway at Box Turtle Bulletin writes:

“Some believe that the story was planted to discredit the Ugandan LGBT community, foreign bloggers, and Integrity Uganda specifically when the story was inevitably revealed to be a fraud. Other possibilities include (someone) using this story for another run at fraudulent fundraising.”

Burroway later issued an apology for perpetuating the false story:

To say that knowing that this web site helped to propagate that hoax is humiliating would be an understatement. We’ve worked hard at BTB in establishing our credibility, and I believe that a key component of that is also to maintain an atmosphere of transparency and accountability when we get it wrong.

The more profound damage, Burroway fears, however, is that this hoax will damage the fight for LGBT rights in Uganda.

This hoax can provide ammunition to our opponents who would try to use it as proof that LGBT people are deliberately spreading rumors and falsehoods. It can be used as a “crying wolf” case to dismiss future reports in which LGBT people are really attacked and killed. The hoax can be used as an excuse to silence LGBT people, organizations, and news outlets. It can give someone an idea for a copycat crime. It can do so many other damaging things as well, and knowing that I was a part of its spread is something that I am deeply sorry for.

The story was so believable from the off-set due to the tumultuous atmosphere in Uganda, ripe for just this kind of violence against people who are gay or lesbian or are perceived as such in the nation. With the anti-homosexuality law still pending, this issue is front and center in the country.

As The Rev. Canon Albert Ogle, Integrity USA’s Vice President for National and International Affairs noted, the hoax is a call to LGBT advocates around the world to redouble their efforts to foster full acceptance of LGBT people everywhere in the world – and most especially where they face the prospect of violence and death on a frequent basis.

This story is a wakeup call for all of us to ensure that something like it will never actually happen. We cannot allow the rhetoric of misinformation and misinterpretation of Holy Scriptures to justify hatred and fear towards our fellow human beings.

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