In Uganda, lawmakers have just passed some of the world's worst anti-LGBTQI legislation. Members of our community face up to 10 years in prison for merely identifying as LGBTQI, while the bill introduces the death penalty for some acts. Even allies aren't safe: they face penalties ranging from fines to 5 years jail time for promoting equality, supporting LGBTQI groups, providing shelter to someone who identifies as LGBTQI, or even knowing an LGBTQI person without reporting them to the police.

The President of Uganda has labelled LGBTQI people as deviants, and suggested harsher amendments including conversion therapy. One MP has called for the castration of gay men. This hysteria is fuelling violence and mob attacks against LGBTQI people, who are going into hiding in fear for their lives.

Anti-LGBTQI sentiment is spreading across East Africa, fuelled by the religious right, including Western groups. In Kenya, the government is challenging the recent Supreme Court win allowing LGBTQI groups the right to exist, and some MPs are planning legislation of their own to introduce a life sentence for same-sex relations. In Burundi, the President said LGBTQI people must be "banished", and last month 24 workers at an NGO combating AIDS were jailed for two years.

The Uganda bill sets a very disturbing precedent, with a climate of fear for LGBTQI people spreading across East Africa. GiveOuts partners in the region need your support to:

Provide shelter for people who have either fled or been forced from their homes

Challenge these draconian laws through strategic litigation

Defend and protect LGBTQI people and allies

Support refugees to settle safely in neighbouring countries.

Build a progressive movement across East Africa to halt and reverse these attacks on LGBTQI rights.

We have launched a private appeal to raise funds for our partners in the region to undertake this vital work. For security and safety reasons, we are not sharing this appeal publicly or naming our partners. This is a moment for our global community to come together for those most in need.