Hate and homophobia have no borders, especially in the African country of Uganda, in constant violation of the human rights of LGBT people. Now, two Ugandan officials face arrest and charges for torturing homeless LGBT youth.

The two officials, who have repeatedly ignored court summons, have now been issued arrest warrants for over 76 acts of torture.

via The G-Listed

The arrest warrants came in the case of 20 LGBT Ugandans who spent 50 days on remand in a Ugandan prison on charges of violating Covid-19 orders by living in a homeless shelter run by the Children of the Sun Foundation (COSF). After their release, they accused Ugandan officials of mistreating them during the March 29 raid on the COSF shelter and during their incarceration.

The warrants were issued against Haji Abdul Kiyimba, the LCIII chairperson of Kyengera Town Council,  and Philemon Woniala, the deputy officer in charge of Kitalya Mini-Maxi Prison, for repeatedly failing to appear in court to answer charges of torturing LGBT youths.

The warrants were approved 14th October during a court session presided over by the Chief Magistrate of the central District of Wakiso, which is just outside the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

Kiyimba and Woniala had been summoned to attend court on 26th August and again on 14th October, according to a statement issued by Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF). They face charges of violating Sections 2 and 4 of the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act.

“The two accused persons, however, chose to ignore the Court Summons and never appeared personally in Court to answer to the charges, which conduct amounts to contempt of Court,” stated Patricia Kimera, HRAPF’s Programmes Director for Access to Justice.

We are praying that justice is served for these heinous acts and are asking the global community to do their parts to ensure their conviction. #AllBlackLivesMatter EVERYWHERE!

They have often said that owning land is having power. That still rings true in 2020, as nineteen Black families have combined their resources to purchase nearly 97 acres of land in Georgia.

The families have named the land, Freedom, Georgia, in hopes of creating a safe haven and community.

via TMZ

Renee Walters and Ashley Scott of Freedom, GA

Renee Walters and Ashley Scott are the two women who kick-started the initiative — now known as the Freedom Georgia Initiative — and they say they did it because they wanted a safe place to raise their families without fear of police brutality or other forms of oppression embedded into society. The whole idea is a community by Black people for Black people.

They also note that when the place is up and running — with an agriculture infrastructure, businesses and eventually homes — they won’t exclude anyone … meaning you don’t have to be Black to be a resident. They do make it clear though … it’ll be a pro-Black town.

The first phase of getting all this started is clearing the land, farming it and then creating a man-made lake that they intend to use for sustainable fishing. It’s a massive undertaking, and will presumably take years before it might be considered viable. Still, they’re working on it.

Over Labor Day weekend … Renee, Ashley and co. hosted an event called the Big Black Camp Out, where folks flocked in from all over the country to enjoy the land with tents and RVs in tow. It also served as a ribbon-cutting ceremony to highlight the achievement.

Atlanta’s Black Gay Pride was one of summer’s hottest spots, marking the end of summer and the beginning of fall festivities. However, due to COVID-19, the official Black Gay Pride was officially canceled. However, that did not stop the city’s nightlife as independent club promoters and planners took up the slack with a string of events throughout the city in gay friendly bars, lounges, clubs, and some restaurants.

Unfortunately, this “unofficial” Atlanta Black Gay Pride was rife with violence with multiple fights throughout the weekend at popular Black Gay spots like the Marquette Lounge, Bulldogs Bar, Piedmont Park, and Believe Bar & Lounge!

Many of these fights were recorded by spectators and involved dozens of young and primarily Black Gay Men, who in turn posted the videos of social media. The reaction to these aforementioned videos has been largely an outcry denouncing the entire piecemailed event and feeling that there was no “pride” to be held in the gathering. Some have even called for there to a formal council to oversee future official and ORGANIZED Black Gay Prides in Atlanta.

Check out a few of these fights below:

Atl… yall got to do better… here we go again… #marquetteclub pic.twitter.com/I7Fb307Vua

— juss_hollywood (@juss_hollywood1) September 7, 2020

So you go out risk your lives just to fight 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️. The gays man #bulldogsbar #Atlantapride #atl #labordayweekend2020 #coronafest pic.twitter.com/5qSaMoYLqL

— just on for boredom. (@Get2itsir) September 4, 2020

They did him so dirty 🤭 pic.twitter.com/l8fF87xGWP

— Cordae (@cordae__) September 7, 2020

We really hate to see there was so much violence this weekend. Black and gay people are among the most oppressed people on the planet, and to see them fight so much is just disheartening. More than ever before the Black LGBT community should be banding together.

Personally, we feel it was highly irresponsible for them to have an event of any kind during this pandemic. Lives are in danger. We remember years ago Freaknik went to similarly awry and was eventually and permanently done away with. Guys, let’s do better!