Released: 12 June 2008

Dear MCC Friend:

I encourage you to take a few minutes to read -- and then act! -- on the important information you'll find below from Rev. Andy Braunston, pastor of MCC Manchester (United Kingdom).

The UK government is attempting to deport Prossy Kakooza, a 26-year-old lesbian, back to her native Uganda -- despite threats from her family to kill her and without regard to Ugandan laws that punish gays and lesbians with imprisonment.

Rev. Braunston's congregation is leading an international asylum campaign on behalf of Prossy. Below you will find ways you can help -- and ways your congregation can become involved, as well.

Won't you take action today? Such acts of justice are an important way we live out our spiritual faith and accomplish God's work in our world.

For more information, please read Rev. Braunston's message below.

The Reverend Nancy L. Wilson
Moderator
Metropolitan Community Churches
info@MCCchurch.net 
 
________________________________________
 
MESSAGE FROM
The Reverend Andy Braunston

Dear MCC Friend:

I am writing to ask for your help in an asylum campaign conducted by our congregation here in Manchester, United Kingdom.
 
Prossy Kakooza is a 26-year-old lesbian from the East African nation of Uganda She was discovered with her girlfriend and marched by her family, naked, to a police station. She spent four days there, enduring horrific physical and sexual abuse.
 
Her father decided that the only way to spare the family the "shame" they felt was to have her killed -- so he bribed prison officials to release her. Back home, Prossy escaped and, using her own money from a business she operated, located an agent who secured her false papers with which she fled to the United Kingdom.
 
When she went to a UK doctor for surgery, the medical staff was so appalled by her recent injuries that they called the police. She has been treated for both the injuries and the ongoing psychological effects at a local centre for abused women, where she continues to receive help.
 
The Judge in the asylum tribunal has accepted that Prossy is lesbian and that she suffered this horrific abuse but holds that she can be returned to a different part of Uganda. This ignores the fact that homosexuality is illegal in all of Uganda and can be punished by imprisonment of seven years to life. Moreover, during a move to a new village contact would be made between the authorities in the old and new villages, further endangering Prossy's safety and well-being.
 
Prossy's lawyers are requesting a new hearing and we are conducting a public campaign to pressure the UK government to reconsider her case.
 
Won't you take action -- and encourage your congregation to get involved in this campaign? Details on how you can download a petition to the UK government and write to the Immigration Minister can be found at http://www.mccmanchester.co.uk.
 
You'll also find posters and bulletin inserts to point members of your congregation to the site and show how they can help.
 
On the website is a moving interview with Prossy which can be viewed on-line or downloaded and shown in churches or small groups. You can even download a longer interview in mp3 format and listen to it on an mp3 player.
 
Here's how you can make a difference:
 
* Go to the website and watch Prossy's video.
 
* Pray for her and for the success of her campaign.
 
* Download and sign the petition, or sign it online. 
      -  Encourage your friends to sign, too. 

(Send the completed petitions back to MCC Manchester, PO Box 19, Manchester, M34 3XF, United Kingdom. We, in turn, will send them in to the Home Office.)
 
* E-mail the UK's Immigration Minister and ask him to reconsider this case. To view a sample letter, CLICK HERE.
      -  Encourage your friends to do the same.

You can email the Minister at this address:

Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk 

Please ensure you put FAO Liam Byrne, Minister in the subject line.  You could base the content of your message on the sample letter provided via the link above.

Or fax your letter to him on 0870 336 9034,

or write to him at:
Mr Liam Byrne MP
Minister of State for Borders and Immigration
Home Office
3rd Floor, Peel Buildings
2 Marsham St
London SW1 4DF

Thank you for your help,
 
~Andy
 
The Reverend Andy Braunston
Pastor
Metropolitan Community Church of Manchester

NOTE: This Action Alert prepared in conjunction with MCC's Global Justice team, Rev. Pat Bumgardner, chair.

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