US Nonprofit Accused of Supporting Anti-LGBTQ Laws in Africa under the Guise of Family Values
Controversy surrounds US nonprofit, Family Watch International, as activists allege its involvement in anti-LGBTQ legislation across Africa CNN investigates the organization's possible role in promoting homophobic bills in Uganda, Kenya, and Ghana, while Family Watch International defends its actions as the promotion of 'family values'
On a dark night six months ago, Adrian mustered the courage to flee.
Already on the run for days, with freshly stitched wounds on his thigh, he struggled over the border by foot.
"I had to bribe Kenyan police to get through a railway, after crossing a swamp at the border," he explains. Adrian's transformation from a successful marketing professional in Uganda to a fugitive seeking asylum started with his father, a well-known Muslim entrepreneur in the capital city of Kampala.
Adrian recounted how his father expressed a desire to restore dignity to their family, and then proceeded to grab a nearby knife, causing jagged scars on Adrian's leg as he felt threatened.
"In Uganda when they kill someone in the LGBT community - it is not a big deal."
Hiding from hate
Adrian, one of five Ugandan asylum seekers sheltering in Nairobi, spoke to CNN from a secure location. Like others interviewed, he used a pseudonym to safeguard his identity. The curtains of the safehouse remain drawn even during the day.
"In the current climate of hate, if I go out and people realize I am LGBTQ, I will likely be killed," he states. The exact number of Ugandans who have fled to Kenya is uncertain, but advocacy organizations in both countries report a significant increase since Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni enacted one of the most severe anti-LGBTQ laws in the world, including the death penalty, in May.
The US President Joe Biden has described the law as "a tragic violation of universal human rights" and has called for its repeal, emphasizing that "No one should have to live in constant fear for their life or being subjected to violence and discrimination. It is wrong."
However, despite the condemnation from the White House, a prominent US lobbying group has been accused of spreading anti-LGBTQ sentiment in several African countries. CNN has been investigating whether the Arizona-based organization Family Watch International, and its founder Sharon Slater, have played a role in promoting homophobic bills in Uganda, Kenya, and Ghana. The group has consistently denied these allegations.
Family values
Family Watch International is dedicated to safeguarding and advancing the family as the cornerstone of society. It actively opposes the inclusion of LGBTQ topics, sexual education, and other subjects deemed detrimental to the "traditional family" unit. Through advocacy at the United Nations, throughout the US, and in various other nations, it works to promote its agenda.
The organization has welcomed prominent politicians who support anti-LGBTQ legislation. Slater has organized and participated in numerous "family values" conferences throughout Africa, both in person and remotely.
It is not unusual for American conservative organizations to advocate for policies in Africa. According to CNN, the World Congress of Families, a far-right group from the US with global impact, may have been involved in the suppression of Ghana's LGBTQ community, potentially influencing some of the harshest bills on the continent. Despite this, their leader denied any involvement in the Ghanaian legislation.
In addition to US evangelical groups, the anti-LGBTQ laws in several African nations have historical ties to colonial-era legislation, such as Britain's anti-sodomy laws. Even after the UK decriminalized same-sex acts in 1967, many former colonies maintained these laws upon gaining independence. However, there has been a recent effort to further define and, in some instances, toughen these laws.
In 2013, Nigeria enacted a law making same-sex relationships illegal, with potential prison sentences of up to 14 years. Following suit, Ugandas president approved the Anti-Homosexuality Act in 2014, but it was later invalidated by a Ugandan court due to procedural issues after Western governments halted aid. However, more recently, African politicians have been introducing a new wave of anti-LGBTQ laws. These bills in Ghana, Uganda, and Kenya claim to uphold "family values" while imposing harsh punishments on the LGBTQ community and their allies.
Ghana is on the verge of passing a stringent piece of legislation called the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill, following the dismissal of a legal challenge by the Supreme Court in July.
Meanwhile, Uganda has implemented a law that imposes life imprisonment or the death penalty for certain homosexual acts, leading to increased violence against LGBTQ individuals. The law received strong backing from Ugandan parliament members, but activists and civil society groups are now contesting it in court.
Friends in high places
Nicholas Opiyo, a prominent advocate for human rights in Uganda, notes that the laws are meticulously planned and the population is politically mobilized to support the cause. The passing of the law is simply the culmination of this highly organized process.
At a conference in Entebbe, Uganda, in April, Family Watch International's influence was powerfully demonstrated. In a photo from the event, co-founder Slater and staff members can be seen standing in a small group with the Ugandan president, symbolizing the organization's impact.
In April, Sharon Slater, the founder of Family Watch International, was photographed alongside Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who was wearing a face mask, during a conference on "family values" outside Uganda's State House.
From the National Resistance Movement
The sex education conference took place just weeks before Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act in May. In public gatherings, Museveni and the First Lady commended Slater and her organization for their work.
According to Family Watch International, the meetings were unplanned and they did not have control of the Entebbe conference. However, a reliable source who was directly involved in the event claimed that Slater and Family Watch International played a crucial role in organizing the conference, and even proposed changing the name to prevent negative consequences.
Family Watch International denies any involvement in the law, but has reportedly provided assistance to members of parliament and influenced the wording of the legislation. According to a source, the organization made numerous revisions to the draft and even suggested additional clauses to be included in the text.
CNN tracked Slater to a conference at the UN headquarters in New York in November. The Family Watch International co-founder said that the allegations are "absurd."
Sharon Slater, founder of Family Watch International, speaks to Uganda's first lady in Entebbe in April.
From Janet K Museveni, First Lady of the Republic of Uganda
She stated, "I can show you documents later proving I have not been involved in any of those laws. It's absurd."
When asked for the documents, a representative from Family Watch International later shared a highly homophobic text with CNN from President Yoweri Museveni's office.
Museveni gives an exceptional endorsement of Slaters work, stating that she had no involvement in the creation, promotion, or backing of the law. Instead, it is mentioned that she proposed a "safe haven" for "homosexuals." The final Ugandan law permits the "rehabilitation of offenders," which includes the widely discredited conversion therapy.
Family Watch International has consistently declared their opposition to the death penalty and imprisonment of LGBTQ community members and does not endorse the law. However, a youth leader closely associated with the organization in Kenya expressed a contrasting view.
Tobias Nauruki, a member of the Empowered Youth Coalition, recently attended UN meetings and shared photos of the UN buildings and group pictures with prominent anti-LGBTQ members of parliament. Family Watch International has stated that Nauruki does not have authorization to speak on their behalf.
"I am thrilled about the advancement of these laws. They will not only provide me, Tobias, with protection, but also safeguard the future generations I am eager to welcome," he emphasized, specifically mentioning his future children. "It is crucial to uphold the family values and ensure their preservation, as it plays a significant role in maintaining the traditions that have endured over time."
Tobias Nauruki during his interview with CNN.
Fabien Muhire/CNN
A harsh new reality
Nauruki's statement regarding LGBTQ individuals suggests that those who violate the laws should face imprisonment, while also being offered the chance to convert. He dismissed reports of harassment and abuse against LGBTQ people as "minor" according to human rights organizations.
The introduction of a proposed Kenyan Family Protection Bill, which includes prison sentences for gay sex, has forced the LGBTQ community in Kenya to retreat even further into secrecy. This bill came to light following a Supreme Court decision in February which granted official registration to the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) as advocates for the LGBTQ community, sparking both support and criticism from LGBTQ activists.
Njeri Gateru, the executive director of NGLHRC, expressed her astonishment at the strong and negative response to their 10 years of work. She believes it is a deliberate move to criminalize queer individuals and their lives. Gateru also stated that incidents of harassment against the queer community have doubled in the past two years, with over 1,000 recorded instances up to August this year.
Nairobi has historically provided a sense of safety and community for LGBTQ Africans. The city boasts numerous popular gay bars and meeting places, and transgender individuals in Kenya have found certain areas to be relatively secure.
A woman holds a pride flag during a protest organized by The Queer Republic in Nairobi in January 2022.
Patrick Meinhardt/AFP/Getty Images
If the bill is passed into law, it will prevent LGTBQ Africans from seeking asylum or being recognized as refugees in Kenya. Those found guilty under this law will be expelled from the country.
The bill includes severe penalties, such as a fine of 10 million Kenyan shillings ($65,000) or a 10-year prison sentence for supporting LGBTQ+ organizations, and prohibits the existence of such groups. Landlords who knowingly rent to LGBTQ+ individuals can face fines and up to seven years in jail.
The feeling of safety has shifted significantly with the public announcement of the draft bill and the outspoken opposition to gay rights by politicians, including President William Ruto. Galck+, a leading LGBTQ+ umbrella organization in Kenya, is overwhelmed with distress calls around the clock.
"Landlords have been evicting queer people and they are struggling to access health services freely," said Kelly, who leads the intervention team and requested anonymity from CNN. The organization has identified "red zones" in the capital where it is unsafe to go.
Despite facing international backlash, particularly from donor countries, Kenyan lawmakers are determined to press on with the proposed bill.
"Engaging in prohibited LGBT acts in Kenya makes you a criminal," opposition politician Peter Kaluma, the main sponsor of the bill, informed CNN. He had recently participated in the same meetings at the UN in New York as Nauruki, the youth representative, and Slater. Although he has a book by Sharon Slater on family values on his shelf, he claims he hasn't read it.
In his office in Nairobi, Kenyan opposition politician Peter Kaluma, who is the main sponsor of Kenya's Family Protection Bill 2023, proudly displays a copy of Sharon Slater's book, "Stand For The Family."
Sarah Dean/CNN
Kaluma denied that he has a close relationship with Slater, though he said he does admire her teachings on "traditional families."
He denied that Family Watch International had any influence on the Kenyan law, stating, "No, they cannot. To suggest otherwise would imply that I do not think for myself. Just to be clear, this is not the first law I have presented to parliament."
Despite evidence suggesting otherwise, Kaluma claimed that Kenyans are not resorting to vigilante justice and that Ugandans seeking refuge in Kenya are feigning persecution. He stated, "I can confidently say that this is all a manipulative ploy," asserting that they are simply attempting to gain entry to the US or Canada.
Nowhere to go
There is nothing fictional about Sylvias escape from Uganda.
Sylvia informed CNN that her apartment was raided by both the police and a violent mob while she was away. As a result, several of her friends were arrested and assaulted, and she lost all communication with her girlfriend. Seeking refuge in her grandmother's house, Sylvia was unexpectedly forced to leave.
"My mother came and personally told me, 'You are not welcome here; you are not part of our family. Either leave, or I will call the police.' I cried because I love my mother," she recalls.
The Ugandans in the safe house in Nairobi are feeling increasingly anxious, as they believe the proposed Kenyan law poses a direct threat to their safety and wellbeing.
They are currently navigating the intricate asylum registration process and considering relocating to the Kakuma refugee camp in the remote northwestern region of Kenya.
"When will this end?" wonders Ann, who arrived just a week ago. "What awaits us in Kenya, or what will happen if we go to another country?"
Ann, who fled Uganda, sits in the garden of the safe house in Kenya. She does not feel it's safe to venture further outside.
Ann and Sylvia alternate stirring a pot of beans on a gas stove, while Adrian explores remote job opportunities on his laptop. Meanwhile, another resident of the safehouse is outside on the porch, diligently polishing his shoes.
They're safe for the time being, and at least they have each other.
"Living here with people who truly understand and love me for who I am is the best feeling I've ever had. It gives me hope that maybe the world isn't against me," Ann shares.
They have become a family.
