A coalition of African human rights organizations is taking a stand against the escalating tide of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation sweeping the continent. In their latest effort to combat discrimination and protect the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, these activists are calling on multinational computer chip corporation Intel to address the actions of one of its high-ranking executives. The executive in question, Greg Slater, Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs at Intel, is accused of actively participating in formulating and promoting anti-LGBTQ+ policies in Africa through his involvement with Family Watch International, an Arizona-based group known for stoking hatred against the LGBTQ+ community.
The human rights organizations from countries such as Uganda, where the infamous “Kill the Gays” law was signed into effect by President Yoweri Museveni, are demanding that Intel hold Slater accountable for his role in exporting, financing, and spreading homophobia across the continent. Slater, along with his wife Sharon Slater, co-founded Family Watch International, an organization that has sponsored trips for politicians and diplomats from Kenya, Uganda, and other African nations. During these trips, attendees are trained on an extremist agenda against homosexuality, sexuality education, and reproductive rights, which subsequently influences their support for discriminatory legislation targeting innocent Africans.
Family Watch International, as identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center, has been dedicated to spreading anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion ideologies globally. The group played a pivotal role in crafting the original “Kill the Gays” bill in Uganda back in 2009. Despite the Ugandan Supreme Court overturning that law on a technicality in 2013, Family Watch returned to assist in drafting revised legislation that could withstand judicial scrutiny. Shockingly, these African nations, while publicly denouncing liberal Western influences, continue to accept substantial development aid from the United States.
In March, Family Watch sponsored a conference in Uganda, drawing lawmakers from multiple African nations committed to passing or introducing copycat legislation aimed at combatting what they deem “the sin of homosexuality.” The involvement of influential figures like Sharon Slater garnered attention, with Uganda’s First Lady Janet Museveni expressing concern about the imposition of practices like homosexuality during her meeting with Slater and her team. Meanwhile, in Arizona, Family Watch hosts training sessions and receptions for visiting dignitaries, providing coaching on how to undermine LGBTQ+ rights within their own countries.
While Intel maintains a pro-LGBTQ+ profile, the company has yet to publicly address the involvement of one of its highest-ranking executives in perpetuating homophobia. The coalition of African activists seeks accountability from Intel and urges the company to terminate Slater’s employment. As the battle for LGBTQ+ rights intensifies across the African continent, this call for corporate responsibility represents a critical step towards safeguarding the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals.