I posted this comment on Gay Rights: An Out of the Closet Recollection. I think it is important enough to stand on it’s own so I’ve reposted it here as well. Based on everything that I’ve read this is the best synopsis of the Ugandan situation concerning homosexuality:
My understanding of the Uganda debacle is that legislation was proposed in that homophobic regime that would provide the death sentence for “active” homosexuals ( LGT) who are HIV positive and those that have participated in same-sex forcible sodomy and same-sex acts with minors. Those (LGT) folks who want to express themselves in consenting sexuality, where the two parties are of the same sex, get life imprisonment. Furthermore, friends and family who fail to report alleged homosexuals to the authorities can get pelted with seven years imprisonment. Landlords who rent homes to alleged gays could also face seven years and anyone with institutional authority like teachers, religious leaders, politicians will receive three years of punishment if they fail to report gays within a 24 hour time frame. I say let’s just bring back those beloved Third Reich Boys, the Gestapo, to do Uganda’s dirty work; after all why not use the lessons learned from the world’s most experienced death machine for mass human extermination. I don’t believe I can play my outrage straight, given the vileness of this homophobia. My sarcasm is a form of psychic protection.
The bill is not a fete de complete. Should we thank a higher deity for its “pending” status? It may get modified due to international outrage. The essence of this insane, sick proposed action is to prevent Ugandan youth from western influence because apparently the way we Americans lead our lives seems to be enviable and only the death sentence could dissuade impressionable youth from the moral abyss of homosexuality.
If you think Uganda is daft, let me open your perspective. Nigeria has laws on the books against homosexuality with death as the focus and they plan to strengthen these laws…… what’s worse than death? Burundi has legislated against same-sex relationships and Rwanda, country of serious genocidal tendencies is considering banning homosexuality.
So how did this situation get so inflammed? Here we go again– the problem is religion masking as psychological science. Well a bunch of good ole boys from Christian ministries that believe that faith in the Lord can change one’s essential disposition, are essentially responsible for aggravating an existing homophobic Ugandan predisposition. A group of Conservative American anti-gay activists who believe that homosexuality is immoral and sinful, attended a conference in Kampala. The focus of said gathering was to express support for “sexual reorientation counseling” through prayer and “psychological” support. Sounds like brainwashing to me. Oops! None of the conference attendees ever meant this bill to go sooooo far as to include death. Be careful what you preach, guys, those Africans are on a pink triangle crusade. So our American evangelical folk are now distancing themselves from Uganda’s stance, so is the Ugandan President who knows where his bread is buttered ( Western Financial Aid). Yet a noted Ugandan preacher is calling for a million person march in favor of the bill. Wild isn’t it? Anyone out there with a comment? Let’s hear from you.
That is the problem when personal spirituality or a particular name for a deity gets confused with dogma and outdated customs like in the Bible. Liberal Christians do not judge homosexuals, but literalists do and it is a very dangerous way to think. Agreed… it is brainwashing like that cook from the 700 club…oops.
It is a shame that radical forms of religion make others who do believe in God, such as myself look bad.
Homophobia in Africa, especially in countries such as Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, has become a huge problem. For example, In Uganda the practice – referred to as “carnal knowledge of another against the order of nature” – has been outlawed by president Museveni, while Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe claimed homosexuals were “worse than pigs and dogs.” In Africa, homosexuality is illegal for men in 29 countries and for women in 20 countries.
I believe a lot of the fear comes from a lack of understanding of the causes of homosexuality and the way in which homosexuals are presented to the citizens of these countries. I can see how some of this, maybe even a lot of this, bias and misunderstanding could come from the education received by overzealous and ignorant Christians, but I would find it hard to convince myself that they are the main cause.
South Africa is said to have some of the most permissive gay rights legislation. South Africa’s Bill of Rights expressly prohibits discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and the country has far-reaching judgments regarding medical aid parity, custody of children, immigration, inheritance and insurance. In 2006, the South African parliament passed legislation recognizing gay marriages. Yet, according to figures on religious demography from the 2001 census, approximately 80 percent of the population belongs to the Christian faith.
I really believe its an imposition..these antigay christian groups…..when you really think about it that same bible says only a chosen few will be taken up so who is anyone to discriminate. I say leave people to who they are.
Its interesting how gays are speaking out more. Issues in France the other day and now in Africa. It makes me wonder how many broken people are in the world. In the sense that someone is hiding something that they really want to say but you cant say it due to fear. Dont even think of the reason. Thats a had cross to bare.
I read an article about something thats happeneing in Texas. It says: Writing the Gay out of Texas text books.
“In the new standards, Christian ideas and influences play a much more important role in the establishment and development of the United States,” writes Leithner. “For instance, the board gets rid of the idea of separation between church and state. In contrast to the increased role of religion, minorities, including Hispanics and women, will play a smaller, less significant role in the textbooks.”
So much for teaching our children well, as Crosby Stills Nash and Young might put it. Instead, it’s time to teach our children some censorship, with a healthy dose of homophobia, racism and sexism. How soon before we have a generation of children who believe that Jesus signed the Declaration of Independence?
It’s really shameful that in 2010 people still act like this in the name of religion.
Are homosexuals as dangerous as rapists or murderers to even inflict death on those who are?; This is immoral and clearly against religion. The world and the human conception of certain things has changed over the years but it is a shame that we never changed the fact that we judge people not as individuals or for who they are but base on what they do or how they portray themselves. It is about time that we start accepting each other. Its true that homosexuality changed the view on family but homosexuals are people just like us they just have a different sexual taste.
Hi,
Just a simple question: My partner and I are considering volunteering with the Teach and Travel (T.A.T.) program in Uganda. He, as a retired professor of political science, would lecture. I, with a bit more varied background (i.e. psychologist in the state prison system and in the residential care facilities for the developmentally challenged) would be doing a variety of “hands-on” things.
My question is how safe are a gay couple (If we did not state or show our sexual preferences) in this capacity? We haven’t outted ourselves to the director of the program, but am concerned about this.
Please answer at your earliest convenience.
Sincerey yours,
Frederick K
Hi Frederick,
Uganda has rescinded their proposed legislation against gays due to pressure from the West. Money talks. That still does not mean that to be gay is to be safe and protected in Uganda, or anywhere else on the African continent. Your question is a valid one. I, for one, would feel anxious about spending a considerable amount of time in a homophobic nation, other than a minor vacation. If you decide to pursue your volunteer aspirations, these are my recommendations. If I were you and your partner I would not out myself to the director of the program and I would go under “deep cover”. If there are any suspicions about your sexual orientation, I would DENY anyone’s gaydar. If you’ve read my blog answers, of course you can presume that staying in the closet and denial of one’s essence is not my usual response especially if one is living in a civilized society. Africa is a different story. However, would Uganda be audacious enough to create another homophobic nightmare by targeting gay Americans? I think it would be a political disaster for the government if they let out another homophobic stink bomb. (When there is an transportation disaster, you are oftentimes safest on that carrier because they are on top of their safety standards). I do not think the government will undertake an all out witch hunt against foreign gays. The attitudes of the general population are a different matter. Having said this, you need to weigh your humanitarian feelings against your personal safety. Your anxiety level is the indicator of whether you can do good work, feel productive in your giving, enjoy yourselves and feel safe. If you are always going to have a low level of justifiable paranoia and it ruins your efforts, I would consider other options.
I don’t expect this response is going to make you feel safe, but you cannot go and take an American political activist stance. You cannot stand on principle about your entitlements as a human being. These stances are appropriate in the West and they are what is responsible for gains in gay civil rights in America. Whether “playing straight” in Uganda will work…. remains to be seen. Let me know your thoughts about my thoughts.