A Gay Ugandan and Religion 3

Why do human beings need religion?

I do not know the answer to that. But I think we do. Need religion that is.

Take gay Ugandans, kuchus. If you were to listen to the religious leaders in Uganda talk about us, you would sincerely wonder what kind of people we must be.

Mufti Mubajje, spiritual leader of the Moslems in Uganda, wants us exiled on an island on Lake Victoria, till our death. So that no other kuchus taint other Ugandans. When Pastor Ssempa, he of the ‘Rainbow Coalition against Homosexuality’ is talking about us on national television, his distaste is palpable. He spits, or makes spitting noises when referring to us. He is an HIV activist (so he says) and his distaste for us is so complete that he believes we gay men do not deserve an HIV prevention programme because we are illegal. And when something is illegal, the government should not facilitate it. His words, not mine. Unfortunately, his opinion does matter in Uganda.

The Church of Uganda has decided to be one of the leaders of the schism between it and other congregations of the world wide Anglican fellowship. The Catholic church? Well, did you hear the Pope’s Christmas or New Years message saying that we gay people are one of the threats to world peace?

Yet, still, gay people do want to believe, in religions, in gods, who others are so absolutely sure reject them.

We are human beings. In as much as we are human beings, we do have a right to believe. Just like other human beings. We have a right to faith, though the majority seem to be obsessed with our sinful selves.

My lover went to the priest that he wanted to talk to.

Told you he was a Catholic, but he has spent a lot of time out of church recently. He feels persecuted. He feels he no longer belongs, so he wanted to face this with a priest.

He tells me he talked to the priest, told the priest that he was in danger of losing his faith because of the Church’s opposition to his sexuality. He was not feeling welcome anymore.

I only know what my lover tells me, but he did come back in high spirits. The priest encouraged him to attend church. Stated that we are all sinners, and that homosexuals are not more sinners than other people. That he should recommit, and the other problem would be solved. My lover insisted that it was not a problem. That he was not going to go into thinking of it as a problem. And that it may be an issue but it was not a problem.

The priest reluctantly agreed. So my lover says.

He came back in high spirits, did my lover. I am fairly sure that he found the priest unprepared. Probably the guy is going back to check on the ‘catholic doctrine’ on homosexuality. Maybe he will invite him back for a more detailed talk.

Myself, I am grateful. At least, for now, we are together. Of course his faith will continue to be a challenge.

Me and my lover, we cannot talk about faith and religion. My views and his are so radically different that we tend to agree to disagree. Here I can only look on and support him as and when I can. But I have lost the empathy to belief that I used to have.

Anyway, crisis controlled for now. Hopefully.

Though I must note that we stayed in bed this Sunday morning. He did not mention going to church. I did not remind him or suggest anything like it!

Strategic omission, on my part!

GayUganda