How to spot a Gay Ugandan

With all the hysteria and hullabaloo ongoing in Uganda about homosexuality, one of the newspapers has gone ahead and published a 'How To' manual. In the interest of public morality of course.

Uganda is a homophobic country. But, as with all prejudice and ignorance, people just dont know who they are 'fighting'.

But before you take this step to believe in the Observer's observations, I beg you to read this comment from their website. From a gentleman called Kasozi, who has gone through it-

Above (err, below) are some of the most ill informed attitudes I have seen ever!

I am not gay but for many years I have been "accused" to be gay just because when I was younger I looked a bit effeminate. Due to the streotipical attitudes expressed, I suspect most of the people above would call me gay too. Where as it bothered me once, these days when I get such ignorant "attacks" I answer with "so what?"

I would say everyone should mind their own business; what others do privately is their business you don't see gay people peeking into your sexlife telling you what and what you shouldn't do.

The ill informed attitudes are here. Read, to your amusement- and pray for anyone who looks like this in Uganda today.

How to tell that someone is gay                   

Street Talk

Written by John Vianney Nsimbe       

Wednesday, 01 April 2009 17:21

 

John Mayanja, 26, Businessman

If I see a man acting like a woman and a woman taking up an appearance of a man, I would imagine they are gay.

If a man applies make-up and is so serious about the way they look, then they must be up to something unusual. In most cases you will find that such a man hates women and is never interested in talking about them. Even gay women rarely have time for men. Children should be educated against this act from home and society should emphasize our culture because it does not allow homosexuality.

 

Amer Jingo, 21, Sales and Marketing

The best way to identify a homosexual is if they do not have interest in women whatsoever. Instead of seeing him date a woman, he is mostly with men for all the time you know him. Gays are so fussy about fashion and always want to be on top as far as good looks are concerned. In the case of lesbians, you will find women who are overly jealous about fellow women and they even restrain them from interacting with fellow women. This subject of homosexuality and lesbianism is taking root and can only be controlled if a strong law is passed by government.

 

Carol Nyaika, Sales

It is not possible to say precisely what features one can consider in identifying who is gay or not. I know men who have feminine demeanours but are not gay, so it would not be wise to stereotype. And besides, I think we should let people be; why should what goes into one’s behind be my business? It is one’s choice to be gay or not; just like I have chosen to be straight. As a people, let us focus on fighting disease, poverty and ending wars especially for the good of people in IDP camps.

 

Sarah Nakiwolo, 22, Student

What I know is that men who are gay tend to like all the fancy things that are normally appreciated by women. For example they will want to always treat their hair, apply make-up and act like women by pulling at their blouses (shirts) and jeans, which are normally tight. They also tend to gesture around like women by folding their hands, you know. Then for women, they will behave like men. They wear men’s clothes a lot and would rather cut their hair to appear like men and do not fuss about make up. God made sex for man and woman, period. It will be hard to stop gay acts unless government comes out with a strict law.

 

Suzan Idimu, Sales Marketer

You can tell that someone is gay through the way they dress. They always want to want to stand out from the crowd; be noticed and get all the compliments. Such people also behave very nicely to people especially in public. They do not want to be rude. I believe sensitising and letting people know that such acts do not conform to our African cultures and values is important. They can also be exposed in a bid to scare off those who have not started the habit.

 

Grace Sebuliba, 20, Musician

A gay’s behaviour will always change from his usual self in order to make a different impression of themselves to others. You will find a homosexual applying powder on their face like a woman; they walk like women and enjoy wearing lots of make-up. A homosexual will be so jealous about his fellow man and so will a lesbian be about another woman. So do not wonder why. In order to stop the spread of gay acts, a strict law from Parliament must be passed, counselling of gay activists should be encouraged and single-sex schools stopped.

 

Labartin Mwima, 21, Designer

It is quite easy to identify someone who is gay. The thing about a homosexual or a lesbian is that in the case of a man, he will be acting like a woman and vice-versa. A gay man may try to change his character traits and voice in order to be a woman. One other thing is that people with the gay orientation are shy and tend to avoid eye-contact. About controlling the spread of homosexuality and lesbianism in Uganda, the financial welfare of people must be improved first.

 

Nuru Nakalanzi, 23, Law Student

I know what gay people are like. Girls who are gay are very jealous. They can fight another girl or a boy trying to befriend their partner. They rarely talk about boys in their circles and if she is the man in that funny relationship, she will behave like a man with short hair and enjoy male dominated games. Controlling the issue of gays is hard because there are no stringent laws against it. So many high profile people including Pastors have been suspected but government never investigates.

 

Janet Namugga, 24, Artiste

Gay women are not only jealous and over protective of fellow women but they tend to touch each other a lot even in public. It is not uncommon that they share gifts a lot and you will find that they are not interested in men, so they are normally in the company of fellow women. Gay men normally wear those feminine things like strong perfumes, make-up, heavy jewellery and very bright colours. I think the best way to control the spread of homosexuality and lesbianism in our society is by educating the public about the negatives.