Homophobic Ambasaddor....

I am feeling cold.

Gosh, it is real cold where I am. My fingers are freezing. Had never known it can be a fact that the fingers can be so cold that typing is a problem.

OK, it is cold, but, something else makes me feel real cold. The South African Ambassador to Uganda is a homophobe?!!!!! Gosh in heaven.

Hmmmmm, Have I blogged about it here before? I think I must have.... but didnt follow it as well as I should. Competing priorities, I guess.

A ruling of hate speech for a derogatory article by South Africa's ambassador to Uganda, Jon Qwelane, was a "personal matter" that he would have to deal with, the Department of International Relations and Co-operation said on Tuesday.
"Qwelane did the article in his personal capacity before his appointment [as ambassador]. The ruling today is a personal matter he will have to deal with," said spokesman Clayson Monyela.
"We have taken notes of the pronouncement and decision of the court. We respect the decision. The SA Constitution is very clear on the rights of gays and lesbians...we will defend their rights in this country," he said.
Qwelane, a former Sunday Sun columnist, was found guilty of hate speech by the Johannesburg Equality Court on Tuesday.
The court found that an article and cartoon in his column amounted to hate speech, propagating hatred and harm.
As a result of his work, homosexuals had experienced emotional pain and suffering.
The article was published in the newspaper on July 20 2008, under the headline: "Call me names, but gay is NOT okay." The cartoon equated same sex relationships with bestiality.
In the article Qwelane refused to withdraw or apologise for his views. He also refused to write a letter to the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) explaining his thoughts.

---

OK, maybe I should not be feeling so cold.

South africa.... well, the legislative framework for freedom is in place. But, by all accounts, many south Africans are violently homophobic.

Good news, Moses Mworeko got asylum in the US. Good for him. I guess I have written some about him on this blog. Good for him.

Nope. I don't want to leave my beautiful terrible country. LOL... I still don't want to leave it. My blessing and curse. But, I do understand why one would want to leave it. But, would I stay if it becomes more dangerous, personally? That is a decision I have to make on a day to day basis. I know, I have to understand that familiarity breeds contempt. Living for so long in a danger I know makes me contemptuous.... So, I should qualify that I don't want to leave Uganda TODAY, but I don't know what my decision will be tomorrow.

Have a lovely day.

gug