Reaction

I was looking for Buturo's reaction. Or, government reaction. It was fast, very, very fast.

Especially given the fact that the Monitor and NV had nothing in them... Ha, if he reacted so fast, that means he was waiting for it. Of course he was. And, his reaction?

"Somebody should tell President Obama that the parliament is doing its legislative duty in the interest of the people of Uganda," James Nsaba Buturo, Ugandan minister of ethics and integrity, told AFP.

Of course, Uganda's parliament should be late to do its legislative duty to kill of Uganda's homosexuals.

Buturo, one of the main Ugandan proponents of the bill which would further criminalise homosexuality and even gay rights advocacy, vowed that Ugandan MPs would not be swayed by US or any outside criticism.

"We cannot tell the Senate what to do. We cannot tell Congress what to do. So why do they feel that they can tell us what we should do in the interest of our people?" he asked.

"It is totally unacceptable," Buturo added, in reference to any attempt by some of Uganda's partners to reverse the adoption of the bill.

"Members of parliament have a constitutional duty to choose between what the people of Uganda want and what others want, and I am sure they will choose what the people of Uganda want," he said. 

You see, it is true. Members of the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda have a sovereign duty to legislate GENOCIDE. Because, that is what this bill is.
And, what the world so harshly said, 'No more'

And, by the way, the resolution from the US congress was apparently from both Houses. Interesting. It has taken on some gigantic proportions.

No. Before you ask, on the whole, we Ugandans are NOT stupid. Not all of us.

Bahati was not at the Prayer Breakfast. But, from someone who was there, here is an account. He went chasing down the 'spiritual head of the Fellowship'

This opposition seems entirely consistent with the events I attended here yesterday. For instance, the welcome card for the African Breakfast described this ”value of a small group”

With the Spirit of Jesus at the center, this ancient idea of gathering together meets a long-felt spiritual need of men and women at all levels of society in our modern world. People find acceptance, understanding, confidence, and hope for the future through a deepening relationship with God and in discovering the secret of true brotherhood with their fellow men and women. The primary goal of a small group is to build trust, fellowship, and closer bonds of friendship through the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.  

As noted repeatedly by all I talked to here yesterday, including Ugandans present, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is completely inconsistent with this statement.

Hey, did you note that there WERE some Ugandans there?

Yes, there were some. And, notice their reaction? Who were they? Dare they reveal their names?

Legal sanctions for homosexuals behaviour are biblical? Thank the gods I am not a Christian. Am very, very thankful. But, my lover is.

And, some Christians who support Ssempa released a non-statement statement. Ever heard of one of those? They make me furious. Why not just say.. NOTHING.

I just dont like people who persecute me in the name of religion. It is such a cowardly place to hide- saying, this must be so, because, well, this BOOk says so. Because the book is never, ever wrong.

BBC has a clip you should watch.

The Ugandan Frankenstein we have helped to create, picked from PlanetTransgender.

When Archbishop Livingstone Nkoyoyo, former Anglican Archbishop of Uganda returned home following the 1998 Lambeth Conference, he made sure to tell a press conference at Entebbe Airport that the Anglican Communion was behind him and President Musevene to extend hasher laws on homosexuality. In concert with his bishops (who influence one third of the population of Uganda and a higher proportion of government ministers and Uganda’s elite) the Archbishop began a crusade against Ugandan homosexuals blaming western and particularly Episcopal Church influence. This was clearly unfounded a lie. With a Bush White House and greater financial influence from American fundamentalists, the movement to misrepresent the Anglican Church’s position on homosexuality created a Frankenstein. Nkoyoyo said nothing about either the listening process, the need to condemn homophobia and violence against LGBT people and extending pastoral care, all recommendations to the world wide Anglican family contained in Resolution 1:10. He also never mentioned Resolution I: I, committing to uphold the Declaration of Human Rights. The Church of Uganda was never publicly reprimanded by the Anglican Communion Office or the Archbishop of Canterbury, or indeed any significant body of peer bishops for their misuse. Silence equals endorsement.

Yeah, I have lived this history. In a very real way. Yet, to say that I realised the significance of what was happening would have been a lie. I just didnt know. And, now that I have seen what is happening, I look back and say, wow!

When the history of this sad chapter in the life of the church is written, we may discover that Anglicans are the architects of this monster, now manifested in Uganda and about to spread to other parts of the African church. Later, leaders like Rick Warren and Exodus international would bring their own distinctive body parts to this new creation.

On 17th February, Pastor Martin Ssempa is threatening to bring one million angry Ugandans on to the streets of Kampala to show Musevene’s government that “God fearing Christians” want no leniency for their gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. Musevene is now caught between the unanimous outcry of the international community and even the Vatican against this further violation of human rights, and the Frankenstein we have helped to create. 

The whole article is worth reading.

I know, PhD theses will be written about what has been happening in Uganda. And, the final chapter is not yet done. Fact is, living history is kind of exciting.

But, but, but...

It sure is stressful!

Ok. Now, lighten up. I hate, with a huge H, people who justify things that they should use a little bit of commonsense about. I think that is the source of my irritation with Comrade 27th. He takes his vaunted ideals, or one of them, divorces them from reality, and then goes ahead to pontificate.

I hate that, because it is simply a glorification of unthinking logic. Logic divorced from reality. And, here is one Ugandan journalist who is fighting for David Bahati's right as a member of parliament to move the Private Members bill.
Quick reaction to that is- you know what, dear friend, a member of parliament in Uganda has the right to piss and pile his feaces on the floor of Uganda's parliment. I think even that is protected by the constitution of Uganda. Isnt it?

I have worked the computer battery to the last few seconds of life. Power is off again... Normal thing, these days.

Have a good day.

And, I affirm, Gay Rights are Human Rights.


gug

Obama Weighs in, Again.

Hey, I must say that the gay lobby in the US is strong.

He has weighed in again, and it will be interesting to see what pressure that does for Uganda. I am quite aware that it was because of the anger of the LGBT people in the US that there is this unprecedented level of intervention.

And, I cant help but note that, from this master wordsmith, the words also hold a deep meaning. Push aside the politics and push these words into Bahati, Buturo, and Ssempa's faces. Surely, surely????!!!!!

Here are the words.

We may disagree about gay marriage, but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are — whether it’s here in the United States or, as Hillary mentioned, more extremely in odious laws that are being proposed most recently in Uganda.

Hillary Clinton also did talk, about the same issue. President Museveni has not heard the last from the Secretary of State!

Hillary Clinton talked about persecution and discrimination against gays and lesbians

Sadly, 27th Comrade will be up in arms that Obama is interfering with his right to kill gayUganda. And, I will keep telling him that I will reject my allies when I am dead. Dont know whether he gets that... Maybe he does? Or not.

And, the Congress is also weighing in with a resolution. The Senate.

Here is the text of the Bipartisan--- Yes, it was. Bipartisan. Again, for me what I see is that the appeal to a common humanity crosses partisan lines.
I know, the Ugandans will argue that the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2009 (text here), was actually a Bi-partisan affair, demonstrating the common 'values' of Uganda, and their horror of homosexuality. Honourable Benson Obua-Ogwal, (UPC, Moroto) and David Bahati, (NRM, Ndorwa West), were the co-sponsors.

Here is the text of the Resolution.

RESOLUTION

Calling on members of the Parliament in Uganda to reject the proposed ‘‘Anti-Homosexuality Bill’’, and for other purposes.

Whereas a bill introduced on October 14, 2009, by a member of Parliament in Uganda would expand penalties for homosexuality to include the death penalty and requires citizens to report information about homosexuality to the police or face imprisonment;

Whereas many countries criminalize homosexuality, and in some countries, such as Iran, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan, the penalty for homosexuality includes the death penalty;

Whereas the United States, in seeking to promote the core American principles of equality and ‘‘Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,’’ has long championed the universality of human rights;

Whereas religious leaders in the United States, along with representatives from the Vatican and the Anglican Church, have stated that laws criminalizing homosexuality are unjust; and

Whereas the people and Government of the United States recognize that such laws undermine our commitment to combating HIV/AIDS globally through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) by stigmatizing and criminalizing vulnerable communities: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) calls on members of the Parliament in Uganda to reject the ‘‘Anti-Homosexuality Bill’’ recently proposed in that country;

(2) urges the governments of all countries to reject and repeal similar criminalization laws; and

(3) encourages the Secretary of State to closely monitor human rights abuses that occur because of sexual orientation and to encourage the repeal or reform of laws such as the proposed ‘‘Anti-Homosexuality Bill’’ in Uganda that permit such abuses.

I am glad that the crisis in Uganda has brought to the mind the issue of abuses of human rights of others like me, who are different because we are gay.

But, with that realisation, I still remember that the Bill, the Bahati Bill is still in parliament. And yes, it can be passed, despite this unprecedented pressure.

Dont think I have ever seen action oriented people like the Americans. So, the bill is there, right? Here are Ten things to Oppose it...! Right!

I think it is inevitable that this bill plays into the politics of the different countries. Personally, I see it as life. My life. My partner's. Life and liberty.

But, it is playing out differently in other places...

In Britain, Cameron of the Tories (yes?) wants to admit gay refugees.

Good suggestion, actually. Did I mention that Ssempa is taunting us that countries like Sweden are waiting for us? But, this tiny hostile but beautiful country of mine is MY country. Today, was in a meeting which was talking about this. I have been reading the bill again, and I do realise that I am very valuable. I nearly burst out saying, I will only leave the country when this bill becomes law.

Foolhardy, stupid, blind, deaf, dumb. That is me.

But, it is not yet law.

I heard that one of our homegrown musician is soon releasing a gay bashing music video. Will be very interesting, that. Are we going to become another Jamaica? Can this bill be killed?

Cameron wants such singers banned. In Uganda, they will be lionised.

The Family in America. Shadowy, powerful, including politicians like Bahati- or NOT.... I like the ins and outs of American politics. Open and out there, but as full as back room deals as, ahem, Britain? I liked the story that Tony Blair promised the Prime Ministership to Brown at a breakfast table... Hey, I do hear rumours! Ever heard of 'Radio Katwe'? The grapevine, in Ugandan parlace.

The Family has no identifiable Internet site, no office number and no official spokesman. J. Robert Hunter, a member who has spoken publicly about the group, said that it was unfair to blame the Family for the anti-gay legislation introduced by David Bahati. Mr. Hunter said that about 30 Family members, all Americans, active in Africa recently conveyed their dismay about the legislation to Ugandan politicians, including Mr. Bahati.

But, you know what, I have also heard of the Mafia, and the film the Godfather.... Is there any difference between the family and, and, or am I being insulting in my ignorance?

What I am really glad about is that Bahati's erstwhile mentors are challenging him, and conveying their dismay. It is kind of tough for him to blame the 'homosexual agenda' for everyone from Rick Warren to others thinking the bill is wrong.


But, will he re-think it?


Hey, as I write, the Monitor and the New Vision seem not to have got the 'news'. Will be interesting how it is spun. But, do you want to read though a hilarious and accurate analysis of what is going on in Uganda? Just check this one out. Made me smile, 


and now, have to get to bed, though have barely checked all the 'news'


Be well






gug

Bahati in America.

Seems to be the hot topic.

Well, he says that he is going. He says he is attending, and, apparently he is supposed to be speaking. Share the podium with Barack Obama. Here is the Monitor link.

Mr Bahati, according to reports, may speak at the event where President Barack Obama – a gays-tolerant liberal president, is also expected to attend. On Friday, Mr Bahati said he would attend. The event is organised by The Fellowship- a conservative Christian organisation, which has deep political connections and counts several high-ranking conservative politicians in its membership.

“I intend to attend the prayer breakfast,” said Mr Bahati - himself a part organiser of the Ugandan equivalent of the national prayer breakfast.

Hot topic. He has lain his bed. He shall lie on it. Let him have joy of it.

I have no opinion on where David Bahati should travel or not. After all he is the elected representative of his people. But, I would really love to hear that he has visited his constituency, Ndorwa West, and seen the poverty and pain that his constituents live in. And, that he is doing something about them. But, most likely, he will not be visiting them soon about any developmental thing. He even hopes that the bad donors who are giving HIV drugs to people in his constituency stop because they are insisting he does not pass a bill to kill homosexual Ugandans.

But, his travel plans, and where he goes, that is for the governments and citizens where he is going. [shrug, shrug, shrug]

But, from what I am reading, people are not happy at all. Not at all. And, by people, I mean Americans who have been following this ‘Kill the Gays’ bill. One comment on this blog is that it is an opportunity for him to be arrested and tried. For inciting genocide. I guess that would happen in Holland and Spain. Not so?

Here is what one incesed guy blogs.

It's Put Up or Shut Up for Barack Obama

David Bahati, author of the Ugandan "Kill the Gays" bill, and Ugandan Ethics and Integrity Minister James Nsaba Buturo are expected to come to the United States to attend the National Prayer Breakfast.

Let's be clear: These people are proposing genocide against gays in Uganda.

They should not be granted a visa.

If Barack Obama does not want a diplomatic dispute over this, I think that he is wrong, but he then has another option: Be the first President since Dwight Eisenhower not to attend the breakfast, saying that he will not break bread with them.

If he does neither, he is immoral, and he is a coward, and he does not deserve the public trust.

It is possible that Obama will take steps to prevent this, such as pressuring "The Family", the secretive Christo-Fascist group that has organized the prayer breakfasts, to dis-invite them.

But if he sits down to break bread with people who are this deeply evil, he is giving his personal imprimatur to genocide, and anyone who supports gay rights should not support him.

No. Before you do ask me, I do not believe that David Bahati, author of this Anti-Homosexual Bill, (text here) should share a podium with any leader.

I do think that Mr Bahati has been duped. He has been lied to. He has embraced those lies. But, he is an adult human being who has CHOSEN to believe those lies without questioning, without researching them, without proving them against knowledge that is freely available in the world.

He has chosen to embrace his bill. He has chosen to write and defend a genocidal bill.

For that reason, and, because he is an adult human being, I have no compuction saying that he should not share the podium with any leader of the world. Least of all Barack Obama, who we Africans hold in iconic awe.

The only leaders he should share a podium with are Hitler of Nazi Germany. Pol Pot of Cambodia, and maybe Franco of Spain. And Idi Amin of Uganda

That is brutal, it is tough, it is rough.

But, that is what I think, and I am not going to be shy recommending that for a person who believes me and people who are like me are so bad we deserve the death penalty and life imprisonment. No. I am no Christian to turn the other cheek. He is the Christian. He should turn the other cheek. I have not yet seen him do it.

You remember when the Red Rug published names of 'tycoons' in Uganda who are 'promoting homosexuality'? One of my friends was exposed like so. He has been effectively relieved of his responsibilities, and the company seems ready to fire him. But, he is not yet fired. Looking for a 'reasonable excuse', maybe.

That is what I also risk. No, I have no compunction advocating for David Bahati having a taste of what he wants other human beings to have, what he is making sure that I have.

I hadnt noticed Dr. James Nsaba-Buturo's prayer at the recent meeting of the National Executive Committee of Uganda's ruling party. Here.

He asked the Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, to lead the opening prayers. Buturo prayed to God to protect Uganda against promoters of homosexuality and corruption. 

Anti-gay hysteria indeed. To Ugandan Christians, and it is being rubbed in by the Churches and the pastors (if you havent, do read the post about Ssempa's World...) Homosexuality is the most prominent evil. Period.

And, I am a homosexual.

And, a promoter of homosexuality!!!!!!

Be well

gug

Don’t blame yourself

(To all well wishers and supporters. And friends out there. This is a message to you.)

When this bill becomes law. Even as harsh as it is. Don't blame yourself

I am feeling low. So, there is no better time than this to write a maudlin, depressed article. ‘cause I am feeling low. Oh, you will learn the reason, from a post, if it is not yet up.

Opposition to the Bahati Bill has been fierce. Outside the country. Very, very fierce. More fierce than I would have expected. Beyond expectations, actually. We have managed to have the world aware of the bill. Put it out there in the conscience of the world.

My country has been condemned, internationally.

Nuremberg Laws and the Nazi Holocaust have been cited. History is a tough teacher. But, none of us ever learnt from it. We are all determined to repeat its mistakes. Including genocide.

I know, there are some who will claim that the fierce, horrified opposition from the rest of the world made this bill pass.

No. It didn’t. It will not pass because Ugandans have a knee jerk reaction to ‘political interferance’. It will not pass because Ugandans are having this need to appear very good. And, it will not pass because Ugandans have a highly developed sense of morality. If you think that is true, just check the Ugandan newspaper websites on the number of children that have died because of ritual child sacrifice in Uganda this year alone. At least 100, by the last count. We are as immoral as any other people on earth. But, we do hate our homosexuals. Passionately.

It will pass because our government wanted it to pass. It will pass because our President wanted this bill to become law.

And, it is going to pass, because our people believe in their right to persecute homosexuals.

That is the plain sense of it.

I know, told you I was feeling low. That is the time to write such sober truths. Today, in the Monitor in Uganda, the headline is ‘I oppose Uganda’s Gay Bill’. And the speaker? Obama. And, the Monitor weighs in at the international opposition that has been falling on Uganda’s ears. Closed ears, I must say.

In parliament, the opposition is united behind the government. In support of the bill. Maybe a few ‘odious’ clauses will be removed. Like the death penalty. Or, maybe not. But, opposition and government are happy to pit their political fortunes in defence of the bill.

Maybe, to maintain the semblance of no government involvement, Minister of Ethics and Integrity, the Hon. Nsaba Buturo is going to maintain a vestige of silence. He was not supposed to comment, before. Seems like he has forgotten that he did. And, of course, it was supposedly a ‘private member’s bill’. My foot.

So, the government, like the Church of Uganda, have no 'official position'. Well, hypocrisy of that magnitude doesnt pass here. Both the Anglican church of Uganda, and the Government of Uganda, strongly, unequivocally support the Anti-Homosexual Bill.

Both the Church of Uganda, and the Government of Uganda are lying. You can as well hang me for that. As for being gay, of course

The Monitor is coming out as a strong, and fierce advocate for us. Very, very suprising. Someone has shifted minds and hearts there. It might have been Val Kalende, who once did work there. I know, because, Monitor writers are also Ugandans. They also have similar prejudices to other Ugandans. We are all the same. Not angels, no. Of course, the more obvious reason is that the government has been trying to keep a lid on the story within the country. So, the Monitor, independent as ever, is up to tickling the government ever sensitive sides. They have also reported on the research institution which Uganda may not get, because of the bill. Remember the contrasting report yesterday.

The Independence, Andrew Mwenda's magazine weighs in with 'Dont kill in God's Name' It has been on sale for a few days. Is online now.

Elsewhere, Uganda's Muslim minority is being blamed for the Death Penalty Provision in the law. There is nothing as embarassing as a lie written. I must say I dont understand America's cultural wars. Why tell lies in the name of god? Forgive me, I am unread, an African, a disbeliever, or unbeliever. But why espouse some values and then so blatantly lie about them?

This is the editors note, from Anglicans United that I am writing about.

[Ed. Note:  It is imperative to remember that Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi and the Ugandan House of Bishops has condemned the inclusion of the death penalty in this bill.  That inclusion is the work of the Islamic majority in Uganda and the Anglicans have disassociated themselves from it.  Cheryl M. Wetzel]

 My strength, and weakness in this debate, on which my freedom and life depends, is the fact that I can almost not lie. Why lie, when facts are stronger, are researcherble, are more moving than barefaced lies? Damn, I can even look myself in the face and say when I am lying.

I mean, Uganda is majority Christian. There is no majority moslem here. And, the people who wrote the bill would be horrified to be told they are moslems. They are very, very proud Christians.

And, I am sure that Orombi supports this bill. Fully. Totally.

He will not go out like Pastor Ssempa and offer his very vocal support. And, I bet he sat back and tried to read it when condemnation was coming in left right and centre, and Cantebury wondered out aloud how an Anglican could support such legislation.

There is that website called Virtue online. It is amazing. The virtues that they are supposed to promote are Christianity. Call me an old fashioned guy, but lying to me is not very Christian. Especially, in the case like Uganda where these lies are having the horrible consequences of the Bahati Bill.

Someone asked me to keep putting up the text of the bill.

Far as I know, the text, as published in the Uganda Gazette, (gazetted, I believe is the word), the text does not change. Even in committee. The committe makes recommendations and these are voted on in the session of parliament. I think that is the law. I admit, I am no lawyer. And, at the moment I am too much in a funk to care...!

So, the text of the bill is like so. It has not been ammended. It is still like so. The recommendations of the committees will be voted on in the 2nd and 3rd reading. Oh, it will pass. Dont kid yourself. Dont chide yourself. That bill will become law in Uganda.

The current posturing leaves me little hope but that.

The next post on Defence of Uganda explains why the bill will pass. Despite the International outcry... And, here is more reason why. The article on 'defence of Uganda' predicts that the bill will pass unanimously. Frankly, I have no reason to disbelieve that. Here is why. Even those who want to talk, fear being labelled gay.

But gay Ugandans won't be the only people down there. Erias Lukwago, a first-term lawmaker, says he doesn't like the bill but can't afford to disagree with it in parliament.

"I'm telling you I cannot. I fear the reaction of society to be associated with gays — highly stigmatized, ostracized. Even for this interview alone it might be perceived that the gay community is paying me," he says.

Until the political climate changes in Uganda, Lukwago says he is keeping his mouth shut.

Hey, have I infected you across cyber with my bad mood? Very depressing, isnt it? Now, I must go out and read a poem. To cheer myself up.

Cheer up. The bill will pass. Dont blame yourself. We shall still fight.

So, have a great day. You should. We are still alive.

gug

Fierce Defender...

Of the LGBT community.

Ahem, I think I am misquoting someone. I know enough to do so. Ever considered that a fight to the death can be amazingly interesting. Have a quirky sense of humour, like I do this morning, and, even the blood spilling and the struggle may seem invigorating. Life is, interesting!

Hillary Clinton. She is the one that I was referring to.

Now, I have learnt to go out there and look for mention. It is like trying to figure out what someone else is doing. Sherlock Holmes....!

I think my country, my Ugandan leaders think this thing is going to go away. I mean, can you contrast this story in the New Vision, the Government paper (Uganda to host AIDS vaccine centre) to a similar story that I picked up from AP and posted here. (Anti-Gay Bill may cost Uganda Research Institution). Noticed the difference? I bet you have.

But, will anyone in Uganda know better? Certainly, a few. Maybe.

Diversion, again. Yes, Hillary Clinton, mentioned Uganda in a speech about human rights. Tacked away in its innards. Here. I got it from Towelrod.

"Calling for accountability doesn’t start or stop at naming offenders. Our goal is to encourage—even demand—that governments must also take responsibility by putting human rights into law and embedding them in government institutions; by building strong, independent courts and competent and disciplined police and law enforcement. And once rights are established, governments should be expected to resist the temptation to restrict freedom of expression when criticism arises, and be vigilant in preventing law from becoming an instrument of oppression, as bills like the one under consideration in Uganda to criminalize homosexuality would do."

Full speech here.

Do you think my leaders have changed their mind as to the moral cleansing they would like Uganda to have in the matters of sexuality?

I dont think so.

But then, I am gay. Stullifying factor.

The day is beautiful. Hope you are enjoying it.


gug

PS.
I have just noticed, I am actually not following the monies and connections of Langa, Bahati, His Excellency. That story is playing out in the US, fiercely, as more information comes to light. Interesting.

But, I am a Ugandan in Uganda. I am concerned, but, it just doesnt resonate with me as it does in the US. So, they exported the 'phobes and the money. Ok. It is my countrymates that are trying to kill me. I will not exonerate their teachers, their idealogical mentors. But, nevertheless, it is interesting to follow the bigger part of the picture. Here. More connections to the US. Watoto Church is the big Kampala Pentecostal Church, isnt it? Where Scott Lively held one of his seminars, or preacheries, or whatever. Interesting connections. And, seems it is the same story, unravelling. Here.

I love the quote. Hate is not an African Value.

Indeed, it aint.

Not, for that matter, of any other place. But, my American friends surely have some interesting exports! Eh, dont take it badly. I have countrymates who want to kill me in the name of God, Love and morality. To protect the family and children.

Sounds very, very similar, doesnt it?

gug

-----

In the Huffington Post, someone pleads for the defence of the Fierce Defender, on Gay Ugandans' behalf.

I would like to quote some of your Oslo statements to request action from you to back up your words. As you probably know, Uganda is about to pass an anti-gay bill that could result in the execution of many homosexuals. You echoed former President George W. Bush in your Norway speech when you said that "evil does exist in the world." I can't think of anything more evil that killing a person just because they are gay.

----

I am asking you to speak out against this atrocious bill. I know it is not your style to intrude on the politics of other nations (Iran's election, for example). But as the leader of the Free World and a descendant of a Kenyan father, you have much influence on the African continent.

-------

This human rights issue is global. When one gay person is executed anywhere in the world, we all suffer the loss of life. If we don't speak out, we are condoning the action.

------

Lives are at stake. As a country we can once again become a world leader of human rights. Even your anti-gay Inaugural Invocation Preacher, Rick Warren has come out against this bill, hopefully not too belatedly. Our American Christian leaders have sent mixed messages to Uganda for years, preaching that homosexuality is a sin that causes AIDS and falsely accusing gays of being child molesters. Is this not an intrusion on another's culture, perhaps even facilitating the passage of this hateful legislation?

We need you to set the record straight and be true to the principles that you adhere to.

very moving, indeed.

Thanks, Ms Dowlin.

from a grateful gay Ugandan.

-------

The Democrats in the US are lining up behind their infuriated voters. The power of participatory democracy. Very interesting. See this article.

Kampala Today

A very beautiful day.

The Weather department is warning of more rains to come. That they will be heavy and tough. Lots of flooding to beware of. Lucky for me, we live on a hill. As the city has grown, Kampala has ceased to be just a ‘city built on hills’. Many people do live in the valleys, valley bottoms, and of course when it rains, the floods are terrible there.

Part of the 'Bat Valley'  Slums... At least you see them from the other side of the hill. Dont flood when it rains, since it is on a bit of a hill. Katwe is much worse.

But, at the moment, the sun is out. Strong, bright, and the effect through the bright green of the leaves is golden. A magical light. Under the trees it is cool and idyllic. And, there is a sense that today, it will rain. Something in the air that promises the taps of heaven opening up later on. But the sky is blue- a brittle, bright blue.

Have been following the happenings in the US. You know, Obama winning the Nobel, and the incredible venom from detractors. It is very amusing. And sad. Very sad that for political reasons, it is okay to be so hate mongering. I don’t see it as less than that. Because, well, why should I shade my eyes in the name of political correctness?

But, Obama’s star is giving us a lot of leeway. Something for which I would nominate him for the Nobel, despite his ‘thin resume’!!!!!

Yesterday he was talking to the Human Rights Campaign. Yeah, I know, the LGBT organizations in the US are not happy that change is not coming so quickly. (Me, I think they are acting like children. We want our sweet now… and to hell with what else Daddy is thinking about.) So, me being an un-interested individual, I followed it, like on the periphery of my consciousness. Till, I realized that the headlines in the foreign stories on the TV and radio stations here was the big speech by Obama to ‘homosexuals’. It was repeated ad nauseas until my attention was triggered. The speech was long in coming, and we are a homophobic country. So, why so much ‘news’ in it? Well, Obama was delivering the speech. Obama is pro-gay. Obama’s star is incredibly brighter than that of Museveni, in the hearts of Ugandans. So, when Obama dares to go out and speak favorably to gay citizens in his country, it fascinates Ugandans where gays are an unmentionable pariah entity. So you see, Obama’s Nobel was very richly deserved for the many un-measurable, but distinctly happening things that are because he is who he is!

I love it that Obama being Obama works for me in Uganda, speaks for me even more than I can dare speak out for myself. Good for the guy. Fascinating.

gug

PS; Hadnt actually noticed the lack of congruency of that particular photo. But dont feel like changing it. No doubt Princess will put it down to my irreverent sense of humour....! But this is our world, isnt it? The good and the bad, the ugly and the beautiful.

Barack Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize?

Kind of grabs me.

I like the guy. Kind of… He is an extraordinary person in more ways than one. And the charisma and organization which swept him to the American presidency is something that is considerable. It is there, it is tangible, it is.

And, he is someone who believes, and works on buffeting his belief with reason.

Yeah, I am not into ‘believing’ but the guy does make me a believer. Something that I think is illogical. No man is a god. No man is perfect. Those are the absolutes that I cling to…

Since the election, less than a year ago. Well, since long before the election, I became fascinated by this modern fairy tale. (Not in the Clinton meaning…). I became fascinated.

And since the election, I have been horrified.

It is one thing to criticize with intent to correct. It is something else to criticize for the joy of criticizing. To criticize with the fervour of hate and hatred. That gets my goat. And the opposition, (in my view of course) has gone wildly overboard. Well, it may be race based, as Carter believes. It maybe just politics. And, I must say that I am no expert here.

Fact is, I have been ‘tuned’ into US politics for the last year… Longer than I would have thought possible. My attention span is weirdly short. Bite me.

But I have been following the weird twists and turns of the American debates. Makes for much more interesting reading than the Kabaka and President in Uganda. Those are big babies, just out of the crib, playing for life stakes. And they just don’t know it…!

Anyway, back to Barack.

Favourite was Zimbabwe’s Tsavingrai. I thought the guy was going to get it. I mean, I have followed the sorry tale of Zimbabwe for years. Sad years. If Mugabe is the orgre, Tsavingrai is something else. He is not perfect, but he has tried. He is the guy that Mugabe has beaten up on, and caned and done all sorts of things for. He is an African, (yes, playing the race card…!) My  money was on Tsavingrai.

But, Obama won.

Not yet finished his first year of the presidency. Fighting a campaign style war with his opposition, who are accusing him of things from being a Hitler imitator, to the anti-Christ. Extraordinary.

When I saw the breaking news, I thought it was impossible. Obama cant have qualified for this. But, looking into Alfred Nobel’s reasons for the Peace Prize, I couldn’t but agree. With the Nobel Committee. Course, I am biased. But, it is undeniable that, using the power of the most powerful office on this planet, Obama has accomplished a lot of what the founder of the Nobel Prizes dreamed about. They lauded the change in global mood, the efforts to work together, the multi-lateralism, the efforts at peace. And of course, the pseudo ‘Islam vs America’ war that he has defused. In a way. In his 1895 will, Alfred Nobel stipulated that the peace prize should go "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses."

As for being the commander in chief with two wars ongoing (not counting the ‘war on terror’), just remember that Alfred Nobel gave us the power of explosives, bombs in war. So, maybe in this weird, beautiful world of ours, the logic fits that Barack Hussein Obama, the first African American president of the US, should get the coveted Nobel Peace Prize for his lofty intentions, and the power of charisma… To encourage him rather than to thank him.

Gosh, I just want to see how the Republicans in the US react to that. It will be a shock to them, as to all others, but I keenly anticipate the fireworks.

American politics is a reality show whose twists and turns keep me glued to the net!

gug

A lesson for the rest of us.

A democracy in action.

The election, a grueling, telling ordeal. The primaries, where a woman challenged male privilege, and nearly won.

The last fight, when two behemoths slogged it out in public and private, each deploying armies of citizens.

And the win. A minority man, a groundbreaking historical moment. An orator in the old mould, and new- a man of the moment, ready to use the best of his country’s human resources to tackle very new and old problems.

A change of the regime, in the best democratic tradition- and the nation and the world is watching.

A very compelling story. A very, very compelling story.

So un-African, though many of us will have the audacity to claim the main actor. Right now in Zimbabwe, the same old farce is being re-enacted. We are being held out to the whole world like we are stupid, other citizens. Oh yes, there is a lot of bitterness to dish around for the likes of Mugabe.

But, that distracts us from the moment.

The ideals that make our communities human and humane can be made workable. Democracy, a strange ideal. So funny when you think of the whole in- and out fighting that charactarises our political interaction. But it can be made to work. Even if sometimes it does fail, and fail badly. What seems not to work well is the deification of any single human being. Yet, for some reason we seem to consistently do that, time after time. Seems as if it is the default, before we consider putting our faith in ideals.

I am an African. Faith in ideals is usually a misplaced concept. A dream. Too many of us dream dreams, but- few of those dreams survive the hard reality of our continent, our world.

But, and- Yes, we can. Dream, and follow those dreams. Accept, and embrace the fullness of our largesse, the problems, the upset ideals, and the dreams of a common humanity.

Indeed it is a huge lesson for me, in Uganda. In Africa.

And for most of the world.

Good luck America. Good luck Obama.

GayUganda

Barack Hussein Obama?

‘K. This is an issue that I have to write about.

I am being flooded, bombarded by news about this guy. Barack Hussein Obama. Soon to be president of America.

I was fascinated before, by the fairy tale story of this rise of pauper to prince. It is amusing, fascinating, enthralling. This real life story of a good man.

I am unashamedly African. Mine has not been the heritage of the African American, nor that of the African in the diaspora, in Australia, Europe or America. Indeed, I identify more with Barack Obama Sr, who was an African thru and thru. So, my perspective maybe odd for anyone in the west.

What does Barack Obama American journey mean to me?

First it was a source of amusement.

My upbringing, my sense of family, my sense of clan can never divorce from my thoughts that Obama is African. Simply because his father was African.

Bear with me. I grew up where the clan and ethnic group defines the person. That is Africa. Where a man, a male human being is something of a god. An adult male child is always 'owned' by the clan. As a child, the death rate is too high. But a grown male is firmly owned by the clan. The clan grows, is numbered by the males. The fact that BHO was born, and grew up overseas is nothing more than a reminder that we can grow up elsewhere. But, (and that is a big thing) that does not take away our clan, and tribe, and ethnic group.

Obama is Luo. That African ethnic group which straddles the Sudan, Uganda and Kenya. As much as Orokie is Luo, it is a stretch of the mind to believe him other than that. And, of course, his people claim him, and very proudly. (It is kind of funny how the western media is failing to understand the ecstasy and fascination in Kenya, but also in much of Africa. Simply put, this is a son of the soil, making good over the seas.)

So, here is this African man that is becoming president of the most powerful nation on earth. A bit unbelievable.

Yet that very fact is touching.

But he is more than that. He is also a white man. WildeY once touched me with his anger at the racial abuse that he suffered from fellow Africans, who thought that he was not African enough because one of his parents is white.

A continent of paradoxes. And the same old prejudices.

If Obama was in Africa, he would, on the one hand be accepted as a male member of the clan- and he would suffer abuse because he was not African enough. And, because he was and is male, he would beat those prejudices. More than likely.

But those racial problems have been a problem in America for years. And this is a part of their heritage which I as an African fail to understand. Our experiences, (at least for those of us who did not grow up in apartheid South Africa), our knowledge of racial discrimination has not been much. We are the majority in most of our countries. We are more likely to be the oppressors of minorities, than the victims. The anger, despair, sheer determination of fellow black people in the west is something that catches us off guard.

For the first time in my life, c/o CNN, I have listened to the MLKJr speech- the speech, ‘I have a dream’. Brought tears to my eyes. High flying eloquence, rhetoric, the power, cadence of speech, the point when he seems to put aside the written words and goes on to describe the dream. The marriage of ideals, speaking out against bigotry. All sorts of bigotry. Tackling the central theme of the African american’s discrimination in all spheres of life, but going ahead and tying it with the Jew, and all others who were discriminated against. The ideas and ideals are solid, and moving. The logical and rhetorical basis of the words touching.

I must say they reached out and touched me.

And that is the rub, not because the dream that he was talking about touches me as an African in my world- but as a gay African.

I have never truly identified with African Americans. I can never claim to understand their problem of race and racism. If I was from Zimbabwe, or South Africa, maybe I would have been able to. But I am not. I am from Uganda.

I can understand what I have lived, in my small and limited experience, environment. I can understand being considered half a person, on basis of a small part of what I am. It is not a failing, and I understand that when I don’t articulate that dream of I, a gay man, being equal and, that I, a gay man have and should have no fear for my life and happiness just because I am gay, a homosexual, I understand something is going on in my life that links my world to that of the current President elect, and soon to be President of the US.

This is a global village. I understand the fact that, with the US and the world in recession, my personal happiness on the economic front may depend on Obama pulling the world’s biggest economy out of recession. It will certainly affect me.

Bush the 43^rd proved again and again in my life, how powerful the president of America is. Of course I don’t vote for him, but he affects me. Whether I like it or not.

Sigh, having said that, I have to take the next logical step for me. Make the dream mine, reach out and live the ideals, less Obama’s or the Americans’ but mine- where I am.

That is the challenge, seeing the ideas beyond the leader, however charismatic he or she is. Being able to forge the dream into my own, instead of the charismatic leader’s- and following it even if he fails it. Making the dream my own.

GayUganda

Rick Warren?

Uh, I was just wondering, would I laud Ssempa giving the blessing at the inauguration of the President of Uganda?

No. Of course not.

But, and of course, Orombi would feature. As would many other many non-gay friendly priests and priestesses. Obama has invited Rick Warren. And the gay people of America are not amused.

Joe Solomnese, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, has sent a blistering letter to President-elect Obama, accusing him of delivering a "genuine blow" to the gay community in choosing Rev. Rick Warren to give the formal invocation at next month's inauguration.

"Let me get right to the point. Your invitation to Reverend Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at your inauguration is a genuine blow to LGBT Americans. Our loss in California over the passage of Proposition 8 which stripped loving, committed same-sex couples of their given legal right to marry is the greatest loss our community has faced in 40 years. And by inviting Rick Warren to your inauguration, you have tarnished the view that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans have a place at your table.



Rick Warren has not sat on the sidelines in the fight for basic equality and fairness. In fact, Rev. Warren spoke out vocally in support of Prop 8 in California saying, "there is no need to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2 percent of our population ... This is not a political issue -- it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about." Furthermore, he continues to misrepresent marriage equality as silencing his religious views. This was a lie during the battle over Proposition 8, and it's a lie today."

A cheeky thought came to mind. How would Orombi think of me , gayuganda, standing on the podium with him and his excellency during the swearing in? He would most likely be apopletic too! Errr, and I would also reason that it is my right as a Ugandan.

Sigh. It is all a matter of imagery and the meanings we decide to cloud our minds with. Should Rick Warren be 'officially' invited or not? It matters to me, of course. Cause I am gay. But to a pragmatist politician like Obama, how much does it?

gug

UPDATE
Huh comrade 27th. Seen your comment vis a vis the rights of the atheist. Very funny!

No wonder I am not a politician. I would never ever be able to satisfy each and everyone. I have just seen this, seems like Obama is determined to balance the act, as well as is actually possible. Check out this. The person who will give the 'benediction' [something like the closing prayer] is this one.

The Rev. Joseph Lowery, 87, is best known as a civil rights icon and co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He also comes from a liberal Christian mainline religious tradition, the United Methodist Church.

In 2000, Lowery, gave what was described as an electrifying speech calling for gay clergy, to the dinner during the general convention of the United Methodist Church, the nation's second largest Protestant denomination.

Sinful Votes

Fact, I do not get it. How, in this day and age, and in the US of all places, one can call voting for the president a sin.

But then, I am an unbeliever.

The church is certainly unhappy. 54% of Catholics voted for Obama!

Funny, just today, after taking my ire out on a believer, I apologised. I should not tell a person what to believe, and how to believe and how not to, and, even when there is a severe conflict in someone's believes, I am not the one to correct it. That I have understood, after a long time, but I would sincerely love to lift the logs out of some people's eyes... Ahem, ahem.

Here is the article

Another Catholic pastor labels voting for Obama a sin

By Sue Nowicki | Modesto Bee

Parishioners of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Modesto have been told they should consider going to confession if they voted for Barack Obama, because of the president-elect's position condoning abortion.

"If you are one of the 54 percent of Catholics who voted for a pro-abortion candidate, you were clear on his position and you knew the gravity of the question, I urge you to go to confession before receiving communion. Don't risk losing your state of grace by receiving sacrilegiously," the Rev. Joseph Illo, pastor of St. Joseph's, wrote in a letter dated Nov. 21.

The letter was sent to more than 15,000 members of the St. Joseph's parish. It is one of 34 parishes in the Stockton Diocese, which has more than 200,000 members in Stanislaus, San Joaquin and four other counties.

Illo also delivered this message in a homily.

Obama's support of abortion rights angered many Catholics nationally during the campaign, and Illo's letter, while the first in Central California from a priest to his parishioners on the topic, is not the first nationally.

A Greenville, S.C., priest told parishioners earlier this month that those who voted for Obama risked placing themselves "outside of the full communion of Christ's church" by their vote.

That priest's action was supported by his diocese, the Diocese of Charleston, S.C., which said the priest was simply asserting church teaching

Continued here. Seems as if the church is fighting a rear guard action. Making sure that Catholics dont vote for Obama again, or any other err, such unworthy candidate. Interesting. Why did the majority of Catholic voters go against the Church's 'advice'?

And would kind of be interesting to know whether this, err, pushing of politics into the pulpit will be taken by the 54%!

gug

Yes We Can.

I spent the night awake. Literally.

There was no electricity, for the first part of the night. A scheduled blackout, I think- but that did not stop me.

I have been ill over the last few days, down with a virus and a fever for a couple, unable to sleep well, causing my lover untold grief because I will not take drugs as I should, and he has to cajole and beg and tease me till I do take them. But that did not stop me.

Neither did the thought of missing him in bed, as I was glued to the television, and searched the internet.

The day of the results of the elections in the United States.

The fever burnt itself out, and my lover retired to bed alone. He spent the night alone, (I know, he will take his revenge, but I am too fired up to sleep now). I was glued to the internet sites showing the results of the election. Electricity came back on, and I put on the television, and then it went off. And I continued looking for the news on the internet, watching the results, my heart in my mouth, too fired up to think of sleeping.

The battery on my laptop gave out, and I changed to another. That one also gave out too, and, reluctantly, I packed off and went to bed. I was there less than ten minutes, and, when my lover went to the bathroom, I realized I was seeing light from outside. Electricity was back.

He found me trekking back to the sitting room.

The situation was comic. I was supposed to be sick. I had refused to go to bed, and, when I went, I decided to leave almost immediately- to watch the television.

He stood in the doorway, barring me. I told him I was having nothing of that. It was simple. I could not sleep. I wanted to know what was happening in the election in the US. And, with electricity back and the computer charging, there was no way I could stay in bed.

I watched the results.

Learnt where a few of the States of the US are. Colorado. Pennsylvania. Virginia. A lesson in the civics and politics of the United States.

I was on the net when Pennsylvania was called for Obama. Electricity was off again a short time later, and when it came back on, and the television was back to CNN, it was just in time.

Ohio was called for Obama, and suddenly, the pundits (had never heard of that before) were calling the race over. President elect Obama.

I watched it all. When McCain conceded. And the tears of Jesse Jackson, and the joy of the black people of America. And then I listened to the soaring rhetoric of the American President Elect.

Barack Hussein Obama.

To me, in Uganda, saying his name in full is not a put down. It is a reminder, and an honour. That, after all, is his name. And a full name is an honour, when repeated and said at such an occasion.

When I look in the mirror, all my prejudices spill over. To me, he is the son of a Luo man, a Kenyan, an African. He is a politician, and in a continent which has seen the likes of Mugabe, Museveni, Moi, Amin, Mobutu, that is like saying he is shit- human dung. Makers of big promises, betrayers of their people, thieves of hope- those are my prejudices of the humans we call politicians in Africa. Agents of intolerance.

Yet, he is the one politician who seems to tear prejudices apart.

I listened to his speech. It was pretty. Later, in bed, failing to sleep, I tuned on BBC fm, and listened to excerpts of the speech again.

Soaring rhetoric indeed. A gifted speaker, a man whose voice holds the crowd, embraces it, weaves the magic of the moment in the words he says. But beyond the sound are the words, the meaning. Beyond the charisma lies a substance which my cynical mind dares to embrace.

Yes we can.

His is an inspirational story, this son of Africa. An inspiring story, from a very, very unlikely continent. I do not read the future. He may not be a good president. The challenges facing him are daunting, to say the least. I appreciate that, if nothing else. I am too cynical of humanity and our failings to fail to appreciate that.

His parentage, his humble beginnings, his meteoric rise.

It could not have happened in Africa. That is a simple fact. The brilliant who dare to overachieve outside the scope of what is possible, what we define as possible, especially in politics, come to a quick and violent end. Those who are of mixed racial parentage are looked down on in most of Africa. I know. I am an African.

Possibly only in America could it have happened.

He inspires me, yet I would not like to be an American. It is not home. Africa is home. I just want to be what I am, an African.

He gives me the sense, the feel, that it may be hard, but it is possible, to be African, and an achiever. To be gay and Ugandan. To be poor, but resourceful. He inspires me.

I look at the daunting problems facing me and mine, and I cannot help but feel that being what I am, coming to a realization of the fullness of my promise, walking and stumbling and falling, and getting up to walk again- that all that is possible.

He talked of the 106 year old black woman, born generations ago, who voted him as president. That woman was born in a world where she could not vote both because she was black, and because she was a woman. But, in this election, she had had the chance to vote for a black person, and a woman.

Yes we can. Change, yes we can.

We can believe in ourselves. I can believe in me. I can rise beyond the constrains of my world, the puny jealousies and narrow minded of the many who believe me less than I am, and say, yes I can. I can be so much more than what I am, because it is possible.

An inspiring leader. Yes, we can.

We can rise beyond the narrow bands of the cynicism that constrain our expectations.

In the US elections, I believe the right to marry was taken away from gay Californians. That was sad, but, I cannot help feeling that, Yes, we can. To my gay brothers and sisters in California, we can still fight back for the right to be recognized on the table with our fellow humans. Yes we can.

Indeed, to my American friends, yours is a great and inspiring country. Of course you are human. Your failings are very, very human. But, as Barack Hussein Obama put it, Yes you can Change, and that may be the greatest and best of human qualities. Thanks for showing us the way.

Yes we can.

GayUganda