They Dont Get Us

A Wet Morning.

For some reason, I love the rain. Really love it.

Maybe comes from the time I was a kid without cares. Rain meant snuggling down in bed, drifting off in sleep. Rain means dreams while the patter of it on the ‘baati’ roof soothes them. Rain does mean sleep. And, it means a crisp coldness that has me in shirt sleeves or bare chested and moving round the house feeling like a trillion dollars.

Ahem, that is now.

Of course, rain also means flooded valley bottoms in Kampala.

Growing up, I used not to hear of that. My little isolated village, the valley didn’t have houses, but I remember thick papyrus reeds, lots of mosquitoes, and a real stream in it. Plus the fact that we had lots of trees.

Now, Kampala valleys have houses. Everywhere. The famed ‘wetlands’ that NEMA is supposed to protect are nowhere. Houses stand where streams used to flow. And, of course the water finds a way. Makes rivers and ponds and lakes in the blocked valleys. Chases people out of the houses.

Guess, it is the continuing price of corruption. But guess we shall continue paying it. Every time it rains. With scenes like this one.

 True, it was in the New Vision, the government paper. I have no doubt that as I write, such scenes, the water... it is happening.

When it rains, people in Kampala are routinely flooded out of their homes. It is sad. But, when shall we ever get it?

Another thing we don’t seem to get.

I was in my favourite bar on Sunday. Not as crowded as usual. Maybe something to do with the fact that it was the end of the month and for most the salaries are not in the accounts. But, we are gay. And, we were having fun.

Part of the draw is that guys kind of loosen the restraints and flow off into the music. Yes they do. They dance, and, I watch. Nothing like the lithe gyrations of a nimble slick body by someone who does really know how to shake their limbs to the music. Unfortunately, I don’t get the girl’s dances. But, when the guys dance….!

There was one such dude.

We call ourselves kuchus. We all do. And, we ignore the very obvious differences that we have. So, this guy loosened the white scarf round his neck for effect, to let it flow, and he started dancing.

He was very, very good. [Ahem, most are!]

A beautiful young body helps everything. Kind of naturally draws the eyes. The jumping, the shaking of the butt, the sheer wild joy of living… It was fantastic.

My eye was fixed on him. So was a girl’s that was standing just infront of me.

‘He is dancing like a woman!’ The exclamation came from the girl.

I looked at her, shook my head. She was shaking hers, but, from amazement. He was dancing very well, but to the girl, he was dancing in a girlish way. In a bar, in Uganda, and those of us who had the time from our little bits and pieces were watching him with lascivious eyes. I couldn’t help myself.

‘Maybe he is a girl!’ I stated.

The girl looked at me. Incredulity written on the wondering face. I almost laughed. Hell, Ugandans do need to get us. We are kuchus. She was in a kuchu bar, surrounded by us, and she was literally not getting it. Not at all! Any wonder that they do want to kill the mysterious ‘homos’ that their pastors rail against and demonise?

‘But he is a man!’ she cried. And, looked closely. I swear she did lean forwards, to make sure of that. ‘He is a man, isn’t it? He is!’

I shrugged my shoulders. Left her wondering what I meant. Or what I didn’t. Because the guy was really dancing well. Nothing like a chance to free eye candy, so openly displayed. Nothing like taking off the scanty but very well positioned clothes to enjoy the dance, the bubbling spirit of youth and young and freedom to be what one is. I certainly didn’t mind.

No. It is difficult for Ugandans to get it. And, maybe it will be for a while.

But, today, a small step on that big journey is happening. A few religious leaders, Ugandan, are taking a petition to Parliament to hand it to the Speaker of Parliament. Canon Gideon Byamugisha is leading them.

Or, maybe not. Because I have heard the rumour of someone more prominent than the wildly brave Canon stepping up and speaking out.

It is tough, speaking up for us Gay Ugandans in Uganda. [sniker, ask Comrade 27^th.] For some reasons, even when one does not have any problem with us, speaking up for us, for gay Ugandans brings out the coward in fellow Ugandans.

Canon Gideon is no coward. He was a Reverand in the Church of Uganda when he came out as being HIV Positive. He talks about going to pharmacies, with his clerical collar on, and requesting for condoms. Ugandans are prudes. Such a request, innocent as it is makes people cringe, and when a man of the cloth in the cloth is the one making the request…. All work stops and people stare. Even when they were not ‘listening’.

Canon Gideon called the bill genocide in a Guardian article. Yes he did. 

Well, it is. I like the bravity not to mince words, to speak them like they are. No, I do positively hate the malice and barely hidden cruelty of the Church of Uganda statement, Anglican. I hate it with a passion.

But, if I am not mistaken, it will be who else is with the Canon that will matter. And, I hope Ssempa and his goons are not there to disrupt the proceedings. God knows but they have delivered enough of their own petitions to let Ugandans kill their homosexuals.

But, the pride of the show may be taken by who else accompanies the brave Canon.

No. I am not able to spill that news. Not until it happens.

Nothing is braver than a Ugandan standing up and supporting Gay Ugandans. But, a few Ugandans are going to do exactly that, this Monday morning.

My heart, my mind, my spirit is with them at this particular moment.

gug

Genocide.

The 'G' word.

They have been whispering it. Canon Gideon has dared to utter it. Now, Here, Uganda. Deal with it. Because, I also believe that you, my countrymates, have planned a genocide.

What is the dictionary definition of Genocide?

noun. The systematic and widespread extermination or attempted extermination of an entire national, racial, religious, or ethnic group.

That is what Uganda has planned to do with the Bahati bill. And, they are very, very clear about what they plan to do. They have actually set it out in so many words. The aim is to 'Wipe out Homosexuality from Uganda'

But, no one had mentioned the word 'Genocide'. Well, why dont we call genocide genocide?

Too politically incorrect?

Uganda is planning a genocide of gay Ugandans. Yes. The year is 2009. And, Uganda has deliberately tabled a bill that will identify, and incarcerate for life, or kill, anyone who is or might be Gay Ugandan. Like the one who is writing here.
Anyone who is found 'aiding or abetting' such a person, will be liable to heavy penalties.

Here is the Guardian article.

Ugandan church leader brands anti-gay bill 'genocide' Prominent member of the Ugandan Anglican church, Canon Gideon Byamugisha, joins international condemnation of the anti-homosexuality bill, saying it will breed violence and intolerance
Liz Ford and Emma Pomfret guardian.co.uk, Friday 4 December 2009 11.44 GMT

If Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill becomes law, it will be little short of state-sponsored "genocide" against the gay community, a prominent member of the Ugandan Anglican church said this week.
Canon Gideon Byamugisha said the bill, which recommends the death penalty for anyone repeatedly convicted of having gay sex and prison sentences for those who fail to report homosexual activity to the police, would breed violence and intolerance through all levels of society.
"I believe that this bill [if passed into law] will be state-legislated genocide against a specific community of Ugandans, however few they may be," he said.

The bill, which will strengthen Uganda's existing laws against homosexuality under its Penal Code Act, has been widely condemned by world leaders and human rights groups, who fear it will trigger a witchhunt against the gay community. Activists have raised concerns that the bill will hinder the country's fight against HIV/Aids among the gay community and legal experts have said it will undermine freedom of expression and association.

Yesterday, Uganda's Daily Monitor news website reported that Sweden will cut aid to Uganda if the bill is passed. Canada has also condemned the bill and the British prime minister, Gordon Brown, took the matter up directly with the Ugandan president, who has given tacit support for the bill, at the Commonwealth summit last weekend. Britain is Uganda's fourth largest donor.
But James Nsaba Buturo, the minister of state for ethics and integrity, told the Guardian last week, that the government was determined to pass the legislation, even if meant withdrawing from international treaties and conventions or losing donor funding.
Exploiting traditional views

Byamugisha said gay people were being used as "scapegoats" for Uganda's social problems, such as the breakdown of the family unit and rising HIV infection rates, and politicians were using the bill to tap into the prevailing anti-gay mood in the country in the run up to the 2011 elections.
"They [politicians] are exploiting the traditional and cultural abhorrence to same-sex relationships to their advantage. They know that if they criminalise homosexuals, homosexual tendencies and homosexual acts, they stand a better chance of winning votes from the majority of religious followers and leaders, because most of us may not be able to distinguish what may be considered 'unacceptable', from the point of view of religious and cultural belief and opinion, from what is 'criminal', from the point of state law that is meant to keep peace, order and justice," he said.
"What makes this proposed law truly distasteful is the amount and level of violence that is being proposed against suspected, rumoured and known individuals who are gay, and their families and community leaders in their places of worship, residence, education, work, business and entertainment."
He added: "When you say that parents of homosexual children, and that pastors and counsellors who extend spiritual guidance and psycho-social support to homosexuals, will be regarded as 'accomplices' in promoting and abetting homosexuality if they don't report them to police, then you take the law a bit too far."
Byamugisha's stance will put him at odds with many in Uganda. But the minister has a track record of speaking against a prevailing mood. In 1990, after the death of his first wife, he discovered he was HIV-positive. Two years later he became the first practising African priest to publicly declare his status, not an easy thing to do in a country that, for all its efforts to significantly lower infection rates, has not shaken the stigma associated with the disease.
Since revealing his status, Byamugisha, who is a Christian Aid goodwill ambassador on HIV/Aids, has campaigned for the rights of people living with the disease. In 2003 he established the Friends of Canon Gideon Foundation to end the stigma of diagnosis, encourage safe sexual practices, improve access to treatment and support orphans or vulnerable children who have lost parents. This year he was awarded the Niwano Peace Prize for his work.
Taking a gamble

But while Byamugisha took a risk over his HIV status, speaking out against the bill could prove a bigger gamble. The church in Uganda, as in other African states, takes a clear view that homosexuality is a sin and is something that can be cured. Some will no doubt see the bill as a way of curbing an "evil" practice. But the minister hopes the ferocity of the bill will deter religious leaders from throwing their weight behind it.

"I sincerely hope that my fellow religious leaders will comprehend my stand against the level of violence proposed in the bill," he said. "I hope that they will not translate my hesitation to support the bill as a moral surrender to behaviours and practices that we regard as 'unacceptable' and 'sinful' in our ethics and morality frameworks. I hope that they will translate my hesitation as shying away from endorsing a bill that will institutionalise violence and death to a minority group simply because the majority do not like them."
Regardless of opinion from faith leaders, though, Byamugisha believes he has an obligation to speak out. "I realise that if I am happy to speak out against discrimination and stigma in relation to HIV, then I should also be happy to speak out against paralysing homophobia, sexism, tribalism, Puritanism, fundamentalism and against anything else that reduces and diminishes our love, care and support for each other as we travel the road of faith and belief."

Thanks, Canon, for saying it like it is.

And shame upon you, Uganda



gug
A gay Ugandan.

PS. Canon Gideon has spoken out. The Archbishop of Cantebury is in intensive negotiations. Well, I cannot afford to let go, though I must needs let go. I mean, tomorrow (today) my internet is off. But, I will have to be online. Just the little fact that, it is my life on line.

Please, keep up the pressure. The Ugandans, dont let them play the 'neo-colonialism' card. It is way too old. Though seems it is keeping Canterbury in check. Self defeating ideals, those.

Hey, you have a good internet connection? Check out this page. Has videos of the Anti-Gay Conference that the 3 musketeers came from America to do here.