Homosexuality, A Differing Point of View

 

When one is deep in Uganda the Village, and one’s world is awash in homophobia, it is very difficult to imagine that there are others out there in the world who have a differing point of view.
A point of view that is not homophobic, and frank peddling of homophobia.
Of course we are aware of our siblings, LGBTQ+ peoples of the world. And, we are happy to have their distant support. But.., in our minds and eyes, they are far, far away, and their views, though welcome, are tainted, because we think ourselves tainted, just because we are kuchu. LGBTQ+ human beings.

It is very important with regards to religion.

Our people are religious. Deeply, deeply religious. So are we, kuchus.
Personally I am not, and I have to remind myself all the time because the tide of faith and religious beliefs around me is suffocating and overwhelming.
And, almost all the ‘good’ religious people in our environment are utterly convinced of our ‘badness’. We are evil incarnate, say the believers in Uganda. Christian. Moslem. Even animists, it seems.

Actual understanding that the ‘orthodoxy’ in Uganda is challenged, challengeable by other believers, outside ‘Uganda the Village’, is amazing. It is very lonely out here, imbibing the homophobia from birth…, internalising it. A simple declaration that the pastor might be wrong is amazing.

So, Pope Francis actually believes that to be LGBTQ+ is not that bad?
Simply amazing. How many of the faithful, Catholics, know that? A vanishing few. For Kuchus who are catholic, that can literally be life saving knowledge.
I know the nuances of his ‘support’. I have been forced to know. That support, actually going to the point of washing sinners’ feet, a powerful Catholic ritual, speaks volumes.

You can read even more volumes from the resounding silence of the Catholic Bishops in Uganda, on the Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023.
I must have missed their communication…, though I didn’t miss this columnist actually praising them for the silence. How…, odd?!

The Archbishop of Canterbury’s letter to the Church of Uganda and the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda did make some waves. Not as much as those that were made by Archbishop Kaziira’s intemperate answer. That did grab attention.
Again, the issue was, someone was willing to go the length of actually calling out the hate and homophobia that the ‘Man of God’ was airing in his ungentle gratitude.., gratitude that the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 was law of Uganda.

Yet another group, the Church of England Evangelical Council, has surprisingly differed with Archbishop Kaziira.
I don’t know much about the group, but, from what I am working out, they seem to believe a bit similar to Kaziira.. with regards to opposition to gay marriage.., BUT, they object, clearly and forcefully, to the extent Kaziira’s hate and homophobia is manifest. His apparently natural allies against Canterbury, also calling him out on his excesses.

“"We oppose the criminalization of consensual homosexual behavior, especially when combined with severe penalties and requirements to report people for their behavior," the Church of England Evangelical Council said. "We believe such laws encourage victimization of those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or same-sex attracted and make the church's commitment to listen to, care for, and disciple all people, regardless of sexual orientation, much more difficult to live out.””

My take?
Another opinion, differing from the apparent cement thick religious orthodoxy in Uganda the Village. Very welcome, in challenging the orthodoxy of scriptural hate from the scripture thumping GAFCON primates.

Nope. I don’t think of them as allies.
But, as people who I might not have to fight for my life and liberty, simply because of my sexuality. And, they do put a significant dent in the halo that ‘St’ Kaziira is building around himself in Uganda the Village.

 

gug

The Moral High Ground

I was over at the Throckmorton blog. There is a guy, a Ugandan. He calls himself Maazi, and he has taken it upon himself to educate these 'western gay lovers' on the pitfalls of their course of action. And, he asserts, in the name of the continent of Africa, how we shall not be intimidated into accepting the 'homosexual agenda'.

I have been kind of following the guy's seeming obsession. But, of a sudden I did lose my temper.

He is speaking in my name as an African. As a Ugandan. He discounts the fact that I am what I am, gay, African, Ugandan. Spouts hatred like it is a virtue. He is abusive, ignorant, arrogant. Certainly knows much less than the people he is debating, but, because he has a mouth, and a voice, he speaks. And very loudly.

Very similar to Ssempa. Pastor Dr 'eat da poo poo' Ssempa of infamous fame.

Ignorance is put on a pedestal and worshipped. The loudest, most demanding voice is listened too, because it is loud. And, the fact that it is stupid, ignorant, shameful is discounted. He seems to speak for me, as an African.

No. He doesnt. He shames me instead. He shames me as an African.

I came from commenting on the Throckmorton blog with the realization that we have to take back the moral high ground. The Ssempas of this world should be ridiculed as they richly deserve. Their ignorance, their hatred, their base vileness should be exposed for what it is. Thanks be to the deities that the 'eat da poo poo' monica went viral. He richly deserves the ridicule.

And, if he is stupid enough not to realise that he is showing off the paucity of his grey matter, well, it is his privilege.

In Africa, in Uganda, he seems to have the moral high ground. And, it is this piece of real estate that we should seize back from the likes of him. They are not moral, they are not Christians, the ones who want to kill and imprison whole parts of a populace, simply because they are different. The Ministers of 'Ethics and Integrity' who frankly believe that fellow human beings should forget about human rights, simply because they are homosexuals.

Yes, the Bahati's of this world should be exposed for what they are. Good that they were given the forum to do so. And, I did highlight his high lack of intellect. But, as we expose them, we should also claim the high ground by asserting their stupidity. For, that is what exactly it is. Stupidity. Crass ignorance. The worship of ignorance, in the name of ignorance. The deification of ideals, simply because a 'man of god' says so.

Saw this excellent article from the Independent. Ssempa, dear Dr 'eat da poo poo' Ssempa is the world's laughing stock. Nobody dealt that blow to him. No one but his very steps, his mouth that he opened wide, and wider and went on speaking, deeming charisma as enough of a substitute for ignorance. That is what he did.

Recently, however, Westerners have been learning more than usual about Ugandan culture. The reason for this is a YouTube video named “EAT DA POO POO,” which has been spreading virally over the internet. The video documents a series of anti-gay tirades by Ugandan Pastor, Dr. Martin Ssempa. Armed with explicit visual aids, Ssempa argues that what homosexuals do in the privacy of their bedrooms is simply far too disgusting to be protected by the law. Homosexual men, he claims, lick each other’s anuses like, “ice cream and even poo poo comes out...This one smears the poo poo all over the other one’s face.”

To date, the video has almost three million hits on YouTube, has spawned an auto-tune remix with some four-hundred-thousand hits, and is listed on Ebaum’s World, a popular archive of internet curiosities.

But, Ssempa deeply shames me. And, he shamed Uganda. As did Bahati, as he faithfully uttered what had been put in his mouth to say. Theirs is the infamy of proud ignorance.

Now, if I assert that not all Ugandans are like so, eyebrows will be raised.

But, I am a Ugandan. And true, even if I have had the luck to grow up feeling ashamed of what I am, I have to assert myself here. I am Ugandan, and, despite the pariah status of what I am, the antics of the likes of Ssempa, Bahati, Nsaba-Buturo and Maazi are deeply shameful.

It is simply matter of fact that not all Ugandans are that clueless. Not all of us are that impervious to common sense and knowledge. We don't all live back in the days of the Stone Age, glorifying ignorance as a virtue against the realities of knowledge and what the rest of the world knows as common sense.

We have to claim back the moral high ground from these nonsensical people. We simply have to.

gug

Rumblings

Ever thought about the power of ridicule? Good old fashioned ridicule and laughter…. at something. It may be big and powerful, and obscene, it may be real good serious, but ridicule kind of carries things with it.

What brought it to mind is Pastor Doctor Martin ‘eat da poo poo’ Ssempa.

He is famous. But in an infamous way. Seems the vid has gone viral, with attendant peals of laughter. Well, I have been in audiences when he did the demos, and I was usually very angry. Too angry to be amused, too angered to find anything funny in what he did, what he showed, how he depicted gay people. Of course, what would anger me most would be the hypocrisy of saying that he LOVES gay people, and then go ahead and do the things.

Maybe love is in the eyes of a beholder…!

When the clip hit the web, it went viral, and people realy like it. They watch it, re-blog it, they comment, and I hope they also watch ‘Missionaries of Hate’ the documentary. It is the belly laugh that follows the ‘eat da poo poo’ vid which intrigues me. I thought these things were too serious for me to laugh at them. I mean, my ass is the one in the pan, in more ways than one. But, come to think of it, it is funny-; what Ssempa believed to be his signature tune, is his signature tune. It has made him wildly famous beyond his dreams. And, it is the kind of fame with laughter which would deeply puzzle him.

So, in our arsenal, we do have laughter… but we need to lighten up too!

Anyway, it also makes the ‘taskforce’ famous.

The delay of the bill, coupled with the fact that lots of homophobia was being whipped up seems to have spawned something ugly. I was talking to a gay friend last night while we were watching the boys. Apparently, someone sent his immediate boss a letter very similar to the blackmailing letter here.  They exposed that he is gay, and demanded that he is sacked. It is a tricky situation for him, and he is hitting back as well as he could.

But, what concerns me is that there maybe others like this letter out there. Blackmailing, extorting something. And, some of us are more vulnerable than others. Fact, we are all vulnerable, and work is precious. Are we ready for a truly organized anti-gay vigilante force? And, before you laugh that off, remember what was happening last year in the Pastor Wars. Our good Christian Pentecostal pastors have proved before that they are very, very capable of such visciousness. All in the name of god, of course. Of course, it could be worse. We did hear rumours that the Tabliqs were drawing up names for a hit list… 

Hope those stay as rumours.

On a better note, some gay Christians are hitting back at the gay bashing that Christians subject us too. Come to think of it, it is one of the things that I do like about the Throckmorton blog.... calling out 'Christian hate'. Bigotry is too easy to confuse with being 'religious' or behind the blinders of 'culture'. Those two labels stop thought in its track, excuse a lot of inexcusable things. As I was commenting, some gay Christians are making a stand, here.

many in the LGBT community are willing to concede the entire Christian faith to the likes of Fred Phelps and his “God hates fags” clan. They insist that Christians are beyond redemption, and that the only step forward for the LGBT community is to somehow rid the world of Christianity altogether. (I wonder how they plan to accomplish that!)

Those of us at The Gay Christian Network think otherwise.

We know that there are many LGBT and affirming Christians in the world. We know that too often, we’ve allowed the anti-LGBT Christians to speak for our faith while we remain silent. Frankly, they’ve been better organized and more vocal. And we aren’t willing to put up with that anymore.

Starting, I say, but of course there are many Gay Christian affirming organisations out there. The likes of Integrity, Changing Attitude, Other Sheep.... Maybe the militancy of the Christian Right has overshadowed them?

Yeah, life limps on. Seems like, sometimes. Are you enjoying the World Cup football? Seems like there are the usual upsets….! Well, it is the World Cup.

Have a great day.

gug

Spin, done in Uganda

Hey, there was lots of noise, lots of signs of some sort of movement yesterday. In the evening hours... And, I was so confused I decided to wait for some clarity.

On WBS-TV, one of the headlines was that the government had disowned the 'Anti-Homosexuality' Bill. (Bill text here)Now, the Uganda government is very, very big. 70 plus ministers. Helps that they can say they said things that they deny, vehemently, having said later. No, I am not joking.

I am not talking of the NYTimes report. 

President Yoweri Museveni has told colleagues he believes the bill is too harsh and has encouraged his ruling National Resistance Movement Party to overturn the death sentence provision, which would apply to sexually active gays living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape according to a copy of the draft law.

That, frankly, is old news. Maybe the NYT was trying to play catch up. Where they did go wrong was to say that SMUG had decided to support Museveni in the 2011 elections if this was true. Bullshit. We (LGBTI) are too much into Uganda's reality to support any political party. Even the party perpetually in government. Afterall, they are the ones who own this bill.

But, there was this interesting, new old tid bit.

A top minister suggested scrapping the death penalty in favor of counseling.

''The death penalty is likely to be removed,'' said James Nsaba Buturo, Uganda's minister of state for ethics and integrity. ''The president doesn't believe in killing gays. I also don't believe in it. I think gays can be counseled and they stop the bad habit.'' 

Ruling party spokeswoman Mary Karoro Okurut said she also agrees with the president that some punishments in the bill should be dropped. But she said she will still push for a modified version of the bill when it comes to parliament in late February or early March.

''Although the president is against some parts of the bill, the bill has to stay,'' she said. ''(Homosexuality) is not allowed in African culture. We have to protect the children in schools who are being recruited into homosexual activities.''

 What is new, isnt what is said, but who is being quoted as saying it. The President.

He is the dictator of Uganda. In virtual fact, if you blow off the flimsy trappings of democracy on our institutions. So, since he is said to have spoken, (like THE Emperor, he speaks through third and fourth parties,) then I can surmise that the pressure has gotten to the highest level of government. And, that they are thinking of 'some' kind of modification to the bill.

But, that is all government spin.

What was making all the noise in Uganda yesterday evening was the report that the government was disowning the bill. But, again, take that with a pinch of salt. In the NYT, the government was modifying the bill. In the Daily Monitor today, as reported, the government is doing something else.

Under the headline, 'Govt could stop Gay Bill, Minister' is the story, from which I pick this extract.

The State Minister for Investments, Mr Aston Kajara, yesterday said the government was looking at the Bill with the possibility of withdrawing it. “The government’s official position is that we have enough laws to cover homosexuality acts,” Mr Kajara said. “Government did not sponsor this Bill. It is a private member’s Bill. The government is studying it and we may talk to the honourable Member of Parliament (David Bahati) to consider withdrawing it.”

Spin, spin, spin again. But, the underlying theme. There is some movement. In what direction, I am not sure. Some of this I have already seen, so, I am still watching the tea leaves, trying to figure out what figure comes out. I hope it is not the Grim!

I think the fact maybe that they are looking for a way out. The heat is a bit more than they expected.
Oh, that they own the bill is a fact. Bahati is a member of the ruling party, NRM. And, he couldnt have tabled the bill before approval. From the very top of NRM. Museveni himself, and the cabinet. Poor guy, he is going to be the fall guy. I better not fall into the trap of having pity for enemies before they fail to rise from where they fall.
And, the number of times that Minister Nsaba-Buturo has 'owned' the bill as the government's own are innumerable to count. All government spin. Maybe I should have up a post saying, 'Debunking Lies; The Government does OWN the Bahati Bill.'


So, please, all out there, do one thing. Continue the heat. Because the battle is being fought in Public Opinion, and political circles OUTSIDE Uganda. Please continue the heat, the pressure on YOUR politicians.

Christians out there, your role is still big. This bill is in the Name of Christ. I do know that the government is feeling the pressure. But, it is important that the Christians in Uganda do not wield their mighty weight from the pulpit. Remember, since Christmas day, they have been preaching relentlessly against homosexuality, and overtly and covertly supporting the bill. That is a matter of fact.
And, they are continuing to do so, in the Churches in Uganda. I know, you may not believe it but, in Uganda, Christians have been led by their pastors and preachers, even the Imam's to believe that the holiest thing that they can do is to pass this bill.
Remember the New Years Day note from Pastor Joseph Sserwadda.

The Lord has constantly dealt with me to in the area of governance and national policy over some controversial issues and shown me that, for once, there is going to be a listening ear.

I implore the Parliament to listen to reason and pass the Anti-homosexual Bill with a slight revision on the capital punishment. While we wait, happy new year.

That, in summary is what Christians in Uganda feel. And, Pastor Martin Ssempa is willing to risk by showing massive support on Jan 19th in a demonstration of millions descending on Kampala the capital. It is being announced to the faithful in Christian Churches.

Oh, the battle is not yet over. Not at all.

I am not Christian. And, the Christians in Uganda are infuriating me with their decidedly anti-Christ-like behaviour. Very. So, I will just put in this jab. From SFGate

All of which makes it delightful -- in that nauseatingly familiar sort of way -- to read the story about the Northern California evangelicals whose repulsive views on homosexuality and "curing" gay people reportedly helped shape a new, violently anti-gay bill in Uganda. 

Did you see? The New York Times piece about how Ugandan officials took the American evangelicals' beliefs about the best ways to punish/reform "evil" gays to its natural conclusion, and decided, if all other forcible rehab options fail, it would be perfectly appropriate to simply exterminate the homosexuals?

I mean, why not? If it's certifiably evil, if you can't "cure" it, if it scares the livestock, transmits disease, preys upon young boys and makes the older men fantasize in dangerous and uneasy ways, if God (not really) said it was an abomination, what's the problem?

Of course, the radical evangelicals in question were -- or at least pretended to be -- horrified at this practical summation of their views, immediately wrote panicky letters to Ugandan officials to correct their unfortunate "misinterpretation," as damn well they should have.

"No, no, no!" they sort of said. "We didn't mean actually kill them. That would be wrong. We simply meant gently, lovingly rehabilitate. You know: drugs, imprisonment, maybe some beatings, public humiliation, brainwashing, genital torture, electroshock therapy like the Mormons used to do.

"Barring that, just do what we do in America: psychological torment in the form of relentless, crushing guilt. This will make the evil gay feel so suicidally depressed about his perfectly natural desires, his body, his emotions, who he is as a living soul on this planet, he's bound to come around. See, like most major religions of the world, we work to shame the sinner so horribly that if he doesn't kill himself, you'll end up with a fine, completely numb soldier of Christ! But don't actually kill them. Heavens!"

Ugandan officials, apparently a bit confused about just how this crazy evangelical thing works, agreed to re-draft the bill and take out the killing stuff. "You extremist Christians are so weird," they seemed to say, rolling their eyes.

Yes, the humour is decidedly cutting. Very.

But, the point is, Christian friends, YOU HAVE TO STAND UP AND OWN UP, to the compassion of Christ. In my view, radicals and extremists are showing us the worst kind of Christian witness that there is. So, I implore you, ask your brothers and sisters in Uganda to stop throwing stones.

For my government, they are acting stupid, so, I will have the pleasure of pointing that out. Yes, we Ugandans are acting stupid. No two ways about it.

My lover is complaining that I am spending too much time on this bill thing. So, I will end this post here.

Have a great day.

gug

Not all Christians the same.

From the last post, you picked the outrage of some Christians.

But, here is the view of one of the Bishops of the Anglican Church in Uganda. It is not pretty. Not at all. But, sometimes it is best to know what the other side thinks.

He starts with a sermon. I am not too good at that. So, I pick up from where the sermon gets into practical applications. Here is the original article.

For Some Anglicans, Vices are now Virtues.

and, the conclusion;

Christianity indeed is under attack; attack from within herself and by her very own. Persecution of the church is on the loose. The powers and world forces of wickedness (Ephesians 6. 12) are now in real play.

Yes, laws if in place can help put on check any vice including this one. Like HIV which breads among others, in disco halls and night drinking sprees, which can be stopped or reduced by laws if put in place, like the wizard spirit which society and the Gospel of Christ shunned, the vice of homosexuality through the necessary laws in place can be checked. We must keep it away from our children. Our ancestors didn’t know it, we do not know it, our children must not know it.

Our children are ignorant of the vice; but gays and their sympathizers want to appeal to their psyche, to their consciousness that they be infected too. They are spreading it in our institutions of learning. They want to condition every penny that comes to our government or churches or Non-Government Organizations. If you are dinning with such evil plan, come out of it; the Province of the Church of Uganda, as you know, is leading the way, let’s join the way. Homosexuality is infectious, it is a disease in the West and not so much in Africa and that is why they want to influence any agenda in order to entrench it. If it is inborn as they say, then it is transmitted and conceived in the mind, that it actualizes itself in one. Africans who have it have contracted it from the West or from acquainting with people who have it. Yes, it is infectious and it can be fought and defeated. It is a vice which has multiplied in the recent decades in the West; it can be fought and stopped.

Africa, run away from gays, let us save our continent by refuting the vice; practice, and preserve our heritage, that is our traditions and culture believing and trusting in the Almighty God. “”Rise and shine for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you”” (Isaiah 60 : 1). Gayism can be fought like any other disease against the people and the Word of God. It is a sickness so we can fight and defeat it. One of the ways to fight it should be by prevention of its spread, by putting laws in place, preach the Word and pray to God to heal and orient those disoriented; there is need for a commandment(s) to enforce. Christ is the answer, feelings or sympathies, especially on evil, are not! Ugandan Parliament, the watch dog of our laws, please go ahead and put the anti- Gay laws in place. It is then that we become truly accountable to our young and to this country, not to Canada or England. We are in charge! We have our entrenched birthrights, Ugandans should not accept to sell or mortgage these God given birthrights.

Bishop Joseph Abura of Karamoja Diocese, Province of the Anglican Church of Uganda.

I know lots of friends who will not be happy about this. But, take it as a challenge. You, as Christians, have to make such a person understand a little more about humanity, and Christ, and other things...! Take it as a challenge!

Is this the official view of the Church of Uganda? No. They are still studying the Bill. This is the view of the Bishop of the Province of Karamoja, Anglican.

But, here is one other Christian group, a Church, that has come out unequivocally against the bill.

The United Reformed Church (URC) has become the first major Christian denomination in the UK to issue a statement condemning Uganda’s proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

In a press release today the Church said that its commitment to justice and equality meant it was ‘appalled’ at the ‘draconian measures’ proposed by Bill.

The URC passed an anti-homophobia resolution at its 1999 General Assembly saying that the: “Assembly condemns violence against homosexual people and urges all members of the United Reformed Church to be vocal in their opposition of homophobia.”

Homophobia was defined as “intense hatred or fear of homosexuals or homosexuality.”

Simon Loveitt, the URC’s spokesperson on public issues said: “This draft legislation represents a clear infringement of human rights and is morally repugnant. It also infringes the African principles of ubuntu and we add our voice to the many calling for the immediate withdrawal of this discriminatory Bill.”

Ubuntu is the African concept ‘that my humanity can only be expressed through the humanity of others’

Why Christians? Isnt it becoming a circus? Well, I am caught in the middle. Clearly, the two sides of the debate, as shown above, dont see the same person when they see a gay Ugandan. One sees an appalling threat. Another sees a human being.

God in Heaven!

gug

Recruiting Homophobes

I dont think the case for 'recruiting homosexuals' in Africa is proven. Yes, despite our Dear Leaders blaming of 'European homosexuals'

I think that is our perenial xenophobia manifest.

But, I think there is a very good case for the export of homophobia. Recruiting Homophobes. Will you forgive me if I strongly hint that it is Christian American homophobes who are recruiting in Africa?

The idea is not mine. No, it is not original. Actually, I lifted it from here. Reality Check; Globalizing the Culture Wars. Some excerpts. But, the whole article is worth studying. Not reading. Studying.

I want no place in some other place's cultural wars. But, I think I may have no choice. Here are some choice quotes.

"according to “Globalizing the Culture Wars”, a new report produced by Political Research Associates and released today, laws like the one in Uganda can be seen as the direct result of a campaign by United States neoconservative religious groups to use Africa as another player in the culture wars they have fomented on American soil for many years.

After a rigorous 16-month research and on-the-ground investigative period, Zambian Anglican priest Kapya Kaoma, author of the PRA report, found that U.S. conservatives are working in collusion with African clerics (specifically, the report focuses on Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya.), in three denominations (The Episcopal Church, The United Methodist Church and The Presbyterian Church), to counter any progress mainline U.S. churches are working towards, around LGBT issues as well as to foment homophobia on the ground in Africa."

"According to the report, American conservatives, by involving African clerics in these three countries, have managed to almost completely halt recognition by these churches of the full equality of LGBT individuals in the U.S. including the ordination of LGBT clergy. But, of course, this crusade by U.S. conservatives is having even more dire consequences on African soil, leading to a growing and increasingly violent homophobia throughout Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya; violence that is typified in the Ugandan bill before Parliament.
"

Read on.

I mean, seems as if we have a more than credible theory of our own to counter 'foreign recruiting homosexuals', the one which is being promoted by Scott Lively.

By the way, this benovelent Christian, who did the introduction of the idea that us homosexuals in Uganda were fronting for homosexuals in other countries to 'recruit' (He does have a publication called 'Recruit proofing your child' or something like that!)
He has some very sage advice on the 'liberalisation' of the Sodomy law. Well, this is part of the advice that he gave to Ugandan parliamentarians. Which has translated into the Bahati Bill

"But Scott Lively, president of Abiding Truth Ministries and a speaker at an ex-gay conference in Uganda last March, said he’s not completely opposed to criminalizing homosexuality. He said that he advised Ugandans to liberalize the law, add the option of treatment, and “make the law more palatable to the international community.” But he adds that he believes Uganda should maintain its law against homosexuality “and that they should use that as a way to basically say, ‘No, you’re not going to be able to promote this behavior because it’s illegal behavior.’
"

How benevolent indeed!

Sigh!!!!!!!! Now, I must make sure that I survive the genocide in the making......


gug

Church to the Rescue

I think it is high time!

Yes. What I mean is that, the Church in Africa has been doing a lot of hate peddling and persecution of us gay Africans, in the name of Christ. In the name of 'biblical Christianity'. Christians from outside Africa have traditionaly used kids gloves to tackle these issues because they dont want to be accused of 'colonialism' or neo-colonialism.

I would have no problem with that. Except that, I and my own are the ones hurting, as the African 'Christians' go on rampage, following their own version of 'biblical' Christianity, vieing with each other to be more 'biblical' than others.

So Christians, take back your Church. Please. Reclaim what it means to be Christian, because the likes of Pastor Martin Ssempa are claiming that they are doing dastardly things in the name of Christ. High time you as Christians stood up and said enough is enough. Listening to him, again, on Premier Radio, I kind of felt, wow, is this man a Christian? And my gut answer was NO.

And, I am glad Christians are starting to reclaim their church! Very glad.

Here are some articles on the same.

Anglicanism's Uganda moment of truth

Anti-gay bill tests core Christian Witness

In Church times, a re-hash of what has been happening.

And, Davis MacIyala, a Nigerian who had to seek refuge in the UK because of persecution in Nigeria, and has since made it his cause to promote LGBTI inclusivity in Christianity (imagine, he was doing that in Nigeria, with the likes of Akinola breathing down his neck!).
He has an open letter in the Guardian, challenging Christians specifically the Primates. "the Archbishop of Canterbury and other Anglican primates to speak out against the bill, whatever their views on “homosexuality as a moral issue”"


Yes, speak out. And stop this persecution of LGBTI Africans. It is time you stood up to some of these guys and said that that is not Christian.


And this bill is not Christian. No. It is not.


It is not Christian, nor Moslem, nor any other Compassionate religion. It may have been written by Hitler as a Final Solution, to rid Uganda of homosexuality, as it succintly states in the preamble. But, you have to come out and say, no. IT IS NOT CHRISTIAN.


Because in Uganda and Africa, it is being promoted as the finest Christian witness. 


So, stand up and reclaim your religion!




gug


PS;
Guess the Church is made of human beings. Here is the Catholic Church threatening not to do its Christian Charity duty if Washington DC dares to pass a Gay equality, marriage bill.


To DC, please, call their bluff. They are Christians. Or, at least they call themselves that. Call their bluff!

Andrew Mwenda

Hey, just wondering, just wondering, did Premier Radio station lose Ssempa or, did they just cut him off? The guy was really going on and on and on with his conspiracy theory of how HIV is spread by homosexuals...! Wow, I listen to it again, and I....!

I am glad that Ssempa agreed to that radio interview. We get so few times to catch him in full flare that, well, it was good of him. I am serious. The interview is on this blog again, and, it is fantastic. Beware, dont you hit out at your screen in frustration. He has that effect on me...!

Anyway, back to Andrew Mwenda.
I noted that his article demanded a post of its own. True. And here it is.

First, on Andrew himself. He is a medium sized Ugandan, (means short!), dark skinned. And makes up for the lack of height with the courage of a lion. Serious. This guy does not weigh his words. Not when he is in personal conversation, (his is a loud voice), and worse when he is in a public place... Well, I do know the gentleman.
But, what most impresses me is the fact that this guy will tackle the lion in his den. To date he is in court for some charges of Sedition. Remember this cartoon? Well, it was him in the dock, for 'sedition'.

And, he is still there. He is challenging that law in Constitution court. Maybe he will win. I think Museveni himself is kind of tired of twarting this biteme. It seems to come buzzing up all the time. How he survives the wrath of the state, I dont know.

Anyway, Andrew takes on the Bahati bill, and does logical reasoning a favor. Bombastic, typical Ugandan... That is what I am. But he makes me feel good that I am a Ugandan, while Ssempa makes me feel like running to hide! He is that embarrassing.

(That is from the Independent. Nice bit!)

First he tackles the Christian hypocrisy that is driving most of our gay bashers in the country. Nice one there!

"a friend told me recently: “I think all homos must be killed. My strong Christian values prohibit me from tolerating this evil.”" adding, for good measure, "My friend takes pride in “laying” girls. When I asked him why his Christian faith does not stop him from fornication, he went silent."

And, he makes the point that "The state should not be used to enforce God’s will. Nor should Martin Sempa and Nsaba Buturo constitute themselves into a religious police to enforce it."
I say, Amen to that!

I do love his examples. Clear and to the point. Here is another, following on the above state vs faith thing, "It would therefore be dangerous for the state to visit people’s bedrooms every night to ensure that sex is enjoyed only through the legislated style. For example, should the government investigate whether Bahati performs oral sex or whether Buturo masturbates?"
Gives me some shivers (funny imagery), sinner me!

The article is great, I must say.

But, no less informative are the comments. They are worth reading through, but for some you have to have a strong stomach.
Mwenda is called a homo. Well, any homo lover is by definition a homo!!!!! In Uganda, that is. (Maybe that is why Ssempa fights so hard to identify as a homo hater)

No. I guess I dont recommend the comments. Not all of them... There is little worship at the shrine of logic for most.... So, go ahead and dont read them.

For me, Bravo Mwenda, Bravo, you have done it again, swimming against the tide, but this time, defending homosexuals, you may have bitten off more than what even you can chew! Gay Ugandans are more hated in Uganda than the govt excesses!

But Bravo!

gug

In Solidarity

UPDATE: My apologies. No, I am not the one who wrote this.


No. Someone wrote it, and sent it to my email. I asked to post it here, and the person agreed. My promise was to keep the person anon. Because being gay supportive is not a very Ugandan trait. Not supported at all.


Anyway, it was not me, but a Ugandan, who is Christian, and horrified.


gug


Here is the letter the person wrote

In solidarity as a Christian against the anti-gay bill

I am a conservative Christian and I have watched on in horror as my church leaders (Anglican) endorsed the anti-gay bill but are opposed to the death penalty as if that is a concession.

I can't believe that our pastoral mentors who are always stressing that we are all sinners, and that we should forgive fellow sinners could agree to such a hate-filled law.

As I boy we grew up being told wonderful bible stories and the more interesting and captivating, the ones my LORD and SAVIOUR told in parables.

One is poignant, the stoning of the adulteress, and Jesus's assertion, that the non-sinners were the only ones qualified to throw even one stone at her. Jesus was sinless and so was entitled by his statement to throw a tempest of stones at her first, and then the angry mob next, but he didn't.

He then set the standard that even though you think you are sinless, neither should you cast the stone. The church has fallen right into the trap, churches in Europe did, associating themselves with the state. This association will blur where the state begins and the church ends.

Hence the failings of the state will be construed to be the failings of the church and this will in turn lead to lack of trust or confidence in our faith leaders, and by extension in the wonderful faith, we have began a journey that will lead us to the European situation where spirituality is virtually dead.

The church in essence by supporting this law has started to categorise sin into different tiers. I have not seen any concerted effort by the church to increase punitive measures for corruption, torture and unlawful detention etc

It creates a perception you can do the above and get scot free, a small sentence but God forbid if you are gay, only your life will do. I consider engaging in homosexual sex( as is my right under freedom of belief) as a sin, but it's not the first of all sin, neither the last, SIN is SIN. But whether I regard it is as Sin, it's irrelevant to one who's belief is different

I can not trust politicians nor government as custodians of "morality" one bit and doing so will be laughable, giving them such wide ranging discretion and power will only lead to it's abuse. I will not leave a thief to guard my house! A crime that is next to impossible to prove, is the easiest to abuse, and is one which should not have such punitive punishment. Wait when opponents of this government start being indicted in court with shady witnesses, and their fortunes are left to the mercy of the court, it's one's word against the other and so, the verdict of guilty or innocent will be 50/50 irrespective of guilt or innocence of the accused. (Even pastors have taken to accusing each other of homosexuality)

I am also disappointed that we Ugandans can have an uproar against actions of two consenting adults, but will not so much as make a whisper when officials steal our funds even those meant to save lives, what bigotry and hypocrisy!

I for one will stick to my LORD and SAVIOUR for guidance by:-

1 Loving God with all my strength, heart and soul.

2. Loving my neighbour as I love myself.

Only through this will I not unwittingly become a Pharisee.

Am here talking about my faith and beliefs but what happened to the right to associate, worship, speech, and have your own belief. Does Uganda equate to the sum total of Christians and Muslims only? Do all Christians believe the same thing? the same for Muslims. I for one as a Ugandan,  fear what lies ahead, this year has been the year of hatred. The riots in Kampala led to the death of someone as a result of his ethnicity or assumed ethnicity, now we are turning on others. I aired my views on a social networking site, and I got a lot of stick for it(I was honestly surprised, I used to equate education to liberation and civilisation, not anymore). And I fear for those in the gay community, if I could get such raw hatred for expressing my view, I don't know what will happen when they get their wish. Hatred begets hatred and feeds on itself and consumes all , I fear one day even I will be in this position.

May God bless us Ugandans

God help us all

Christian, to Ugandan Christian

I loved this article.

Another Christian asking why Ugandan Christians seem to be bloody minded. If only against fellow Ugandans who are homosexual!!!

Here is an excerpt

"At their Nov 2008 meeting, the House of Bishops of the Church of the Province of the West Indies called for an end to capital punishment. “Mindful of our Blessed Lord’s repudiation of ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,’ and, that in our prayer, study, reflection and experience, the death penalty has not been proved to be a deterrent,” the bishops called on “our people to stand with us in our opposition to the death penalty.”

The clarity of Bishop Boyd's statement and his courage in speaking out leads to this question: 

Why can't the Church of Uganda do the same, or for that matter the Province of the West Indies, the Church of England or The Episcopal Church as concerns Uganda's outrageous proposal of a new law providing capital punishment for homosexual acts?

Well, some say, Bishop Boyd is speaking to his own government, not to a foreign government. He has the backing of his own house of bishops already. He is not putting the leadership of a fellow church, the Church of Uganda, in harm's way by his own actions. He is speaking to his own about a problem in the community where he has jurisdiction.



I will continue to call out for other Christians to restrain their brothers and sisters in Uganda. I am not a Christian. I am just asking that Christians act like Christians.


But, there are some who are more 'academic' on this matter of hating gays. In Kenya, no, no. In London, two Kenyan guys got married. It was headline news in Kenya, and, the reaction was very violent. Someone tries to analyse the, err, academic ramifications of this kind of reaction. And rights, of the individual and the state. The Freedom of thought that we hate.


Here.


(Errr, hope I have shown that I can, err, errr, read the Academic treatise too!)

Round ups, Was off!

Yeah, and it seems, even less than 24 hours off the net makes more info available on the bill. The Bahati Bill of course.

Anti-Homosexuality Bill No. 18 of 2009 of the Parliament of Uganda. They will come to rue that.

First, here is a fantastic article, detailing some of the effects on HIV prevention in Uganda. Adding a D to ABC. D for death. Thanks Warren. You can really fight the good fight! Its well worth reading. I know diamonds when I see them. Can quickly differentiate them from broken glass!!

And another article, urging Christians in America to intervene. Christians urged to speak out against the Uganda's Anti Gay Bill.

You ask why I emphasize that? It is because it is Christians in Uganda who are persecuting gay Ugandans. And Christians in Uganda who believe they are so moral that it is their God given right to pursue homosexual Ugandans because the Bible tells them to Stone them.

The Christians, all over the world, this is my prayer. That you will join hands to negotiate and open the eyes of Ugandan Christians. They believe that this is a chance for them to show the world how Ugandans can lead. Fact. That was what Bahati, Ssempa, Nsaba-Buturo, the master minds of this genocidal bill believe. Death and life imprisonment for any homosexual. In the name of the 'traditional family,' and Christian values.

So, Christian, are your values the same, or not? Will you keep quiet? I challenge you, in the name of Christ. Speak up, or never again hold your head up as a Christian. You wont deserve because you are simply not Christ like!

Sorry. I refuse to parse words. To moderate them. It is my life's worth if YOU dont speak out. They can hear you. Me, am a sinner whose every complaint does not deserve to be heard.

Sylvia Tamale's legal opinion gets more play. The lady is a firebrand.... And she leads from the heart. Good for you lady!

Over in Kenya, the debate is very different. A Gay Census, when homosexuality is illegal? So, is it stand up and be counted and then go to jail? Well, well, well... I will leave that to my neighbours to the east. If that was to happen in Uganda, the sum total of Gay Ugandans would be ZERO...! ha ha ha. You know why. I bet Bahati would take that as proof that his bill has worked...

Truth Wins Out comes out with a call that would label me unpatriotic for highlighting it here. But, for you hypocrite who dares to label me unUgandan, and unAfrican, dare tell me what I owe to a country whose legislature plans to kill me. What do I owe them? My love for my country does not include a love of suicide. Sorry. I dont parse my words. No longer.

Do you think the support outside is resonating in Uganda?

No, it isnt. Rather, some people have their backs up. In addition to the facebook group that is fighting the bill, there is another one. This one is saying that they are Ugandans, and they do support the Bill. Reading through their commentary is something nauseating. But, you have to understand where we are. Where we gay Ugandans are coming from. The Facebook group. 

Yes, the comments are nauseus. The bill, according to many, is really overdue! Death, castration, and all other things for the gay Ugandan. God help us. It is not nice to be vindicated. Hatred and pus is not a pretty picture. Fact.

And, there is this gentleman who takes on Buturo and Bahati. They are more dangerous than gay Ugandans. Read it, it is really long! Or, should I say 'lawyerly'!!!!!

And, I have joined the group of Ugandans that hate gays. Serious. I have joined them. Very likely to elicit more hatred... But, why should I hide the hate that spills from some very good Christian souls and my country mates?

Dont have any reason to hide our dirty laundry. None at all, dear Ugandan.

No, I will not curse my mother land, but, I might come periliously close to....!

gug

PS. It is okay for the persecuted to ask in bewilderement, "But Why?"

Why all the hate, why the belief that I am bad, evil, only good for the grave? Why do people that I look to actually come out to condemn me with such venom? How come I am so bad?

No. I cant believe in my badness. Sorry, I went through that, and I will defend my self. But, it is good to find a bit of peace for my questioning, bewildered mind. Read this. It might explain a little, put in some academic terms the fact of gay hate in Uganda.... It soothes me. A little. At least I can begin to understand. And fight back, more effectively. Maybe.

Why...?!

Christian to Christian!

Just saw this article. It speaks for itself, saying what needs to be said, in words that most Ugandans will understand, and using imagery that they will relate too. Well done, Warren. You remind me of what it was like, believing in Christ.


Here is the article.


And, yes, of course I have e-mailed it to Ssempa, and Bahati. I had forgotten Nsaba-Buturo, but I am correcting that.

Put down the stones

MONDAY, 02 NOVEMBER 2009 10:16 

At Uganda Talks we welcome guest blogs from our readers. Today, associate professor of psychology at Grove City (a Christian college in the U.S.), Warren Throckmorton, writes about Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill.

Christians believe that when Jesus was confronted by the religious leaders of His day, He had just the right response. However, I fear that many of my Ugandan brothers and sisters now doubt that Jesus was correct in His example. Let me explain.

In the 8th chapter of the Gospel of John, the Pharisees and teachers of the law brought a woman to Jesus for Him to judge. They said, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"  The woman expressed no repentance, no remorse; she was coerced to this degrading situation by the religious leaders who used her as a scapegoat and example.

Jesus did not speak but instead wrote in the dirt on the ground before He spoke. We don't know what He wrote, but we do know what He said:

"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

No one tossed so much as a pebble. They all walked away, leaving the woman untouched by the wrath of men.

Rather, she had been touched by the mercy of her Benefactor. Jesus asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She replied, "No one, sir."

"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

We do not know whether or not she left her life of sin. The Bible does not say. However, we do know that Jesus prevented this woman from being stoned to death. She had sinned and was free to go.

Was Jesus wrong?

As I read the Anti-Homosexuality Bill proposed in Uganda by MPs David Bahati and Benson Obua, I wonder if perhaps these gentlemen think Jesus should have picked up a stone. Instead, Jesus intervened on behalf of the woman, was He wrong? Clearly, He did not believe adultery was proper. But He signaled a new way of dealing with sin, one which emphasizes mercy and freedom, rather than coercion and death. People must choose to follow the teachings of Christ, not be coerced by Pharisees or government officials. The human heart cannot be changed by laws, but through the freely chosen grace of Christ.

Brothers and sisters, jailing or killing gays or those suspected of being gay or those who know gays cannot create a righteous people, and in fact may further a self-righteous people. One may disapprove of homosexuality, and still treat homosexuals as you would want to be treated. Who among us could stand if our private sins were judged in such a manner as the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009?

I urge my brethren in beautiful Uganda to follow the example of Jesus. Please, for the sake of Christ, put down your stones.

Warren Throckmorton, PhD

Associate Professor, Psychology

Grove City, PA (Christian college in the USA)

www.wthrockmorton.com

Lessons…

In holding ones breath, as the stench intensifies.

Bitter, isn’t that?

Ok. Deep breath in, and one out. Calm, calm, calm.

The religious leaders of our dear country Uganda were presenting their views on the bill. They were those from the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and some Moslem leaders. Apparently, the SDA Church is merciful. They don’t want a homosexual put to death, because he or she is a homosexual. So, they want something else. Let it be life imprisonment. Because, from their point of view, taking a life is a final thing. Too final. Rather that a homosexual, who is a sinner like any other sinner, is jailed so that he might have time left on earth to repent and turn back from his or her sins.

Deep breath in, deep breath out. Calm, calm, calm.

Do you know how frustrating it is not to be able to shout to these people that I am NOT GUILTY OF ANY BLOODY THING?????????

I am gay. A gay Ugandan. I am guilty, just because I am gay.

And all the good people of my country, the country's leaders are sitting down to piously decide on which punishment I deserve.
The choice is not very hard. Those who are fierce moralists say it is Death. Death. Death. Those more merciful, say it should be life in prison. Just for being homosexual.....

Dear God in heaven, is this a nightmare or what?

Where was the debate? Oh, apparently, it was at the Parliament Committee for Presidential Affairs, where the public can give their views. And,....

No. I will not cry.

What would these people say if I told them that I am gay, and so they be damned?????

No. That is just stupid bravado...


gug

A Ugandan Christian Stands Up

To be counted...


Ironic, this is what I was blogging about. No, I am not anti-Christian. I just know a little bit too much of what Christianity is supposed to be. So, when I as a gay person am persecuted by supposed Christian leaders, I cry wolf. Hard. My life, as the Bahati Bill proves, my life and my well being depends on it.


It is curious that Christian ideals should be the protection that I look to. Look at the article below. The Catholic Church's official dogma on homosexuality should be all the protection that I should have as a homosexual in Uganda. The church should be vigorously defending me.

But, how many times has the Catholic church defended gay Ugandans as other Ugandans planned to kill us? Ironically, Ssempa's Inter-Faith Rainbow Coalition against Homosexuality in Uganda must contain a Catholic. They will not stand up to defend this pariah, this evil, this bad homosexual human being, even when their teaching says I exist, and that I am a human being. Why shouldn't I cry wolf, hypocrite, liars, and such?


Lil-big sis has done me proud. Here is the article, as I proudly lift it....

We would do best accommodating gays                 

Written by Princess Ikatekit    

Sunday, 25 October 2009 19:04

We believe in different things, you and me. Or perhaps we believe in the same things. Our viewpoints and our life philosophies very often define who we are. I believe in God, for example. And I also believe that gay persons are our brothers and sisters, deserving our love and respect.

Are the two contradictions of each other?

According to Catholic teachings (I choose this because I am Catholic), “Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex…Homosexual acts are ‘intrinsically disordered.’

They are contrary to the natural law…Under no circumstances must they be approved.” But the Church continues to state; “The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial.

They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.” Finally, the Church calls homosexual persons to lifelong chastity as a means of, “gradually and resolutely approaching Christian perfection.”

 I, for one, consider the last teaching to be impractical and even idealistic. How many adults can be expected to go an entire lifetime without genital intimacy after-all? You, of course, may believe otherwise—but most likely we will agree (if you are Christian at least), that we must extend the tenets of Christian teaching: compassion, respect, and sensitivity to all human beings, whether they are gay or not.

David Bahati (MP, Ndorwa County West, Kabale) has proposed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2009 which includes a provision for the death penalty for gay men and women in Uganda. According to the Bill, an individual caught having ‘gay sex’ with a disabled person or anyone under 18, would be subject to an HIV-test, and if found positive would be liable to face the death sentence.

The “promotion of homosexuality” which means the “production, trafficking, procuring, marketing, broadcasting, disseminating, and publishing of homosexual materials” would also be criminal under this law.

“A person who keeps a house, or a place of any kind for purposes of homosexuality commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for seven years,” the Bill states.

Failure to report a violation (by friends and family of gay and lesbian persons) would constitute a criminal offence.  This Bill is extreme, to put it mildly. And in a country where the stigma attached to homosexuality or being seen as ‘Pro-Gay’ is bigger even than charges of government-level corruption, I am not surprised by the silence of the general public.

I am not surprised, but I am disappointed that our religious leaders too have been noticeably silent on this issue. They are as silent on the issue of the death penalty for gay persons as they are in situations where gay persons are forced to undergo ‘correctional’ rape. Why?

Does the definition of ‘immoral’ blur between heterosexuals and homosexuals? Must we apply a different understanding to each? If Bahati is as concerned with “protecting the health of Ugandan citizens from the negative effects of immoral behaviour,” as he makes it out, why has he not extended the death penalty to prostitutes, rapists, adulterers, liars and cheats? Reports of sexual molestation in Uganda are attributed more to heterosexual criminals anyway.

And liars and cheats do harm our minds when they scam us of our life savings. Homosexuality is not a disease. You do not ‘catch’ it by associating with gay people. Gays do not “recruit straights.” We seem to forget conveniently that sex, for the most part, is consensual, and when it isn’t, victims do not hold out for repeat performances of these terrible episodes in their lives.

There is no underlying conspiracy by gay people to take over the world as our Minister of Ethics and Integrity insists; there is no need to be urgently afraid of the extinction of the human race because gays cannot reproduce. What is there to fear then from our gay brothers and sisters?

We live together, you and I, because we acknowledge our differences and still manage to find a common ground. We do not summarily shoot anyone who disagrees with us; therefore we cannot simply do away with a fraction of our community because they make us ‘uncomfortable.’

The question here is not whether you believe homosexuality to be a repulsive disease or not, but rather: are you willing to allow us to become a nation that prosecutes some of its people merely because they do not ‘fit in’? Protest the Bill!

The author is a Ugandan student of Actuarial Science at St. John’s University, New York.

ikatekit@yahoo.com