Kuchus and HIV in Africa; The Failure of Africa’s Medics & Health Care Workers (2)

 

We esteem our doctors, medical and other health care workers tremendously in Africa. We should. In a continent with a dire lack of education, they are our educated elite. They also struggle to work under some pretty tough conditions, because of a lack of funds, lack of necessary instruments of care, and lack of political and other support.

With knowledge comes power, socially.

Medicine and the health sciences have a very rich background of study of my sexuality, because we are different from the common heterosexuality. It is not a new thing.
 I mean, we Kuchus (LGBTQ+) human beings, have been under study since life immemorial. We are a uniquely different part of humanity that persists in life to the contrary of expectations.

So, why are our African medical and health care professionals so clueless with regards to sexuality and other sexualities?
The excuse that it is not taught in African medical schools is not a good one. This is the internet age.
But our doctors have failed to explain issues. Yeah, Museveni asked twice, but I don’t think he wants a real answer… But his questions reflect a lot of the ignorance in Uganda. He is not wrong to ask our in-house docs. Even while he doesn’t listen.

Even lay people can educate themselves about a subject as interesting as homosexuality, and of course human sexuality.

The words of a Seniour psychologist and professor in Ghana pulled me down this line of reflection. I posted on it: - Kuchu Mental Health in Africa; The Failure of Africa’s Medics & Health Care Workers (1)

But, there is an even more immediate and urgent example of medics in Africa failing Kuchus as individuals and our nations collectively  because they are prejudiced on homosexuality. The case of HIV/AIDS.

When the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 was signed into law by the President of Uganda, UNAIDS/PEPFAR/Global Fund released a cautionary statement on the possible impact of the law.

 

“.., are deeply concerned about the harmful impact of the Ugandan Anti- Homosexuality Act 2023 on the health of its citizens and its impact on the AIDS response that has been so successful up to now.”

--

“Progress has been made thanks to the implementation of large-scale prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care programs, all provided on the principle of access to health care for all who need it, without stigma or discrimination. This approach has saved lives. The strong health systems built to support the AIDS response serve the entire population of Uganda.”

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“Uganda’s progress on its HIV response is now in grave jeopardy. The Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 will obstruct health education and the outreach that can help end AIDS as a public health threat.”

 

The resulting media storm was quite embarrassing. Shouts of ‘imperialism’, ‘colonialism,’ ‘promotion of homosexuality’, ‘blackmail’.
Winnie Byanyima, a Ugandan our country woman, currently Director General of UNAIDS was vilified and shamed in the papers and the people of her old constituency in Mbarara.

And why blame Uganda’s medics?

The issue was HIV/AIDS. Ugandan trained medical workers have a good grasp of HIV/AIDS. When UNAIDS, literally the World’s Most Important Specialist Doctor on HIV/AIDS comes out with such a statement, It was reasonable to expect Uganda’s HIV specialists to explain why UNAIDS was concerned. What was wrong? Why was there a problem? Why would PEPFAR, UNAIDS and Global Fund gang up on poor, homophobic Uganda?

And where were Uganda’s specialists to explain the problem?

They did. Medics say no to UN, US claims on gay Aids was the title headline in the Monitor.
The text revealed tremendous ignorance and our under current of homophobia. Of course these, our Ugandan medics, were much more believable than UNAIDS, even headed by Winnie Byanyima.

 

says Dr Daniel Kyabayinze, the head of public health affairs at the Ministry of Health

““Americans are trying to frame it as if we are against certain groups. I don’t know why they are attaching the Anti-homosexuality Act to the Ministry of Health. It has nothing to do with health,””

 

Sorry Dr Daniel Kyabayinze for calling you out, but that statement is really…, out there ignorant. That the Head of Public Health Affairs at the Ministry of Health of Uganda can actually state that legislation that criminalises Kuchus (LGBTQ+ individuals) has nothing to do with health and HIV/AIDS programming reveals considerable ignorance, and prejudice.
Blaming the Americans for our ignorance is not okay. HIV/AIDS has been about LGBTQ+ individuals and communities for the last 40 years of the pandemic. Why don’t you know it?

In Dr Kyabayinze’s defence, not many medics in Africa equate HIV/AIDS to homosexual sex. Heterosexual sex, yes. But Dr Kyabayinze is the Head of Public Health Affairs of the Ministry of Health. He is not ‘all doctors’.

If the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 doesn’t concern the Ministry of Health, why is it a long time policy of UNAIDS to strongly advocate for decriminalisation (removal of laws that criminalise homosexuals)?
This is a long standing policy of UNAIDS, the ‘Americans’ are not to blame...

As Head of Public Health in the Ministry of Health, Dr Kyabayinze should have been explaining to the Parliament of Uganda and the President, this long standing HIV prevention measure, and why it is important.

Another influential medic, and person living with HIV, also couldn’t help but reveal his ignorance. And his bias.

 

Dr Stephen Watiti, a person living with HIV/Aids (PLHIV), and chairman of the National Forum of People Living with HIV/Aids
““I know some of them who have HIV. [But] the majority of those people are not even HIV positive. Many LGBTQ members also get their medicines from abroad. The majority of those who are speaking here don’t even have HIV,””

 

The chairman of the National Forum of PLHIV should be aware of the actual issues. To him the problem was the politics, not the science. As a heterosexual person living with HIV, he doesnt understand. He has no understanding of the DOUBLE STIGMA of HIV and homosexuality.
Rev. Gideon Byamugisha also showed this lack of understanding even though he is also a PLWHIV. It is a reality of our kuchu lives.

And Dr Watiti, according to the statistics, I most kuchus living with HIV are actually Ugandans living in Uganda.

It was a crucial point in time.
At that time, the hype making the rounds was all about the big and bad and dirty, extremely evil Americans who were daring to caution that there was a problem with the very beautiful and lovely Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023.
In these cringe worth moments, when fellow Ugandans are puffing out their chests and loudly shouting how tough they are in standing up to ‘the Americans’, proof of their holy aims…,

And, our doctors, who should be in the know, failed us. Spectacularly.

 

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The Anti-LGBTQ+ Monologue in Ghana at the Moment

 

Ghana has an ‘anti-homosexuality’ bill in its parliament. That’s been so since 2022. Possibly because of the nudge from Uganda’s swiftly passed Anti-Homosexuality law, the Ghanaian Parliament found some time to pass the mandated second reading.

This happened on 5^th July, 2023.
And, it has sparked debate about homosexuality in the country and the media. Radio, TV, online. It would be robust, except for the fact that it is no debate, but a monologue.
Dialogue implies two parties exchanging ideas. Debate implies something similar. But, this is a monologue. The nay sayers are very thin on the ground!

Search for those opposing the bill heated up so much that a dead person’s name (yes, a dead person) was dragged out to be defended by his friends. Apparently, he didn’t condemn homosexuality when he was alive! What tarnish and taint to his great and good name! Utterly ridiculous. Demonstrably true.
Absurd, but that is the level of ‘debate’ about my sexuality as a Kuchu in Africa. That is the level of prevalent homophobia.  Even the dead have to be defended for presumed pro-LGBTQ impressions, because they didn’t condemn homosexuality while they were alive.

The chorus of support is considerable. On 5^th of July 2023, the bill was unanimously supported on the second reading. Apparently there was a lone dissenting voice, a female MP who was heckled and bullied into support. And another MP apparently vocally accused another MP of being gay…, live, in parliament!!

The monologue is so hot influential Ghanaian Kuchus are running from it. Of course.
Personally, and from very personal experience, I think the decision to come out in this atmosphere, in our countries is very, very personal. A life changer, with real risk to one’s personal life. And their livelihood. One might die, or lose job and income earning. And the bill will be passed. I prefer living to dead martyrs, thanks a lot!

Possible heterosexual allies like this guy would feel let down; because they know ‘big men, big women’ kuchus; doctors, lawyers etc in the community?!

“Big lawyers are gay in this country; if they won’t speak out who am I to do advocacy – Martin Kpebu”

 

Still the decision is too big to be trivialised, nor depersonalised. Each and every individuals personal circumstances differ, and most are quite hostile. One should not be ‘shamed’ into coming out, that is a no, no.
Fact we do need allies, as we call them. Some are put off because we don’t seem to be able to speak up. Yet it is important to appreciate that speaking up and coming out is a huge, huge risk that no ally can comprehend. They shouldn’t be lightly condemned.

Even health care providers who should be championing LGBTQ+ concerns rush to trumpet how thoroughly they support the anti-homosexuality bill, although they might have a few ethical and professional issues of concern.
Gosh, that statement is so self serving I really have miniscule respect for the Seniour Psychologist who made it.

Sam George, MP and mover of the bill is everywhere.
Viciously anti-gay, he is covering himself in literal lies and strongly campaigning, possibly for a higher office, on the back of the Ghanaian Kuchu’s breaking spines. He has inferred Ghanaian Kuchus (LGBTQ+) individuals do not exist, are foreign agents, are not African, that the US is personally attacking him etc.
Apparently he is Ghana’s leading contender for Anti-Gay Saint. And he takes the campaign seriously. What if a few Ghanaian kuchus lose their lives? Little meaning, that.

A Ghanaian ‘industrialist’ gives a very confusing argument for the African Union to come up and with a common, anti-LGBTQ+ stand. That would be a huge contradiction to the African Charter which defends the rights of individuals. Kuchus are Africans, and the African Charter protects us too.
Unfortunately, anti-gay debate in Africa really doesn’t follow good logic.

Conspiracy theorist Joel Savage is lavish in his support of the anti-LGBTQ+ position, and of Sam George.
Problem is his very, very confusing and lavish paranoia and conspiracy theories are off-putting. But, Fox News and other outlets in the US thrive on that kind of output, so… what of one paranoid African!

To my mind, the worst of the worst are ‘Human Rights Activists’ who blatantly deny our basic humanity. They support ‘Proper Human Rights’; excluding LGBTQ+ rights. Those are not ‘proper’ human rights, apparently. According to this one, Dr. Justice Appiah Kubi; executive member of the Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, the bill is a very good thing. It is actually meant to be a boon, and not a curse to the Ghanaian Kuchu. It is not supposed to harm them. It actually protects them…

Well, you better check for yourself. I listed the details of the bill, in reports.
Appiah Kubi was speaking to foreign media, and trying to butter the bill up. And of course patting himself on the back for the magnificent tolerance of Ghanaian society!

 

““.., not as bad as Uganda’s…

… the bill is tolerant enough to ensure that no harm befalls individuals in the queer community, …

This level of tolerance, Dr. Appiah-Kubi emphasised, is reflective of the Ghanaian culture….

Additionally, he described the bill as a good one, explaining that, “the spirit of the bill wasn’t necessarily to really hurt people who are into homosexuality”

 

When I hear lies, frank lies like that, by our shameless African leaders, that is when I get back to the details. According to reports, this ‘very good bill’ actually criminalises LGBTQ+ identity in Ghana, punishes with 3 years of imprisonment, plus any advocacy that is 10 years imprisonment. And as for HIV/AIDS care…, that is also to be scaled back. Just check here.

Sigh…

And one wonders why kuchus feel set upon with this kind of love?

 

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The Kuchu’s Right to Faith and Belief (1)

We Africans are a spiritual people.
The reasons for that might be myriad, and frankly un-understandable to me as an individual, but, it is an enduring fact of social existence on the continent. Growing up and living here, one cant help but be impressed at the depth and breadth of spirituality and beliefs.
Kuchus, (LGBTQ+) Africans, are also deeply spiritual people, like other Africans.
That is also matter of fact. These are our people, we cannot reject our people, even when the leaders disdain and attack us. We are, for all our putative crimes, we are African. With the blessings and curses that come with that identity.

Most, Africans, in Africa, strongly and vigorously prescribe to an inalienable right to faith, belief and religions, as a strongly held convictions.
An apparent paradox to that is that many of my fellow Africans would seek to deny the Kuchu, the (LGBTQ+ African) the right to belief, on account of their sexuality. Indeed, many fellow Africans fervently seek to convert the Kuchu to their own interpretation of faiths and scriptures.

I am African. I reverently and fully embrace my identity as African. And yes, poke my finger in the metaphorical eye of any who would seek to deny my identity as African.

My inalienable right to faith and belief I also embrace.
Oh yes, I do. I do not believe. And, I strongly believe that as strong as your right to believe what you believe is, that is as strong as my right not to believe in what I don’t believe in.
Oh and yeah, it started off being cheeky…, ended up…, well, an earned scepticism.

Quite a number of fellow Africans have interpreted my lack of a confirmed faith as a result of my sexual orientation. That is not accurate. The vast majority of kuchus that I know are people of faith. They believe, and are members of the major faiths and religions.
And, Kuchu believers have a right to faith, as inalienable as that of any other African’s.

Logical, isn’t it?
Yet I have sat across a table from and listened in wonder as prominent ‘believers’ sought to impress on me how faithless it was to be kuchu. That because I am kuchu, that definition totally defines my spirituality as godless, demon possessed, anti-god, anti-morality, anti-humanity. Anti-gay rhetoric in Uganda, and quite a bit of Africa denies our humanity, and much of the semblance of what, in our African eyes, marks a human being. Check out this, a report on the debate on an anti-homosexuality bill in the parliament of Ghana on 5^th of July.

 

“Minister ..,Dan Botwe, who described as “madness” the activities of lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals, and transgender (LGBT) humans.. a Satanic force that should not be allowed to fester.., For him, “eternal vigilance” should be exercised by the country”

 

It is the rhetoric of dehumanisation, embraced by the prominent influencers, and firmly believed by leaders, political, religious and spiritual in a lot of Africa.
We inhale all that toxicity, and we kuchus also tend to believe it, till we stand up and assert that, hell on earth, we are still demonstrably human, and our spirituality, an inherent part of our humanity, cannot be taken away from us. Simply because we are as human as those who are throwing the stones, the anti-gay.

After the debate on the anti-homosexuality bill in the Ghanaian parliament this month, it was time for Ghanaian politicians to go all out and preach and articulate their hate of the Ghanaian Kuchu.
Hey, I am a Ugandan. The cycles of hate are becoming quite predictable, in Uganda and outside.
Hon. Amidu Chinnia Issahaku (MP for Sissala East) of Ghana is apparently cashing in. He was hitting the airwaves, and took the time to pen titled Ghanaian Culture and the Gay Menace. Ironically regurgitating the talking points of the American Far Right in American Cultural Wars. The originality was…, distinct, is the word.

But, Hon Issahaku first had to impress on his Ghanaian audience how much against scriptures the kuchu is.
He quotes Christian scripture, and Islamic scripture. He hints that African religion, pre-colonial, was anti-homosexual (that assertion is suspect to say the least)
Preaching to the converts, as most anti-gay activists in Africa do, and love to do. The aim is to shower up their credentials as upright and moral human beings, prominent members of society.

A distinct fact they ignore, as Amidu Chinnia Issahaku did ignore, is that Kuchu (LGBTQ+) Ghanaians exist.
And, they believe. They are human beings, and have a spirituality that is undeniable as human beings. And, of course they have come to a reconciliation of their faiths and beliefs, and their sexualities.

Amidu Chinnia Issahaku believes that because he interpretes religion as unwelcoming to Kuchu Ghanaians, that there are none that welcome them. Thankfully, we do have alternative communities that welcome us. And, the Rt Honourable member would be quite flabbergasted that the reigning Pontiff of the Catholic Church actually welcomes us. And there are quite a number of alternates to his apocalyptic vision of our evilness.

Of course, there are some like me…, ahem, ahem, ahem.
I sincerely don’t believe, even though I believe in your right as a human being to believe.
But, I have come across ‘believers’ who insist on quoting their scriptures in my surprised face…, and I ask myself, what part of ‘I don’t believe’, don’t they understand? I get them.., I am an African, a human being. Surely I must believe…,
Those discussions have evolved my thinking, but I sincerely don’t appreciate being informed of how bad I am supposed to be according to your scriptures, however holy you believe them to be. I just don’t believe.

In all his fervency, Amidu Chinnia Issahaku and other anti-gay people in Uganda, like Martin Ssempa and Stephen Kaziimba, fail to grasp something important. Which is quite frustrating, to them, I imagine. They can use their powers to silence us, but, because we are, and we are human just like them, we will always claim and embrace our basic humanity.
Their counter is dehumanising and objectifying us; classic pathways of prejudice, still balking at the basic fact challenge. Our humanity; we are human.

We are Kuchu. Our right, as human beings, and as Africans to faith and belief is a pragmatic matter of fact. We are. And, we are human beings. And, we are spiritual.
Faith is a personal thing…, and we will always embrace our own spirituality and spiritualties. Dehumanising rhetoric, however holy and righteous it sounds runs counter to our experience of humanity. Its like the struggle one has to impress another that a rock is bread. Reality wins out.

Or at least so we hope.

 

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Kuchu Mental Health in Africa; The Failure of Africa’s Medics & Health Care Workers (1)

The mental health of the African Kuchu.

I have been commenting, on and off, that we kuchus are damaged individuals. Of course we are. We are human beings that develop from childhood and live in particularly hostile environments in Africa.
We would be angels, if we were not damaged and didn’t decompensate, in order to survive, as Kuchu (LGBTQ+) in Africa. And, we are alive…!

Our mental health doesn’t seem to be that important, sincerely speaking. When it is put up against the needs for survival in Africa, it comes up a losing second.
Which is simply us being blinded. Our mental health matters tremendously. We don’t seem to know it. And, crucially, we Kuchus, we LGBTQ+ Africans are being continuously failed by our own African ‘elite’, the medical doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists who should know quite a bit better.

Here is a poignant example of what is happening on the continent of Africa. This was in Accra, Ghana. But, it could have been anywhere on the continent of Africa.

There is an anti-homosexuality bill in the Parliament of Ghana. And of course that brings up debate in the country, on the airwaves, radio and TV. A prominent psychologist in the country was invited to give his comments. And, to say the least, they are devastating.

 

Senior Psychologist, Professor Joseph Osafo

“Contributing to Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Professor Joseph Osafo stated emphatically that he fully supports the bill,”

“As a Pastor, I support the bill but as a clinician, let's reassess it and work on the parts that won't help us because if we are not careful and we pass the bill to a certain level, there may be some people who genuinely need help" but, due to the bill, may face prosecution, he stated.”

“"I have worked as a suicidologist within the Ghanaian context and the African context. Africa now is leading in suicidality. It is the youngest continent. Our infrastructure, health infrastructure is down; it is not the best . . .””

 

There is a total lack of appreciation, understanding and empathy on the part of the Seniour Psychologist that the psychology of the individual, the Ghanaian kuchu, is going to be devastatingly affected by this anti-LGBTQ+ bill.

This psychologist has an awareness of that we kuchus are prone to suicide. Yet he is in total support of a bill that criminalises and imprisons us. For simply being kuchu. Begs the question, how much conversation has happened between this psychologist and his Kuchu patients?

Instead of the Proffesor and Psychologist tackling a prominent, un-equivocal source of stress for his patients, he wants to meet them when they have survived a suicide attempt? He is throwing his weight behind a bill that criminalises his patients and his only worry is that the bill might also stop them clients from coming to him?
A skewed sense of priorities, dear Proffessor Pastor Joseph Osafo. A skewed sense of priorities.

Crucially, an ethical problem that seems to challenge African health proffesionals, when there is a clash between their faith and the health of their patient and client, their faith wins all the time, even when their clients’ faith might differ from theirs.
What the hell happened to the vaunted ethics of the Hippocratic Oath? The ‘service to all’ ethic of the medical and health proffesions? It fails in Africa.
Please note that the discussant is A SENIOUR PSYCHOLOGIST AND PROFFESOR. A teacher.

 

“"As a Pastor, I support the bill but as a clinician, let's reassess it”

 

See, the big problem is, Pastor Proffesor Joseph Osafo, that as you waffle and try to qualify your support, your patients and clients are listening to you.., future and current. And past, even the suicidal ones. They are all listening, to your tone, your words, your faith, and your clinical expertise all.

That is pretty depressing. Yes, it depresses me that our so called elite in Africa, the educated few, who are supposed to bear the burden for most of us, when they fall so far from at least a basic understanding of their proffesions.
I am not a psychologist. But, even my poor understanding of psychology tells me there is something wrong here.

But, it is important to appreciate that our mental health issues not unique, they are known and appreciated (outside Africa, which is a challenge, but at least we can outsource the knowledge).
Kuchus have to appreciate that we are prone to something as insidious as suicide in our communities, we kuchus (LGBTQ+ Africans). Suicide is a major problem, which even that benighted Proffesor seems to acknowledge. But, the root problem, the one at the bottom most of the time is our internalised homophobia.

And treatment? Or prevention?

Well, Dr Muniini-Mulera had some insights.

 

“What we know is that homosexuality is not due to troubled family relationships, or “recruitment.” We also know that homosexuality is not “curable” through conversion or reparative therapy.

First, you do not cure a non-disease. Second, conversion therapy is based on an unscientific assumption that people with a non-traditional sexual orientation, such as homosexuals, are psychologically damaged and that changing their sexual orientation will benefit not only the individual but also society”

 

Important points above, very important background, the current science that is denied to us, Kuchus in Africa. But, beyond that, what should we expect from our therapists, psychologists, medical doctors and health care providers? Muniini Mulera again.

 

“Medical doctors are called to serve in a respectful, unbiased, open-minded, and non-judgemental way. To professionally sound medical doctors, it does not matter that the patient presents with a lifestyle that conflicts with their personal values. They treat homosexual people and their families with respect and empathy, employing evidence-based tools to improve their health.”

 

Which is very good. You don’t campaign to have us be put in prison, and then expect us to tell you all our secrets as human beings. Sincerely, isn’t that common sense?

The standard to aspire to is called ‘affirming care, or affirmative psycho-therapy’.

And surely even the poor, uneducated, kuchu in ‘Uganda the Village’ and ‘Ghana the Village’, should expect at the very least, that bit of professionalism from their doctor and health care giver?

 

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Ghana Anti-Homosexuality Bill, What does it say?

I am a Ugandan.., one of the lessons I have learnt with my country’s endless debates about my poor, personal sexuality is that details and specifics are important. Boring but important. Partly because I have to expect a lot of parsing, and frank lies, in the debate about homosexuality.
Not from me…, which is the whole problem. I expect the nasty, dirty, bad and evil homosexual to lie. Not the Saints of Anti-Homosexuality in Holy Africa.
But, I digress.

The anti-homosexuality bill in Ghana’s Parliament is a Private Member’s Bill that was introduced by Member of Parliament Sam Nartey George in 2022. Ghanaians being very proper people, the proper name for the bill is:

 

““Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2022””

 

The aims of this anti-LGBTQ+ legislation are not hidden…, if they are, it is in plain sight. Same sex intercourse is already criminalised in Ghana. So, this is ‘enhancement’ of the criminalisation sought. Here is a proper summary picked from a Ghanaian publication

 

 “The bill, when passed into law, seeks to provide a proper framework to sanitizing the Ghanaian society of the practices and ills of the LGBTQ+ community.”

and specifically

“aims to criminalize LGBTQ+ activities, prohibit the promotion or advocacy of such activities, and ensure the protection and support of children and individuals affected by LGBTQ+ issues.”

 

July 5^th, 2023 was the 2^nd reading of the Bill. And apparently amendments were made and accepted to the original. The amendments were approved to the original text unanimously.

 

““.., approved by all 275 lawmakers (present) on Wednesday after months of public debate and revisions to the 36-page document, introduced in 2021.””

 

The bill needs a third reading, and then accent by the President of the Republic to become the law of Ghana as reported here.

 

 “For it to come into force, it must still pass at least a third reading in the House and be signed into law by Ghanaian President”

 

So, what details, what does this newer anti-homosexuality legislation in Ghana say should be done?
I don’t have the text, so I had the pick of articles available, and remember, this was the second reading, not the final bill assented to by the Parliament of Ghana.

Details, details please;

·         Identity is criminalised.., I remember that was also in the original Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023 in Uganda. To identify as homosexual is criminalised…!

“.., amendment to an anti-gay bill that would make identifying as LGBT punishable by a three-year prison sentence. “

·         Advocacy is criminalised. Why do the evil homosexuals need any sort of advocacy? This should be the dreaded ‘promotion of homosexuality’. Would be quite interesting to read the text.

“People who campaign for LGBT rights could also face up to 10 years in jail.”

 

·         Conversion therapy is in…, poor gay Ghanaians.

““… also validates "conversion therapy"”

 

And more to come.

·         criminalizes any form of LGBTIQ+ activism or support, as well as the dissemination of information.

·         It will punish homosexuals with a three-year prison sentence for identifying as such,
while LGBTQI+ rights advocates would face up to ten years in prison.

·         limits the provision of health services to this community, such as medication to treat HIV.

·         The proposed law encourages citizens to report neighbors who engage in homosexual relations to the authorities.

 

That is a quite substantive laundry list of demands of the law… Poor Ghanaian Kuchus, indeed.
I have also seen reference to this weird, more than weird provision.

 

“Moreover, the bill seeks to withdraw health services from this community, including HIV medication.”

 

That would be interesting. Ghanaians would rather have HIV spread rampart than have LGBTQ+ Ghanaians getting prevention, treatment and care?

Weird indeed.
But there are Ugandans, prominent and virulent anti-gay activists who would rather have had no HIV/AIDS aid from the US, if that was to be balanced against their anti-homosexuality bill. Of course it is more than likely those were not amongst the 1,2 Million Ugandans living with HIV. Anti-gay advocates are really fanatical about their demands.

 

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