Outrage at the High Court

Ok.

The mega church in the heart of Kampala, Watoto Church, has also gotten onto the solution of the 'homosexual problem' in Uganda. Sigggggggghhhhhhh!

It is headed by a Canadian, Gary Skinner. The church that is. And, it was once called Kampala Pentecostal church. Now, it is called Watoto church after its more famous choir of orphaned children.

Here is their 'gay' programme...!

Why should you know about it? Why, why shouldnt you know about such a direct interventional approach from the American right in Uganda?!!! Well, why shouldnt I play the politics? It is a tough world. And, I aim to use all my blessings.

The project involved identifying, providing care for and reforming homosexual youth, helping them re-integrate into society.

By working closely with community leaders and others who have experience in homosexuals’ reformation, Watoto Church through this group is managing this situation in the homes and schools in their community.

Interacting with the affected families, and holding discussions with both parents and children is also helping turn the situation around.

Instead of employing disapproval tactics, Watoto church leaders have come out in love, to the aid of those entangled in the undesirable act. This church also engages in training community leaders and ministry leaders in handling homosexuality in their communities. Quest actively works with Watoto church in their school of community leadership to promote their community initiatives.”

Poor youths, who with such Christian love will be embraced. Poor kids, who will have this to deal with in Uganda!
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By all accounts, outside the court yesterday was chaos.

Ok. First, the Rolling pebble was sued by three individuals who were 'outed' as gay. The judge slapped the pebble with an anti-rolling charm for 3 weeks. And, Tuesday, the pebble was supposed to convince the judge that it should not be stopped from tumbling down hill into cess pits of mud and hate.

So, come Tuesday, there was a court hearing. But, apparently, the lawyer for Giles Muhame was Missing in Action. So, a delay was given.

No. the action was not inside the court.

It was outside the court. Pastor Solomon Male had put in appearance. And, he was ranting. Something which was caught by AFP.

Speaking on behalf of the National Coalition Against Homosexuality and Sexual Abuse in Uganda, Pastor Solomon Male accused the court of using the ban on outing to protect "selfish, heartless and aggressive criminal offenders."

Shouting on the courthouse veranda, Male asked, "How can homosexuals who deliberately break the law claim right to privacy?"

The fracas was real. Apparently, the gay people who appeared at the court were being verbally assaulted, and pushed by Ssempas... sorry, Pastor Solomon Male's brownshirts, who were all angry that the courts of Uganda seemed to protect gay Ugandans.

Well, you see, we are self confessed homosexuals, who have no right to privacy, (remember Ssempa and the 'eat da poo poo' videos?), and because we are homosexuals, we are selfish, heartless, aggressive criminal offenders...!

Well, I am not speaking from a totally clueless position. Here is the flier that Solomon Male was handing out, on behalf of Uganda' s National coalition etc etc against homosexuality....

Read it. Hope you dont have to get a magnifying glass. Uh, I am sorry that my countrymates are so excitable.....

Have a good day.

In Uganda, it is all so 'life as usual'!

gug

Gay, Faith Heroes

Yesterday, standing on the road just outside home, a Mormon missionary approaches me, to tell me about their deity.

I decline. Don't want to belong to any faith..., don't belong to any faith. Suprise on her part. Why don't I believe? No, it does have something to do with my sexuality, but, faith doesnt have to do with sexuality. Didnt go into the specifics of my case.

She insisted on telling me about the Bible. I listened, then nonplussed her by asking why she wasn't quoting from the Quaran. Because she didnt believe it. I don't believe in neither the Bible, nor the Quaran, I reply patiently.

Why does it suprise people that a person does remain a human being with no particular adherence to a faith? Guess it is because so many of us believe. Gay people believe. Even when they are bombarded by 'gay is evil' messages. We continue to believe.

And, sometimes, that has some interesting consequences.

Remember the 'Hang Them' headline? The rolling stone rug.

Just below the caption on the front page were the photos of two people. One is a gay activist. The other is Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo. Giles Muhame, Ssempa's lieutenant, apparently believes that the elderly bishop should be hanged.

No. Bishop Ssenyonjo is not gay.

Question has always been asked. The guy was asked why he is risking all for a people that are pariahs in society.... even his pension. He is a grandfather, and his family is affected by his stance. I mean, the Church of Uganda went to the point of stopping his pension, reportedly because of his stance on homosexuality.

And, one of Ssempa's lieutenants wants him hanged.

No. Not because he is gay. But, because he defends gay people of faith. In the Christian faith. Uh, Jesus feels that pain. Surely no teacher would stand for such interpretation of their teaching! Jesus taught love, didnt he?

If Giles is to state that that is a mis-construction, I would be very surprised. Words, pics, they mean something. As a news person, I think he is the expert. When I see the photo of Bishop Ssenyonjo and the caption, just above his head to 'Hang Them', my conclusions are based on a very solid foundation. At least, so I think....!

There is another bishop, Gene Robinson.

Hey, the guy is gay. Maybe for him it is justified to spew hate speech? His consecration brought up all sorts of controversies. Personally, such a thing, like the consecration of Bishop Glasspool is an affirmation that even gay people are worth of faith. Fact, there is nothing stopping us from believing. Many of us do, and strongly. But, there are some incredible consequences to that. Here was the reaction to Gene Robinson.

Robinson was openly gay when he was elected bishop in 2003, but it aroused such passions that he wore a bullet-proof vest to his consecration.

His ordination as bishop -- the first of an openly gay priest in any Christian denomination -- so divided the church that its General Convention in 2006 called a moratorium on "any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church."

Then in July 2009, the church voted to end the moratorium even though the issue had opened a widening rift within the broader Anglican church.

Some Episcopal parishes in the United States responded by breaking with the US church and aligning themselves with conservative Anglican bishops in Africa and South America.

Gene Robinson is retiring. Has he been brave?

Maybe, by definition of the word. He has been a man who, through no choice of his, has been forced into the spotlight. And made a celebrity. But, at a cost to him.

Bishop Gene Robinson of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire said he would retire in 2013, when he will be 65.

"The fact is, the last seven years have taken their toll on me, my family and you," Robinson wrote in a message posted on the diocese website.

"Death threats, and the now-worldwide controversy surrounding your election of me as bishop have been a constant strain, not just on me, but on my beloved husband, Mark, who has faithfully stood with me every minute of the last seven years."

I salute the man. Gene Robinson. Husband Mark.

I salute them for finding the courage to walk through their lives as human beings, not denying themselves in the face of extreme opposition.

I salute them.

gug

Congo, and of course Ugandan Hate Speech

Is Saturday.

And, am having fun, relaxing at home. Enjoying a day off. Why not, seems like I have been too used to working weekends to adjust to off weekends.

Which, inevitably means that have to kind of reel in the thirst for going online. So, promise to myself. First, am writing this, then am going to take a very long walk through the lush countryside, walk the dusty roads, inhale the dust, ogle men on the streets. [Note: Ugandan men are beautiful. Bite me, but I am gay.....!]

Seriously, just want to take a long relaxing walk unwinding. For the week was a bit heavier than I expected. And, I need the time off.

But first, remember the 'words' post? I listened to Giles Muhame, and I was kind of disgusted. There should be a limit to hate speech. Or, is that limitation of the right to free speech?

But, amongst the thorns are some pearls for me. Like here, when he tells us what exactly is being planned. Weekly outings... uh.

Rolling Stone, ran a cover story with the headline: "100 pictures of Uganda's top homos leak."

A smaller banner headline had only two words: "Hang them."

The paper printed photographs of 11 Ugandan men and women it said were gay in that first issue but says it now intends to serialise the story -- printing profiles of 10 to 15 gay people a week until it has outed the full 100.

Of the 11 featured at least four say they have since been attacked.

Giles Muhame, editor of the fledgling paper with a circulation of just 2,000, is unrepentant and says he is protecting the moral fabric of the east African nation.

"I can assure you that we will continue to publish these photos of homosexuals," the 22-year-old told Reuters. "There is no doubt about that."

As to why he published the paper, and showed the photos of people, with the word 'Hang Them' above it, here is his explanation.

"We called the paper Rolling Stone because it is a stone that is rolling and bringing out the evil in society. If people are promoting homosexuality then the stone is going to knock on their door and smoke them out," Muhame says, laughing.

He says it was not his intention that members of the public would attack the people featured in the newspaper, despite publishing their addresses.

"We published the areas where they live so that counsellors could find them and help them," he says. "We want a death penalty introduced for homosexuals who are trying to brainwash children but we don't want the public to attack them."

To that bit of nonsense, the only possible answer is, 'Yeah, Right!' Just too flabergasting a justification to be taken seriously. But, Muhame, being a well educated young fella, feels it does justice to his sense of intelligence. Salute!

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And, journalists being journalists, they do ask questions. Of the likes of Minister Nsaba-Buturo. And, he answers the questions. As well as is politically expedient from him. And, here is his answer as to whether or not the 'Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009' will see the light of day. The kill the gays bill of Uganda. Here is his reply.

It was quietly shelved under the pressure, but rights groups suspect it may be passed after elections in February that Museveni is expected to win.

"It has to be debated under our law," Ethics Minister Nsaba Buturo told Reuters. "I am confident it will be passed but with amendments, for example on the issue of death penalty. I don't believe that is the way to go."

Buturo said a provision for jail sentences may be included in the legislation but that counselling would also be available should gay people want to repent.

–

In the DRC, Zaire, or Congo Kinshasha, there is also a law in the parliament. Seems not to be as radical as Uganda's very own bill (repent or be killed).

Congo Kinshasa discusses criminalising gays

The Kinshasa parliament is in the process of discussing legislation that will prohibit homosexuality, or "unnatural sexual practices." But the debate climate in Congo is much calmer than in neighbouring Uganda.

According to reports in the government-close Kinshasa newspaper 'La République', Congolese MP Ejiba Yamapia is currently gathering support for a bill formulated by him that would forbid certain "unnatural sexual practices," including same-sex relations.

Congo Kinshasa (DRC), along with most Central and West African nations, does not have any legislation regarding the country's sexual minorities. This is mostly due to the fact that homosexuality is an issue not known to the general population, as same-sex relations typically find other manifestations in traditional cultures.

So, a much saner debate, is it?

Why is my sexuality such a threat to people out there? Don't know.

Well, at least the Congolese can blame Ugandans....!

Well, well, well. My day can be spoilt by all this endless speculation. Giles Muhame is supposed to meet the guys he 'outed' in a court of law on Monday. Maybe something will come of that....! Well, apparently, he didnt publish 'illegaly' as he had promised because of that.... maybe. Who can guess at the workings of that guy's mind?

gug

They are only Words

Why do words hurt? Why do they hurt so much?

Words, I mean, like those of anti-gay rhetoric.

They hurt because they are supposed to; to demean, de-humanize, insult, and hold up to shame. They hurt, and do hurt bad.

I am a gay Ugandan. Means I have, perforce to grow a thick skin, crocodile hide. Cant be what I am without developing that. A necessity. Yet, they do still hurt.

In Uganda, we are kind of used to it. I mean, Pastor Ssempa and his 'eat da poo poo' tirades. That is not worth much comment in Uganda. Outside Uganda, well, it is a bit more of a problem.

Saw this note about the guy who had unleashed a homophobic rant on Facebook. American school district official, who believed that it was an insult for him to be urged to put on a Purple ribbon in rememberance of teenage suicides. He was offended, because the teenagers were queers. And, he thought it good that they had died. Because they were queers. And, he thought it quite good that queers give each other HIV during sex.

The posts were made, according to The Advocate, in response to a bullying awareness campaign sponsored by GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. The "Spirit Day" campaign aimed to foster recognition of bullying directed at gays and the effects it can have on young people through a series of events held on October 20.

One aspect of the campaign encouraged people to wear purple to honor those who had committed suicide after experiencing anti-gay bullying, and to show solidarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered youth who face the same pressures.

According to the screen grab obtained by The Advocate, McCance wrote the following about the event: "Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers committed suicide. The only way im wearin it for them is if they all commit suicide. I cant believe the people of this world have gotten this stupid. We are honoring the fact that they sinned and killed therselves because of their sin."

Those words, well, they are tame in contrast to what Ssempa says on an average day.

I thought of Anderson Cooper of CNN interviewing the guy. Another of the queers that he privately railed against. And, one who had lost a brother by suicide. [Wonder, what did Cooper feel, talking to this guy? Throw off the poker anchor face, what did he really feel?]

Words, they are only words.

And, I have to learn to discount them. Because, words, unlike stones, or a rope around my neck, they don't hurt much, in retrospect.

But, words do hurt. And, they hurt real bad.

Here are the words of Giles Muhame. The 'Rolling Stone' editor. I am afraid Uganda does have its share of fools, especially in the homophobe category. Just like dear Ssempa, Nsaba-Buturo, Bahati, he has embraced, very gladly, his fifteen minutes of fame. And, he is going around talking about what he has done, and what he hopes to do.

Of course, he is not hurting people. Homosexuals are not people. People like Stosh Mugisha don't matter. Of course they are lying...! Of course we are lying. I have wondered how coolly they throw off concerns about us hurting. And, Muhame does me proud.

Think of Pastor Martin Ssempa, of 'eat da poo poo' fame. Think of him pontificating on a Sunday at his Makerere Community Church. His 'mission' is to youths. His charisma turns them on.

Of course, when he is talking, most of the people who listen are heterosexual. Most don't understand a gay person's dilema of faith and sexuality.

Think of a gay youth listening with rapt attention to Pastor Ssempa.

Truly, something to make one up and suicide oneself.

And, no. I am not advocating for that.

It does get better, when we can put people like Ssempa in perspective. But, at that particular time, for those people, for those gay teens and near teens... It is something terrible.

Words do matter. Words do hurt. Lots.

gug