Hate, Ignorance, and Various kinds of Infamy

I do have to do a round up.

Yes, I do. First, of course, when I am cited in the press without any 'embellishments', I do want to crow. And, this is a case of it.
You remember my letter to the press, copied to Nsaba-Buturo protesting Pastor Ssempa's Gay Porn Freak show? Seems the Observer did bite the bullet. Publishing it, in my names, no changes, no nothing. Yes, they did.

Bravo, observer. I do know you might have been tempted to make me into a concerned Citizen. I am glad that you didnt. I am gay. I am a Ugandan. Hang me or not, the affirmation of that identity is something that I desire.

The 500,000 people signature to parliament got advance press. And, on Twitter too. Course I also did the honours. My love is one of the organisers of the event. I am quite proud of that. Even if it does mean that this cold Monday morning, he has to leave me in bed to go off gallivanting into the streets. Even if it is parliament! Hey, I do have to keep my priorities right.

MP Odonga Otto, yes, you have remembered, the one who will kill his child if he is gay cannot believe other peoples stand on Gays.

Of course, I took the chance to immediately educate the MP. Unfortunately, it is a lost cause, or almost. If Matua couldnt drive a few points past the MPs thick skull, what can? Here is the article.

I recently received a copy of the compilation of the CSO magazine in my pigeonhole, and in it I read the articles by Andrew Mwenda, John Nagenda and the Leader of Opposition attacking our heroes Hon. David Bahati (Ndorwa West MP), and Dr. Nsaba Buturo, the Minister of Ethics and Integrity.

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In the magazine, Andrew Mwenda, the Managing Editor of The Independent magazine says that Bahati, who tabled the Anti-Homosexual Bill, should rather spend energy fighting nuclear energy or global warming. 

Then, the Presidential Advisor on the Media, John Nagenda leaves an innuendo that Bahati is insane and should stop the wishful thinking that he is protecting the children, for Bahati’s children may one day be gay.

They alluded to the possibility that homos could help in family planning and problems associated with over population.

I can’t believe all the comments from the trio above who are averagely—apart from Mwenda—about 30 years older than me. Mwenda and Nagenda tend to say that the Bahatis are using religion, a Western thing, to oppose gay rights.

In Uganda, as in most of Africa, Elders have an almost reverent respect. An Elder has age, experience, and achievements speaking for them. Odonga Otto is an elder to me.

Of course I am a little bit odd in that. I demand respect, even if I am gay and look young. Hey! Why not. Because I came to the conclusion that I will not allow an elder, even when it is my father, who I love, dictate to me when I am damned sure that I know more than him. Especially in matters of MY sexuality. Let us continue with the Honourable MPs thoughts. Oh, I believe he is older than me, and he is a member of parliament.

But, his words, his thoughts do not merit subservient respect from me. No, thanks. He is plain wrong, and chooses not to inform himself with knowledge that is accessible to him.

I personally feel gays or homos have a mental problem. I’ve even failed to imagine how they do their thing.

I often pray that this debate should come to an end because the more we talk about it the more silly arguments in favour of it will always be raised by the Mwendas and Nagendas of this world as our children are listening.

For in life, you can’t do what you have not imagined is possible. The Leader of Opposition, on surviving a recent motor accident, was quoted as saying: “I thank God for allowing me to survive...I don’t want the country to turn into chaos.”

Let my boss, Prof. Morris Ogenga Latigo, the Leader of Opposition, tell me whether that is one of the reasons he wanted God to keep him around? Why use God for selective things and not gays?

And also, as an insect science professor, can he tell us from the wealth of knowledge he has in that field, if gay behaivour actually exists among insects or animals?

He can’t cite any trend of such behaviour in the realm of animal kingdom. Unfortunately, the President of Uganda being the donor’s blue-eyed boy has not come out strongly on the Bill and subsequently it may be shelved.

Well, in my comment to his article, I tried to educate him on Gay Animals. There is the article in Wikipedia. And, of course there is this article on this blog.

And, here is the Quote of the Day from the dear MP Odonga Otto.

But when all is said and done, [I submit that] gays should suffer death not only by hanging but also by stoning at a public marketplace. The alternative for them is to seek medical attention; a mad person cannot claim the right to be mad.  I will end by saying: Bravo Bahati, bravo Dr. Buturo!

Yes indeed. Odonga Otto would have me killed for being gay. Period.

Dont put that down to rhetoric. Please dont dare disrespect the duly stated opinion of MP Odonga Otto. He means exactly what he says.

Now, there is too much to write about. Hopefully, I can do justice to everything that there is. But, I have to go, at least for now.

Be well.

As I wrote, the rain, the drizzle stopped. It is cool and grey and wet.

But, it is a fantastic day. Be well

gug

PS. Odonga Otto and Buturo in the same article? Well, a Monitor OpEd is one. And, I love showing up Buturo for his too evident hypocrisy. In the one Otto wrote, he lauds Buturo. In this one, Otto seems to have seen a little of the Buturo Hypocrisy...!

And, I am still updating Ssempa's Infamy page. I love the infamy. I do love it. Always puts a smile on my face, and in my mind.

Maybe, to balance that infamy, let us take a look at a Young Anglican to whom the Bill and the hypocrisy of the Church is something that in definately 'un-Christian'. Icearc, yes, you do rock in my book. Hope your analyses dont lead to too much disillusionment. It does happen, sometimes.

gug

The Baraza in Kampala, Uganda

The forum? I was there. And, I was tweeting it.

But, for reasons beyond my control, I actually failed to report on it. But, there is an excellent report here. Including one, ahem, ahem mp, who proudly said he would kill his son if he was a homosexual. Odonga Otto. Clearly a very disturbed human being.

MP Odonga Otto at the forum

At a human rights forum held Friday morning in Kampala, a Ugandan Member of Parliament said he would kill his son if he discovered he was gay.

The MP, Otto Odonga, was immediately denounced by the forum's keynote speaker, Makau Mutua.

 Makau Mutua

"I am baffled by the kind of hatred you spew against gay people," Mutua said, "including your desire to be a hangman. Would you apply to be a hangman if the person to be hanged were your son?"

When Odonga nodded yes, Mutua said, "There is something deeply wrong with you."

The forum, titled Human Rights and Sexual Orientation, made it clear that many Ugandans do not yet believe that homos are entitled to human rights. The country's MPs are getting set to debate a law that would impose the death penalty on people who engage in gay sex more than once.

"Human rights are not sacrosanct," Odonga said. "Private parts do not belong in the anus. We will not accept this kind of deviant behaviour in our society."

Another MP, Christopher Kibanzanga, angrily spoke out against the "vice" of homosexuality. He asked, "Who are bisexuals? What do they do? Has it just been imported into Africa?"

 Chistopher Kibazanga, MP. Images from Xtra

Most members of the audience — made up of about 80 students, academics, politicians and NGO leaders — appeared to be of sane mind when it comes to sexuality.

MP Christopher Kibanzanga angrily spoke out against the "vice" of homosexuality. He asked, "Who are bisexuals? What do they do? Has it just been imported into Africa?"(Benedicte Desrus / Sipa Press)"Anal sex is not only practiced by homosexuals but also by heterosexuals," said Rubaramira Ruranga, the director of NGENT, a local HIV/AIDS organization. He also disputed the fact that homosexuality and bisexuality are somehow un-African. "When I was young," he told the crowd, "I saw men having sex with men in my small village, out in the bush, as we went hunting."

One of the morning's other speakers, Solome Nakawesi-Kimbugwe, said that Uganda — one of the world's poorest countries — should deal with economic issues. "Let's put our priorities where our problems are," she said. "As Ugandans, what we want are laws that are relevant. Homosexuality is not a problem for us."

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But it was her co-presenter, Mutua, who stole the show when he attacked the anti-gay arguments of the two politicians. (Organizers said there were a couple of other MPs in the audience, but they remained quiet.)

Mutua, the chair of Kenya's Human Rights Commission, tore into the MPs as if he was a judge passing sentence onto criminals.

"It's important that we all try to expose ourselves to knowledge, to keep on growing," Mutua said. "People who express extremist views are, in my view, always the ones who have read the least."

The Harvard-educated lawyer went on to liken the MPs' arguments against human rights to comments made by slave owners in the American Civil War. "The kind of speech you made against gay people was the kind of speech that white segregationists were making all over America. Those arguments are classic. They have been reproduced in every era by every segment of society. You didn't invent them."

Mutua went on to say he believes that countries like Canada would be justified in holding back on foreign aid if MPs pass the anti-gay bill. "There are consequences to being a member of the international community," he said. 

And, what can I say but amen to that.

I just wish more MPs were there. In the kind of calm, collected atmosphere Mutua created, divorcing it from the hate smogged outpourings of the rallies, it was instructive. Odonga Otto simply didnt have any answers. He saw it. He knew it. And he walked out.... I had predicted on twitter that he would not dare speak again....!

And, one thing. The reporter did a very good job, but to say that we homosexuals said nothing would not be really right. First, Val Kalende delivered an emotional speech.
Then, there was this lady who dared to say that she had never had an orgasm with the many men that she had slept with. And, that the first time she slept with a woman....! (I bet Ssempa would have loved to be there and film that!, Oooops!)
And, I did stand up and speak. Of course not as gug. Why should I? My closet is wide open, and it just needs a little nudge to come out and flower. But, that was not the forum....