Food for thought

By now, the whole world knows that my schizophrenic countrymates want to kill off people like me, because it is what the Bible says.
Well, at least that is what they read as their Holy Book. Calm down, I do know that not everyone supports them. I know some Christians have come out to condemn them. And, I know that some Christians have taken the unprecedented step of criticizing them openly. Yes, they have.

First, here is the Bill under contention. The full text.

But, you know what, the Fundamentalist Christians in Uganda, they have come out swinging. They wrote to Rick Warren, demanding a biblical apology within 7 days, or, (dont know, will they give a biblical curse? Pastors in Uganda are feared for that...!) Here is their letter.

Oh, the letter is completely schizophrenic. I am told that that fancy word means lunatic, or lunacy. It has mainly been written by Ssempa, Pastor Martin Ssempa, once upon a time, a friend of Rick Warren who is now disowned.

Now, there is the rub. Ssempa is very willing to play the spoilt child. 'Daddy, Daddy, if you dont give me my sweet, that means you dont love me'. And, he has gone off into a decided sulk. And, told the whole world about Daddy's disgusting behaviour. Well, Pastor Warren, I am keeping my fingers crossed. That saga may be more interesting than the Pastor wars in Uganda. If you want to know about them, why, check them out here..... I will follow them avidly. I will call them the International Pastor Wars....

See, here in this backwater, Uganda, we dont need soap operas. We make them, live.

But, food for thought. There is no way that Rick Warren and Ssempa can think the same thing. Warren is going to be flabaggasted by his erstwhile friend, who is purpose driven to fight the evil of homosexuality, how he challenges him to go ahead and support the Bill. Remember that Ssempa supports absolutely the Bill as it was written. He said so, and, if it wasnt for international opposition, that is how Ssempa wanted the bill passed. So, Rick Warren, and Ssempa Martin. Friends, now ripped apart.

Same as Luke Orombi, Archbishop of Uganda. But, Orombi seems to have played Canterbury into leaning over till he snapped. Canterbury is broken. Oh, my assesment. My assesment.

Anyway, when you ally with mad allies, sooner or later, you understand how different you are from them.

I came across this rabid assesment of the situation from Ssempa and Male. Please, hold in the laughter until the end. These guys are very, very serious.

Two outspoken Evengelical pastors, Solomon Male and Martin Sempa have come out strongly against the pressure from the western world on Uganda over the proposed anti-homosexuality bill.

Appearing on the Sanyu FM breakfast show this morning, Monday Dec. 21, 2009, Male said the claims that homosexuality is an innate, inborn trait, is false and said he has counseled homosexuals who later turned to a normal sexual tendency.

Asked by co-host Fatboy why a few pastors and other clergymen in Uganda were holding out when even some conservative pastors like Rick Warren of the United States have expressed their opposition to the death penalty for homosexuality in Uganda, Male said this was a sign that some pastors were compromising with the world order.

Martin Sempa, speaking to Sanyu FM on phone said: "There's a widening shift between the western church and the African church. Just last week in Rick Waren's area, they ordained a lesbian as a bishop, Mary Glasspore. Rick Warren has not seen at all to make a statement about that. You know, the Anglican church broke away from fellowship with the western Anglican church. So there is increasing denial of the authenticity of the word of God, decisions are made based on emotion."

Solomon Male is one of the friends of Ssempa who are determined to kick homosexuality out of Uganda. Me, my interest is to fan the flames into a full fledged blow. They were on the same side in the Pastor Wars; the local version. They are allies in the International Version.

 Well, to the food for thought. What do you think Rick Warren is thinking?

Another gay man, American I think, examines this thing and comes to some thoughtful conclusions. Wake up..!

You don’t have to go far to find examples of our opponents subtly (and sometimes not so subtly) invoking pedophilia and child molestation when they’re asked about homosexuality.  But you’d be hard pressed to find a more explicit, concise and complete conflation of the two distinct subjects than in this letter from Uganda’s Martin Ssempa to Rick Warren about Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill.  There are precious few paragraphs that do not explicitly misdescribe the bill’s goal in terms of protecting children from rape, and those few fill the gap by repeated use of the word “evil” to describe gays.

----

I am glad Warren has now taken a firm stand against the criminalization of adult, voluntary same-sex relations.  He will find, if he takes the time to think about it, that it needs no great leap of logic to see that a love that should not be criminalized might also be worth recognizing – at least if you think committed love is a socially good thing.

But the bigger issue for Warren, I think, is to look hard at the tactics and intent of the people who cite him for his anti-gay support.  Warren has distanced himself from Ssempa, but why does Ssempa believe Warren should be at his side?  Can he see, in Martin Ssempa, a little bit of what it is we have to fight every day of our lives?  I can only hope Warren will understand us a little better now that he, too, is the object of one of our ruthless, amoral enemies.

 Ssempa is indeed a ruthless, and amoral enemy. All in the name of God, of course.

Solomon Male is of the same ilk. But, Male's charisma and, shall I say education, limit him. But, he might be worse than Ssempa in his ruthlessness.

Another Christian examines the meaning of all this. I cant say am any sort of expert on the Christian scene in the west, but, I do know that the sort of soul searching that this thing has caused in the west is well worth it. The kind of, know your friends, the shock, the sight of reality. As we see it from this side of the pond, especially. A rude awakening.

What could cause these Ugandan Pastor’s to believe they were wronged by Warren…to the point they now ask him to apologize? Could it be they misunderstood Warren’s PDP?. It sounds as though they got the impression that extreme legislation needed to be enacted to combat the sin of homosexuality. Either Warren has a secret agenda to imprison or kill all homosexuals (which I don’t believe) or somehow they misunderstood..

Frankly I’m deeply troubled by ministries like Warren’s, going into countries like Uganda and spreading their false doctrines. These countries [like Rwanda and Uganda] have enough problems. They don’t need the Purpose Driven Program, or US political figures from the group ‘The Family’ carrying in dominionist teachings. What they need, as do we, is Jesus Christ.

Well, a wake up call indeed.

Pardon me, but, I am strongly reminded of another preacher of a radical brand of religion. Or preachers. Osama bin Laden, Al Quaeda, and the Talibans. You are either with them, or against. No middle ground.

But, it is highly likely that being gay, my mental faculties are at fault here. But, but, radical fundamentalist Christian preachers anywhere? They do exist. Check Martin Ssempa, Solomon Male (incidentally, the accent is on the l to make it strong. Not like the masculine half of a specie...)

Eh, will post this in the morning. Good morning to you all!

gug

The two Churches

Forgive my bad poetry.

It was ‘inspired’ by this article. I have always known of the Episcopal Church’s position on gay people.

I heard when Gene Robinson was made a Bishop, and of course, the brouhaha in the Anglican Communion which followed that. I didn’t know that the ‘Episcopal’ Church was part of the Anglican Communion, but I was adequately schooled by the rise of Akinola, and of course my country mate Orombi.

I was ‘born’ into the Church of Uganda, and once upon a time flirted with the Pentecostals. Before I came to my ‘current persuasion’. Maybe it is fair to say I have no faith, at the moment, but I continue to be very interested in matters of faith. My lover is a staunch Catholic. At least he was, till my lack of faith, (and homophobic pronouncements from the Holy See), shook him. I have many kuchu friends who believe deeply. Strongly. I support them. My lack of faith is a personal conviction. Why should I force it onto others? One can say an atheist is a believer. Of course it is true, though the atheist’s faith is the belief in the lack of a god. But that is digressing.
I was reasonably schooled in the Christian faith, and still love the teachings of Jesus. About love, practical love. And other things.

Anyway, in the same Church, or, as they call it, Body of Christ, one part, calling themselves conservatives have come out with a virulent, tough position with regards to people of my sexuality. They affirm that it is not natural, not normal, not scriptural. They have been militant, to the point of threatening to tear apart the Communion of the body, to usher in a new Reformation, because of differences in issues about my sexuality.

Orombi of the Church of Uganda is a particular leader in that. Martin Ssempa is another leader. He is rabid, in comparison to Orombi. Martin has instituted a gay witch-hunt within the Church, and within the country, using his considerable charisma and political acumen. He has been very successful recently, though his obsession with homosexuality pre-dates this years’ events. He is currently forging alliances with Moslems, other Christian groups, to fight homosexuality within the country. Stated aim is to ‘Kick Homosexuality out of Uganda’. Lofty ideal indeed.

Contrast this with what is happening in America.

I am quite aware of the fact that homosexuals were persecuted in America, and Europe. I am aware of the Nazi concentration camps, the Stonewall riots in ’69. What most Ugandans (and Africans) believe is that it has always been ok for homosexuals in the west. So they term it a ‘Western evil’.

Fast forward to now, in the US, a country where homosexuals were zapped with electricity in an effort to reboot our sexuality and make us heterosexuals, where they were hunted because of being security risks, part of the body of Christ is coming out and saying, enough is enough.

They acknowledged that, we are human beings. They acknowledged that we are natural, normal.

It is thrilling to understand that they accept that we are as fully Children of God as they are, despite the apparent ‘scriptural’ contradictions, which the conservatives bible-bash us with. The evolution of this thought has taken time, but it has come quietly, consistently, and strongly. With a certain grim inevitability.

When Gene Robinson was elected Bishop, the rest of the Anglican communion went mad. They couldn’t believe what had happened with their American brothers. From what I read, the Americans were taken aback. They didn’t expect that this kind of thing would happen. They were forced to go slow, in their acknowledgement of us as members of the body of Christ, despite our differences.

The conservatives have nearly split the church. Matter of fact, seems they went all the way but. They leaned back, at the last moment. These are momentous times. Funny that I have been following that friction on this very blog.

The ‘progressives’, despite the fact that they had been told to go slow for the sake of the whole communion, held on, for long enough. But they have taken the next step. Bravely, succinctly, knowing the problems. They are adamant in what they believe.

They believe that us homosexuals are also children of God.

What a challenge! What a testimony!

The part I liked best in this article is why they have taken the extraordinary step, in spite, and despite the opposition from their brethren. To quote, “they felt compelled to act because of their pastoral responsibility to gay couples who were increasingly coming forward to ask the church to bless their unions. Many also said they saw it as a simple matter of granting equal rights to gay men and lesbians.”

Once they took the step to accept us into the body of Christ, they saw the logical extension of that. We are as human as they are. Not second class citizens or believers. So, when we ask for what the rest of the children of God are receiving, what logic is their in denying us the blessings of God?

A related article with an interesting analysis is here.

Hey, you wondering what they did? Here it is "the church voted to open the door to ordaining openly gay bishops. And on Thursday the bishops voted to start the process of developing rites for blessing same-sex marriages, and to give the green light to bishops who are already doing so.

Hallelujah!

gayuganda

Orombi's fight

Episcopal leaders vote to lift ban on gay bishops

The church may move to sanction blessings for same-sex couples as well, further alienating conservative parishes.

By Duke Helfand

July 15, 2009

The Episcopal Church, casting aside warnings about further alienating conservatives within its ranks, on Tuesday lifted a de facto ban on the ordination of gay bishops and is continuing to weigh a measure that would sanction blessings for same-sex couples.

Bishops, clergy and lay leaders voted overwhelmingly at the denomination's General Convention in Anaheim to open "any ordained ministry" to gays and lesbians.

The liberalized policy represents a reversal from guidelines adopted by the church at its last convention in 2006 that effectively prohibited the consecration of bishops whose "manner of life" would strain relations with the 77-million member Anglican Communion. The Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch of the communion.

The new approach is likely to deepen theological fissures that led some traditionalist Episcopal congregations and dioceses last month to form a rival church. And it is almost certain to trigger a backlash among conservative Anglican leaders who have urged the U.S. church to refrain from relaxing ordination and marriage standards.

But progressives in the 2.1-million member denomination said the move toward inclusion reflects the reality of a church that is home to many partnered gays and lesbians who belong to parishes that encourage their involvement and already bless their unions.

"Being an Episcopalian means you can disagree and still worship together," said the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles. "We're going to leave the door open for all those who disagree with us to find a place here and peace here."

Tensions have been mounting since 2003, when a partnered gay priest, V. Gene Robinson, was consecrated as bishop of New Hampshire. Several conservative Anglican leaders, especially in Africa, cut ties to the U.S. church after his election.

The spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, had expressed apprehension during a brief visit to the conference last week about decisions "that could push us further apart."

On Tuesday, an elated Robinson celebrated the lopsided vote in the church's two legislative bodies -- the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies, composed of clergy and laity.

"I'm simply delighted at the possibility that another diocese will recognize the gifts of a gay or lesbian clergy person," he said. "I long for the day when someone who shares my experience as an openly gay bishop joins me in the House of Bishops. It has been lonely."

But a bishop who left the church last year predicted that the decisions made in Anaheim would increase strains with disaffected conservatives.

"Clearly the activists have done a good job promoting their agenda," said the Rt. Rev. Martyn Minns, a founding bishop of the newly formed Anglican Church in North America, which hopes to gain recognition from the Anglican Communion as a rival province to the Episcopal Church.

"The generosity shown by the rest of the communion has been astonishing and has been thrown back in their face," Minns said. "There will have to be a renegotiation of how the Episcopal Church fits into the family."

The measure to consecrate gay bishops won the support of more than two-thirds of the denomination's two legislative houses. The church's presiding bishop, the Most. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, also supported it.

The resolution seeks to reassure Anglican leaders about the U.S. church's loyalty, saying that the convention reaffirms its "abiding commitment" and financial support for the communion.

But the measure also affirms that "God has called" gays and lesbians in partnered relationships to "any ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church," adding that the call "is a mystery which the church attempts to discern for all people."

Church leaders said the new policy does not repeal the 3-year-old moratorium but instead calls for Episcopal officials to abide by church canons, which prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Debate on a separate measure concerning blessings for same-sex unions is expected today in the House of Bishops, which postponed a vote Tuesday after members asked for more time to discuss the issue.

The measure would allow bishops to "provide generous pastoral response" to gay and lesbian couples, but it would not require those who object to deliver the blessings. Several bishops and lay leaders said they expected a compromise that would permit blessings.

The Rev. Susan Russell, president of Integrity USA, a group that represents gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the church, said the Anaheim convention would send a message to the global communion that the church is "committed to both honesty and unity."

But Russell acknowledged the potential for continued conflict.

"There are absolutely challenges," she said. "There is no attempting to skirt the fact that what we are doing is stepping beyond where many in the communion would prefer we go."

Poor Christians

Once upon a time I was a Christian. Then I saw the light…

Yes, it is Christian bashing time, for me. I am not going to rail against all Christians. But against some. (Let me say I do respect the likes of Bolton…! and his lesson to me still holds, at least for now).

Why Christians? Because they wrap themselves in so called love. Love is the reason that they hunt, and hurt and persecute me. Because I am, you guessed, a homosexual.

There is that excellent chapter of Jesus railing against the Pharisees. He was pissed, and it was a major rant, in Mark’s Gospel. Funny that of all things I remember reading in the bible, that is the one that comes to mind, when I think about the Christians in Uganda.

Christians?

Oh, yes. There is Orombi of the Church of Uganda. To him I am filth unspeakable. For that reason, he has broken with Canterbury, in a way, and broken the Anglican Communion. Of course it is his right, who he associates with, etc. What I don’t like him using my sexuality as the ‘stumbling block.’ He says he is a Christian. And my sexuality is a sin.

Then there is Ssempa. Pastor, and the other pastors in Uganda. Again they say they love me. (At least Orombi does not dissemble so!) They love me so much that they would like to convert me to Christianity. And they ‘hate’ my sin, the sin above all sins. My sexuality.

So, as good Christians, they have gone ahead and got some converts from homosexuality. They have convinced the country on how bad us homosexuals are. And they are going out, outing us. All in the name of Jesus.

They hold press conferences. They hold rallies. They hold church meetings where we are held up to ridicule in the name of love. They are now outing us, all in the great name of Jesus. ((Bet that gentleman is turning in his grave somewhere.)

Because we are gay, homosexual, these pure angels on earth believe it is okay for us to be accused of everything under the earth. From rape, defiling children, ‘recruitment’ etc. They are stirring up the populace in their crusade. And Crusade it is indeed. They have formed the ‘homosexual agenda’ and intimate that we homosexuals are out to turn the world upside down. Demanding our rights.

Whatever it is, we seem to have done it. Nothing is too low for them to do in the name of pulling us down. We, of course, must be against them. We, of course, must be evil, and bad. All in the name of Jesus. (Sorry, Christians who are gay!)

A witch hunt is not a witch hunt, because it is happening in the name of Jesus. A witch hunt is a Crusade, when it happens in Jesus’ name. Lies can be told, flimsy evidence used to ‘out’ those doctors, lawyers, priests etc who are gay. All in the name of Jesus.

Sigh….!

Any wonder I feel like a rant?

What is it to them if I lose my job, are thrown out of my clan, my tribe, my family, if it all happens in the name of Jesus? What is it to them if I cannot feed my dependants? It is in the name of Jesus.

Funny, I can no longer feel the same rippling anger that I used to.

Yes, they call themselves Christians. They can never be ‘Christ-like’. To them it is a garment that they pull around themselves. It is the white clothes on Sunday covering the filth of heart on most other days of the week.

Poor Christians, Indeed!

How Christ is served, without witness!



gug

Blessed are the...Persecutors?

By Craig Young - 24th January 2009

Gay US Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson was a speaker at Obama's inauguration last week. However, as a whole, global Anglicanism is still a communion in crisis.

While most of New Zealand Anglicanism is sane and liberal, the same cannot be said for Uganda and Nigeria.

However, Ugandan Anglicans aren't all vile fundamentalists. Former Ugandan Anglican Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo describes gay people as 'oppressed and marginalised.' This straight grandfather has seven children of his own, but he became chair of Integrity Uganda, which supports the rights and human dignity of Ugandan lesbians and gay men. Banned from Ugandan Anglican churches by current Archbishop Henry Orombi, Ssenyonjo has started the Charismatic Church of Uganda as an inclusive alternative. He comes strongly recommended by the saintly former South African Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, himself a strong voice for reason, compassion and inclusion.

Orombi has joined with other social conservative fundamentalist Christians, Muslims and Bahai in an (ironically named) "Interfaith Rainbow Coalition Against Homosexuality." This outfit harrasses progay journalists, and unfortunately has the support of current Ugandan fundamentalist President Yoweri Museveni, scurrilous Ugandan tabloid Red Pepper, and Cabinet "Minister for Ethics and Integrity" James Butero, also known for trying to ban miniskirts and a belief that decriminalising homosexuality would lead to sex with animals.

Fortunately, though, Ugandan journalists are known to criticise this perspective and continue to take risks and support media freedom in this context. The Sexual Minorities Uganda Group speaks up for the rights of Ugandan lesbians and gay men, and Silvia Tamale, a noted Ugandan feminist legal scholar, has published Homosexuality: Perspectives from Uganda (2007) to provide an alternative perspective to fundamentalist hijackers of the Ugandan "Anglican" Church.

Rick Warren?

Uh, I was just wondering, would I laud Ssempa giving the blessing at the inauguration of the President of Uganda?

No. Of course not.

But, and of course, Orombi would feature. As would many other many non-gay friendly priests and priestesses. Obama has invited Rick Warren. And the gay people of America are not amused.

Joe Solomnese, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, has sent a blistering letter to President-elect Obama, accusing him of delivering a "genuine blow" to the gay community in choosing Rev. Rick Warren to give the formal invocation at next month's inauguration.

"Let me get right to the point. Your invitation to Reverend Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at your inauguration is a genuine blow to LGBT Americans. Our loss in California over the passage of Proposition 8 which stripped loving, committed same-sex couples of their given legal right to marry is the greatest loss our community has faced in 40 years. And by inviting Rick Warren to your inauguration, you have tarnished the view that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans have a place at your table.



Rick Warren has not sat on the sidelines in the fight for basic equality and fairness. In fact, Rev. Warren spoke out vocally in support of Prop 8 in California saying, "there is no need to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2 percent of our population ... This is not a political issue -- it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about." Furthermore, he continues to misrepresent marriage equality as silencing his religious views. This was a lie during the battle over Proposition 8, and it's a lie today."

A cheeky thought came to mind. How would Orombi think of me , gayuganda, standing on the podium with him and his excellency during the swearing in? He would most likely be apopletic too! Errr, and I would also reason that it is my right as a Ugandan.

Sigh. It is all a matter of imagery and the meanings we decide to cloud our minds with. Should Rick Warren be 'officially' invited or not? It matters to me, of course. Cause I am gay. But to a pragmatist politician like Obama, how much does it?

gug

UPDATE
Huh comrade 27th. Seen your comment vis a vis the rights of the atheist. Very funny!

No wonder I am not a politician. I would never ever be able to satisfy each and everyone. I have just seen this, seems like Obama is determined to balance the act, as well as is actually possible. Check out this. The person who will give the 'benediction' [something like the closing prayer] is this one.

The Rev. Joseph Lowery, 87, is best known as a civil rights icon and co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He also comes from a liberal Christian mainline religious tradition, the United Methodist Church.

In 2000, Lowery, gave what was described as an electrifying speech calling for gay clergy, to the dinner during the general convention of the United Methodist Church, the nation's second largest Protestant denomination.

Anti-gay bishops meet in Mukono

Tuesday, 30th September, 2008

By Ganzi Muhanguzi

A TOTAL of 39 bishops, are in the country to defend the Global Anglican Future Conference Movement (GAFCON).

GAFCON is a clergy movement against homosexuality in the Church.

Archbishop Nicholas Okoh from Nigeria, who is also the chairman of the GAFCON Theological Resource Group, said the misrepresentation of Christ and his nature is a threat to the Church.
“The controversy about who Jesus is, almost crippled the Church some time back,” he said.
He urged Christians to follow the Bible and reject popular distortions.
The group is meeting at Uganda Christian University, Mukono.
Uganda’s Archbishop,s Henry Luke Orombi, in August, declared the next 10 years, a decade of mission, urging the Anglican churches to spread the gospel.

Currently in the Anglican Church, the liberal Anglicans, led by Canterbury are in favour of homosexuality, while conservatives, led by Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria are opposed to the move.

Akonola’s group is threatening a break in communion if the Canterbury does not retract their stand.

The Meeting, which ends today, attracted clergy from USA, UK, Australia, South India, South Africa, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda.

In the name of God.

Saw this at SGL's Universe, and I was not amused. I know Ssempa, and Orombi in Uganda preach the same kind of gospel, but wow! Kind of hits one in the face how much freedom to hate a person can claim in the name of religion.

A few names immediately spring to mind. Osama bin Laden being the most notorious one.

Just wonder whether this is where my poor country is headed.

Here is the article.

Australian bumper sticker threatens gays with death

"Gay Rights? Under God's law the only rights gays have is the right to die." Lev 20:13

Did I hear you ask where Ssempa preaches the same gospel? Well, I will spring the quote.

"Our previous experience showed us that bringing homosexuals into campaigns against HIV only gives them a chance to propagate their illegal and unnatural acts."

From the Monitor.

In my book, thinking that I should get HIV in the name of your morality is not very far from thinking I should die, in the name of your morality. Sick Christians.

A prayer for those who hate me in the name of religion; May their gods help them. I as a homosexual have proven resilient over the years.

------

Is that reaction, err, too hate filled?

Bitter, defiant, in your face. And of course the all out challenge to Christians.

Reminds me of what I used to be. Bitter, angry, and lashing out at any chance I got. At Christians, and Christianity.

Anger has its purposes. Ingrained as homophobia can be, we learn to hate ourselves for what we are. The anger helps us to seize control of the moral upper ground. Even when it is not based on accurate facts. Helps to kind of flush out the venom.

But anger is not something to use so liberally. It corrodes and corrupts one's being.

Actually, those poor Christians, Ssempa, and the guy who believes my only right is to be stoned because I am gay, well, they are to be pitied.

They are in a house full of treasures. And their eyes are so closed to it that they can genuinely see none of the good things of love that that house has.

Poor Ssempa. And Orombi, and Nsaba Buturo. And of course, the sheep that follow them; Kimbowa, and all the others. Poor christians.

GayUganda

Response, Letter to The President

Dear Sir,

First, I would like to thank you for your inspirational leadership of our beloved country Uganda.

I am personally disappointed in your support for the Church of Uganda’s crusade against homosexuality. That is because I am a homosexual myself. A gay Ugandan.

No. I am not a foreigner.

I am not white. Actually, my beloved dad used to infuriate me by making me cram my genealogy back ten generations of pure bred Africans.

You described us as ‘stupid’, demanded that those foreigners who are forcing this culture on us Ugandans should go and practice their nonsense elsewhere. You intimated that we are not in order, us homosexuals.

Now, dear beloved leader, you are the elected president of all Ugandans. Not just the good Ugandans, as you describe them. You are the president of all of us Ugandans. Even, homosexual Ugandans. We know, by the constitution of the country, that you are our president.

It hurts us, a lot, to find that you, our leader, rejects us so soundly. Saying that we are foreign puzzles us. We are Ugandans. Through and through. Why do you call us foreigners, just because we are homosexual?

As for saying that homosexuality is not African, I would call upon the authority of no less a person than Archbishop Orombi, and anti-gay Pastor Ssempa. From their mouths you will believe the fact that homosexuality was here in Uganda, even before the coming of the Christian religion. So, if homosexual Ugandans were here in Uganda before Christianity, why are Christians insisting we homosexuals cannot be Ugandan?

When you say that we are sick, I would advise you to actually ask medical doctors whether in truth we are. To my knowledge, doctors concluded as far back as 1994, when you were president of the country, that we homosexuals are not sick or deranged, as you were quoted saying in the newspaper article.

Now, dear sir, when Archbishop Orombi rails against me, I can keep quiet. His religion is an option. I may choose to leave. Since his god does not love me, and rejects me.

But I am a Ugandan. To be assailed by your Excellency so badly, in support of a religion which bashes me as bad is very hurtful.

I can say I am not a Christian. According to the Archbishop, I am too much of a sinner to be that. I can also opt out of Islam. According to the Mufti, I should be marooned on an island in Lake Victoria till I die.

But sir, I cannot stop myself from being Ugandan.

I am a Ugandan. A simple, common, Ugandan.

I have the same problems of poverty, and corruption and others, just like all other Ugandans. We homosexuals are a minority which will never be a majority.

For the beloved leader of my country to deny my birthright as a Ugandan, and demonise me, just because I am homosexual is something which hurts me a lot. For His Excellency the President, despite the wealth of advice that is at his hands, to do this from ignorance of what homosexuality is, that, again, is deeply disturbing.

Sir, I am gay, and Ugandan. I may not be a Moslem. I may not be a Christian. But I do assert that I am a Ugandan.

You, sir, cannot reject me, because I am a Ugandan. I cannot reject my birthright, nor deny it. I am a Ugandan who is gay. And I am happy that I know that there is no problem with that.

I would like to invite your Excellency to study a little bit about homosexuality, so that you are not led in error by religious leaders’ condemnation of us as human beings.

We are deeply hurt by all that they say, but are more hurt when our country rejects us for what we are, and when our country mates do so. We are hurt when our beloved President does the same, just to help the very strong church in its moral crusade. We accept that we may not be good enough to be in the church or mosque. But if we are denied our birthright as Ugandans, that is more hurtful, more galling.

Please your Excellency, do not bash us like so, and out of ignorance. We are just a bit different. Homosexual, yes; Gay, yes, but we are still Ugandans.

Yours sincerely,

A Gay Ugandan

GayUganda

No Rest for Us Wicked

Museveni backs church against gays
Sunday, 17th August, 2008

By Milton Olupot and Daniel Edyegu

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has praised Anglican bishops for resisting homosexuality.

“I salute the Archbishop and bishops of Africa for resisting disorientation and a decadent culture, which he said was being passed by Western nations.”

Describing homosexuality as mtumbavu (Swahili for stupid), the President said: “Don’t fear, resist and do not compromise on that. It is a danger not only to the believers but to the whole of Africa. It is bad if our children become complacent and think that people who are not in order are alright.”

Museveni was speaking yesterday as chief guest at the consecration of the Rev. Canon Patrick Gidudu, as the seventh bishop of Mbale Diocese, at St Andrew’s Cathedral. “These foreigners should go and practice their nonsense elsewhere. That is the minimum demand.”
--

Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, who presided over the consecration, is spearheading a global protest against homosexuality.

He thanked the Government for its support. “The Anglican Church is facing significant challenges but I would like to assure you that the church is steady,” he said.

“
and the rest is politics as usual…

Slow day.

True, a slow day for me. Much to do, the roll to do it is just not there. Duhhhh.

The day itself is dull and windy. And cold. So cold that I need to put on something warm. Clouds, and the roll of thunder in the distance. Cheer up. This is Uganda. Will not be surprised if it is blazing hot in a couple of hours.

Someone has dared to challenge the Church in Uganda.

Well, as recently as yesterday I was betting with myself that it is impossible. Crude memory, mine. I should have remembered Kevin O’Connor’s article in one Sunday Monitor. But it did not register much with me. Reason? Kevin’s white.

Amazing. (and not so amazing) A racist ting to my thinking.

Oh, well. Its true, guilty as charged. I did not consider that article very significant because the defender was a white man!!!!! Sorry Kevin. You know how it is.

Some excerpts from Kevin's article.

Internal Anglican politics have no interest for me. But what does interest me is that busy Orombi should be worrying so much about what is happening in faraway USA, spending days on something irrelevant for Uganda in Jerusalem, when he should be giving priority to his domestic agenda.

And surely topmost in that agenda is the corruption that is here, there and everywhere in our country. Whether it be the Global Fund, GAVI, junk choppers, Butabika Hospital land, ghost soldiers, ghost teachers, potholes, CHOGM cars, and much, much more – it happens in Uganda. We seem to have just about every form of corruption except ghost ghosts.

But, who knows, perhaps next year there will be a Sebutinde Ghost Ghosts Commission.

Now that someone else has dared to take on the church, I am perking up my head with interest.

Some excerpts.

"But what is this obsession about sex among the Anglicans?

But is life only about homosexuality, and women priests?

However, there is a feeling that humankind is not really bothered by many of the issues that are rocking the Anglican church. They are actually more concerned about things like how and where to get their next meal.

In Zimbabwe, for instance, it’s how and when President Mugabe will leave power that is their major concern, not gayism or women bishops. In Uganda, issues of major concern include President Museveni’s interest to stand as president in the 2011 elections, the LRA war, mile akenda, biting poverty and school fires!

For instance in Uganda where there is chronic corruption, what has the church as proof of their disapproval of what is going on? I thought corruption is a vice that condemned by the Bible (see Thou Shall Not Steal)! Are some sins considered heavier than others? Is homosexuality more of a sin than stealing?

A sin is a sin in God’s eyes? For example, why don’t African church leaders boycott or stop swearing-in of politicians to office, never mind whether such politicians are corrupt or unfaithful to their spouses?

In my view, church leaders should not be selective - they should condemn all vices whether at home otherwise with a passion - they shouldn’t ignore some issues and harp on others. Secondly, why should the Anglican Church face a possible schism over homosexuality and women bishops?

Can’t there be another way out of the impasse, apart from breaking up?"

Brave man, Mr Kalumba.

Aha! Of course he is going to be accused of being gay. One guy amused me. He wrote sometime ago in the New Vision a satirical piece about the need to include gay people in HIV programmes. He was arguing that disease is disease, and we have to fight disease because it is disease. And, as a conclusion, he reminded his audience that he is a married man- that is, on defence against the attack that he is a homo!

Kalumba of course will be attacked. But he is very brave. And you know what, I am no Christian, and, from the theoretical point I say I understand the politics of Orombi and Akinola in the church. But I also wonder, the questions he asks of the church are very pertinent. Why the hell dont other Ugandans ask them?

Why is my sexuality so important with all the other multiplicity of 'sins' that the religious can focus on? Is it because they see me as defenceless?

Clouding thoughts. For a cloudy day.

GayUganda

Jokes, Jokes!

I have been having a laugh at the expense of Nsaba Buturo and Orombi. Apparently, some gay Americans did not know that they were held in such esteem. So a reading of ‘the view from Uganda’ elicited some tremendous comments.

Hold a hand to your ribs, and here, get on to enjoying yourself!

GayUganda

Evening.

I’m seated, laptop within reach. He is preparing a meal.

A beautiful Kampala evening. Cool. Sun has dropped over the horizon. The air is still and calm, and the trees are barely stirring in a breeze from the lake.

A beep. Interruption. Someone trying his luck. Ok, we had a fling, and was interrupted, and he is not on the horizon now, but still wants in. I am married.

More interruptions.

He came to sit near me, and wanted to read over my shoulder. Bad idea. Too jealousy to consider telling him that I do have some lovers who are persistent! Then the blip of a virus- ok, enough to make me not want to write.

But I can still write.

Has been a beautiful day. No electricity for 12 hours. Don’t know whether it was a scheduled blackout or it wasn’t. But last night there was no electricity for most of the night, so, more likely an unscheduled black out. Computer battery went off. So I had to occupy myself otherwise, but have ended up doing a lot of miscellaneous work. Till he came back and interfered…

Sun is quite gone. The darkness is a wave, enveloping all before it. But it is a sweet, soft wave. The crickets singing in the background, night sounds. The sounds of children, preparing for supper.

Ok, too many interruptions. That was to close the windows. Mosquitoes galore, to be closed out. But they always come in. Mosquito nets work well, when a lover is in the bed.

The mood is quite broken, so I will have to lap to other things. Sigh!!!!!

A laughing point. Orombi, his excellency of the Church of Uganda has been lauded for his fight by the President of the country, and one of the ministers has promised him bodyguards at his request against us ugly, angry gays, errrrr… homosexuals. ‘Archbishop Orombi has a right to ask for security from the government is if he feels that his life is in danger.’

And the kuchus, they are quite convinced, rumour hot off the mill, that the government is prepared to kill them through their doctors and health centres. So, a red alert. Beware who treats you!

I wish this was a novel. Then I would be happy that I am writing fiction, instead of real life stories.

So are we in danger? How the hell would I know?

There enough zealots on both sides of the divide. Maybe I should ask the government for protection, but Minister Nsaba-Buturo may not take that request kindly. After all, I am a homosexual! Good riddance, when I suffer the consequences of my sexuality, isnt that what the good Christian archbishop said at the Press conference in Jerusalem?

A good nice evening to you all!


GayUganda

How far will they go? Some articles

God will protect Orombi against gays’

Robert Muhereza

Kabale

The State Minister for Ethics and Integrity Dr James Nsaba Buturo has said priests like the Achbishop of the Church of Uganda Luke Orombi who are opposed to gays should not get intimidated because God will protect them.

Dr Buturo told journalists on Friday in Kabale town said there is no need to beef up security for anti-gay activists in Uganda because God is protecting them.

“It’s true gays are rough people but men of God should not fear their intimidation. Ugandans should strengthen their mobilisation against the gay movement because the government is also committed to support them,” he said.
He however said Archbishop Orombi has a right to ask for security from the government is if he feels that his life is in danger. Recently, Archbishop Orombi said that gays were planning to harm him.

Dr Buturo hailed the Church of Uganda for its stand against homosexuality and promised that the government will soon put in place mechanisms to fight individuals who want to turn the order of nature upside down.

“We hear that some students in our schools have been lured into homosexuality. I appeal to the investigative arms of the government to quickly compile reports of such students and their schools so that tough action is taken against them,” he said.

‘Museveni lauds Ugandans on anti-gay stand

Monday, 14th July, 2008

By Raymond Baguma

The purpose of life is to have a family for propagation of the human race, President Yoweri Museveni has said.

The President made the remarks on Saturday during the giveaway ceremony of Eureka Kyobutungi, daughter of Elly Karuhanga, who was betrothed to Wesley Musinga Nyakabwa.

According to a State House press statement, Museveni commended Ugandans for rejecting homosexuality.

He advised them to distance themselves from negative foreign cultures.

Museveni noted that the issue of having spinsters and bachelors was quite alien to Ugandan traditions.

The Ankole North diocese bishop, John Muhanguzi, said marriage was established by God and urged couples to be tolerant to each other.

The Church and Homophobia

Nowadays, in Uganda, sermons in mosque and church, Anglican and Catholic usually talk about homosexuality. We are painted stupid, ugly, bad, killer, un-african, evil, and all sorts of things. Anyone who defends us comes out as bad, simply because they have defended us. Why is this so?

With Ssempa, I sincerely believe that the problem is repressed sexuality. From a lot of things that he says, it is quite clear that the guy has a problem with sex. From thinking that masturbation is evil (one of the worst), to abstinence campaigning and crowning homosexuality with evil. He is obsessed with homosexuality. Too obsessed for him to be free of it. Poor guy.

But the Anglican church?

There is an atmosphere of siege in the kuchu community here. With so many problems in our lives, we cannot understand why our sexuality has become such a huge issue. Politics? The African princes trying their best to take over, a coup within the church?

They tried, and failed. Or I think they did.

But we are paying the price. The new scapegoat for all the ills of society.

Its frustrating, but a real price. The bill in Nigeria which Akinola gave his blessing was so harsh it would have made it a crime for three ‘homosexuals’ to meet and talk. The erosion of their human rights, in Akinola’s view, was ok. Because they were homosexuals. Less than humans. So it was ok to let the legal might of the state be concerned with these iniquitous beings.

Now from our Church of Uganda's Orombi.

I knew that he was one of the schismatic leaders. But I had not heard this level of rhetoric from him. Even when we came out last year in August, I know that that Sunday, most Pentecostal and Anglican and Catholic churches preached about homosexuality. But I didn’t hear of him expressly talking about homosexuals. But he did have quite a number of surrogates. The guys who had us thrown out of the People’s Space at the Commonwealth Meeting. They were some of his bishops. With the muscle power of Ssempa’s Brown Shirts. That was the moment I did understand that these guys hated, simply, and virulently. And I was afraid.

Let me examine some of the points I have against the anti-gay church people in Uganda.

I simply cannot dialogue with the Moslems. The Mufti proposed a concentration camp: marooned and exiled on an island in Lake Victoria. He said it three times, just to make sure that we understood him. Yes we did. No dialogue there.

The Catholics?

Funny thing is that, despite the fact that they are known to be anti-gay, in Uganda the Catholics have not had much beef in fueling the homophobia to current levels. They are opposed. That is known, but they do not need to go out and prove how anti-gay they are.

The anti-gay Anglicans. And the Pentecostals, with Ssempa’s lead. Those are the forces of homophobia in Uganda. They are determined to so tar us with evil that they are going out of their way to paint us devils. Catholics are moderates in this account of wolves.

When one of their number (Anglicans), Bishop Ssenyonjo dared to demur, he was defrocked, and later excommunicated.

Yet these guys have consistently made sure that they do not reach us, that they do not talk to us, that we are pariahs to them. There is no dialogue.

So, they have used this hate to for their political needs. They want to ‘lead’ the church. Whatever. But in their strategy plan is making us evil in the sight of all and sundry.

They started with labeling us un-African. Till we reminded them of those ancestors of ours who were gay and African. And the fact that homosexuality in Africa predated Christianity.

Then they have gone out of their way to prove how bad, how evil we are. They hold a huge audience. Our people, in their poverty, do cling to religion. The church and mosque are huge factors in their lives. Thanks be that most of them believe in traditional faiths besides the ‘official’ beliefs.

But when week after week, in pulpits from minarets to church, homosexuality is held out as the modern day evil of all evils, there is bound to be a reaction from the populace. In Uganda, there is no dialogue on sexuality. There is a monologue from the church about the evils of our sexuality. And believe me, people are beginning to believe it. After all, who dares to come out and say they are homosexuals in Uganda?

So, according to the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, homosexuals ‘want to kill him’’ I don’t wear my collar when I am in countries which have supporters of homosexuals’

‘They can harm anybody who is against them. Some of them are killers. They want to close the mouth of anybody who is against them’

The accusations from the prelate are many. We, homosexuals, are killers, murderers. We want his scalp. We want him silenced. We are in 'outside' countries, and not in Uganda. And we are offering wealth to convert the children. And the brave holy church is going to be out there to protect the poor defenceless Africans.

Besides the untruths which are in these statements, and the need that he feels to justify his leadership of the Anglicans, the fact is that he is whipping up hatred towards gay people in Uganda.

He is a very important person. And he is a ‘spiritual’ leader. And when he feels that he needs to create a scapegoat that is defenceless and abhorred by the populace, it is very easy, and very sharp of him to choose homosexuals in Uganda. Because our ability to fight back is very, very limited. Our people simply believe that what the pastor says in church is the fact. Is truth. Even I, am anonymous. Only in cyber do I have a measure of freedom.

So, the church, has chosen to fight us with its tremendous power. We have no option but to fight back.

Ridiculous, but true. And even those of us who say we have no faith cant but realise what a self appointed enemy the church is, against us.

And the church has allied with the state. The president, over and over again has lauded their ‘fight’ against ‘homosexuals. The traditional leaders are joining in the campaign.

Will we survive? How far will they go?

I have no answer to those questions. But I know I am in a fight, an unequal one. Well, they risk reputation, for me it is life, so, who has more to lose? But I sure as hell (is it sure?) need to realise that it is war.

GayUganda

PS. This almost refused to be written. I was too emotional at first, but remembering what is at stake, I could not NOT write it.

On Record, I dont want to Kill the Archbishop of the COU

But he pisses me off.

Gays want to kill me, says Orombi

Wednesday, 9th July, 2008

By Chris Ahimbisibwe

Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi yesterday said he fears for his life because of the campaign he has waged against homosexuals.

“Nowadays, I don’t wear my collar when I am in countries which have supporters of homosexuals,” he said while addressing Christians at Kitunga archdeaconry, West Ankole diocese in Ntungamo district.

“I am forced to dress like a civilian because those people are dangerous. They can harm anybody who is against them. Some of them are killers. They want to close the mouth of anybody who is against them.”

Orombi is among the Anglican archbishops who have led the boycott against the Lambeth Conference, which takes places later this month, over the issue of homosexuality.

The Global Anglican Future Conference, which was held in Jerusalem last month, resolved to form a new movement and broke ties with the authority of Canterbury over the consecration of gay bishops.

Despite the threats, Orombi yesterday continued his anti-gay campaign, asking Christians to pray for him and others who are against homosexuals.

“Homosexuals are agitating that it is a human right. But how can it be a human right for a man to sleep with another man or a woman to marry a woman?” he asked.

“What we need is to wake up and protect our church and children against this practice.”

He argued that God created men and women so that they could have children and fill the world so that the generations could continue. “So where do the homosexuals want to get their children?” he asked.

Orombi noted that homosexuals were trying to take advantage of Africa’s poverty by making donations, building schools and offering scholarships.

“We should not accept any donation that comes our way and has strings attached. Some people have already fallen victims in Uganda and we need to stop it,” the archbishop said.

Bishop Yona Katonene, the bishop of West Ankole diocese, who accompanied the archbishop, said he had received a report that a male teacher in Bushenyi had married a male student.