Some views from across the Continent

Remember the article on an anti-gay demonstration in Takoradi, Ghana that I did post about here? Well, seems the ‘talk’ about gay people in that West African country is taking the usual path. And, a very interesting one at that. Just gotten across a dissection of the whole hypocrisy of being ‘anti-gay’. Good reading.

The recent story of a gathering of gay men at a party in the port city of Takoradi generated a predictable rash of comments dripping with hatred, disgust and condemnation. Whilst many called for the burning, execution, decapitation or stabbing of these ‘vile’ men with their ‘disgusting’ lifestyle, others lamented the decline of Ghanaian culture and the concomitant importation of depraved western cultural values. For good measure, the bible, the Koran and African traditional religion were invoked ad nauseum as justification for the hatred of such men and their bedroom habits. Under no circumstances, it was argued, should the notion of human rights be extended to such persons, because after all, they were sub-human, doing stuff that even animals would not do. Ghanaians are at their most righteous when it comes to the sex lives of others

I love the conclusion. Rather apt….!

An amusing observation in conclusion. Many have called for the death sentence for homosexual conduct-after all the bible considers it an abomination. Fair point. Then some Ghanaian Muslims started calling for sharia law in order to deal with gays and other such ‘deviants’. Under sharia the punishment is the death penalty. You would expect the ‘Christian’ rabble rousers to nod in agreement over a common cause. But puzzlingly, they descended heavily on the Muslims and screamed that Ghana is a secular state. Really? Rather smartly, all the heterosexual adulterers and fornicators ( also abominations in the eyes of the good Lord and punishable by death according to the bible) realised that if Sharia came into being, then they would be stoned and hanged along with the sodomites, hence their outrage and protestations that Ghana is not a theocracy.

What rank hypocrisy. I am no Muslim, but I say recruit the Taleban to bring on sharia and let’s have a stoning party to deal with adultery, pornography, masturbation and sodomy, among other sins. Then let’s see how many Ghanaians--including those doing the stoning-would be left standing

You know the absurd notion that we gay Africans are not really Africans? The author of that article touches on it briefly-

At the coastal secondary school in Ghana I attended in the mid-seventies, homosexual conduct was rampant but latent, and I have no reason to believe it is any less the case now or that this was/is limited to my school. Yet most of those involved had never come into contact with a white man or seen gay pornography. It may very difficult to understand that some men drool over Michael Essien’s naked torso and tight muscles but are completely indifferent over the lovely Beyonce’s shapely figure , but that is a fact of life-. The strict Ghanaian societal expectations of yesteryear simply meant men who had sexual feelings for men were forced to bury them whilst they went through the tortuous and sometimes unhappy ritual of marriage and procreation that was expected of them, and in many instances, led double lives

And, there is this poignant letter from a gay Rwandese.

I am a Rwandan, but I am considered different because of my sexuality.

Growing up, I faced many problems in my social life, being called silly names like (Cyabakobwa and so on), or being mistreated.  This is something that still affects me in my everyday life.

I always wanted to change and be like everyone else, but after a long fight I failed: I never changed.

When I reached puberty, I started being attracted to men instead of women. I am gay.

Many people think that gay Rwandans were influenced by western cultures. This is a big lie and an insult.

I take myself as a living example: I’ve been in contact with Western Culture through the Internet for two years but I knew I was different since I was 12.

Right now, I am in my twenties and nothing has changed. I am still attracted to men. I’ve never told anybody since it would be called a shame and I would be an outcast in my family. It really is not easy; I didn’t choose that, and I wasn’t influenced by anybody.

I know that there are many children out there, many men and women who are in the same situation as myself.

They are misunderstood, humiliated and forced to act against their conscience, like marrying a person they don’t love.

Take heart brother. Life is tough, but, we are still there. Used to moan like so. It is true, life is real tough, being gay, and African. Great that we still are, and are here.

Pastor Dr Martin ‘eat da poo poo’ Ssempa is still going strong. Here he is featuring at a mass wedding in the northern city of Gulu, with some special friends of his.

The stadium was [decorated] with placards reading: No sodomy, No polygamy and No AIDS. Officials from Omega International said sh290m was spent in organising the mass wedding, which they said was one of the biggest so far in the north.

Pastor Martin Ssempa of Makerere Community Church prayed that the couples use their wedding rings as ammunition to fight homosexuality and sodomy in the country.

Imagine, at a mass ‘heterosexual’ wedding ceremony, taking the fight against homosexuality there…. Oh well, we Ugandans seem to have the only real, obsessive anti-gay credentials.

Now, I speak as a realist. And from lots of experience... most of the older gay Africans are in heterosexual marriages..... Hey, life is tough, and survival is not an option.

Just remember, over in Zimbabwe, a couple of activists are being very obviously accused of political offences, while everyone does know that the problem is that they are gay, and out. I didnt blog about the raid on the GALZ offices in Zimbabwe. But it is another feltering boil.

gug

Good News

Ha, got you!

Ok, joke.

But, this is good news, from Rwanda. Uganda, well, we are still watching, waiting, on all your efforts.

The government of Rwanda has come out with a clear statement about NOT criminalising homosexuality. Here is the thing.

The Minister of Justice Tharcisse Karugarama has condemned and refuted reports that government intends to criminalize homosexual acts saying that sexual orientation is a private matter not a state business.

---

“The government I serve and speak for on certain issues cannot and will not in any way criminalize homosexuality; sexual orientation is a private matter and each individual has his or her own orientation - - this is not a State matter at all,” said Karugarama.

May I speculate? Rwanda is more 'sensitive' than Uganda. They have seen the storm happening across the border, and this 'Purpose Driven Nation' would not like to repeat our mistakes.

They are our brothers. We know them. A lot.

Check this out.

He hastened to add that the government has held a meeting with its development partners on this particular issue and told them their position ‘which is that the government has no intentions whatsoever to criminalize homosexuality.

I think the hullabaloo about Uganda has had some effect. In Rwanda at least.

Here, we are still wondering, wandering...

I wonder, what would be the best way to confront this bill? To kill it, once and for all?

I think it is possible to kill it. With the simplest and most complex weapon that I have. Truth.

Some friends from the Orthodox Church are calling on the faithful and friends to ask the Orthodox Church in Uganda to withdraw its support from the Bahati Bill. Here is the link.

gug

Beasts of Africa

Can they all ever be brought to justice?

Is life in prison, as opposed to the death penalty justice? Personally, for some I would prefer 'Hanged, Drawn and Quartered'- am I abusing my descency and humanity with these beasts? Pol Pot, the Srabeniza, etc etc.

Trio found guilty of Rwandan genocide

* Bagosora guilty of masterminding genocide which left at least 800,000 dead

* Genocide began after plane carrying the leaders of Rwanda, Burundi crashed

* Bagosora was charged with genocide and crimes against humanity

* The United Nations established the genocide tribunal in late 1994

Image from CNN.

Use Funds Properly - Aids Activists

This article was in the New Vision. I was tempted to edit it, but why should I? These things were said at the conference we 'stormed'. [I do love that word. Stormed... Brings into mind paratroops, and helicopters and the noise and sound of battle!]

Use Funds Properly - Aids Activists

New Vision (Kampala)

4 June 2008

Posted to the web 5 June 2008

Barbara Among

Kampala

REDIRECT funding to strategies that have proven most effective in the fight against HIV/AIDS, activists told governments yesterday. This was during the Global HIV/AIDS implementers' meeting in Kampala.

They also want policy makers to cater for the vulnerable groups so as to win the war against the pandemic.

Too much funding is being wasted on ineffective strategies and ignoring vulnerable groups such as children, prisoners, sex workers, discordant couples, drug users and gays, they observed.

They cited the effective strategies as condoms use, male circumcision and a reduction in the number of sexual partners for specific groups.

It was also noted that in many countries, including Uganda, gays were persecuted and denied access to treatment.

"In Egypt, 4,000 men have been executed since 1979," said World Bank consultant David Wilson.

Agnes Binagwaho from the Rwanda National Aids Commission said they did not have a programme for gays since they were not considered full citizens.

She called for better child-centred interventions, treatment, counselling, care and support.

Findings show that in recent years, there has been significant progress in reducing HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

"But for every two people starting treatment, another five are newly infected with the virus."

There is also need to involve people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in the policymaking process, it was stated.

The conference is sponsored by the Global Fund, UNAIDS, UNICEF, World Bank, World Health Organisation, Global Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS (GNP+) and the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.