Homophobia, is informed by Ignorance

That has been like a light bulb jumping on in my head.

I was working on the previous post, and my conclusion that the Catholic church in Uganda was caught between its ignorance of things homosexual, [even relative to the official Catholic doctrine], and the belief that informing their minds to the contrary would be ‘promoting homosexuality’.

But, that is surely true for a lot of what has been happening. Those who shout most about gays, [excluding Ssempa], are actually supremely ignorant of what they are talking about. Of course they have amazed the world with regards to their ignorance. But, more than that, they have entrenched their ignorance by the contention that any information to the contrary would be ‘promoting homosexuality’.

So, of course the Archbishop of York, and Cantebury, were derisively dismissed for ‘promoting homosexuality’. And, so was Rick Warren. No voice of reason fails to excite that remarkable charge.

To highlight the pits of ignorance, just check out this article from one of the MPs of Uganda. Obua Denis Hamson.

No, he is not the Benson Obua-Ogwal, the co-sponsor of the Anti-Homosexuality bill. The friend who calls me a gay pervert. Simply because I am gay.

The title is all informative. We need to fight the unnatural gay vice.

Then, this man of god… Errrr, excuse me! This is not a ‘man of god’. This is a legislator who is citing the bible as the supreme authority. And, this is in the secular parliament of the Republic of Uganda. Now, he didn’t get that particular memo.

Now, I think the best thing to do is to send the honourable MP the Desmond Tutu article. And, the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda’s latest statement. [oh, they have been many!.] But, does the Rt Honourable Member want to be informed of other than things that strengthen his prejudices? I doubt. But, of course I have to try.

From quoting the bible for legislation, he then goes on to show the examples that Africa should take as good, for cases of homosexuality. He cites the Malawi case. And, Yahya Jammwee of Gambia. The guy who wants the heads of homosexuals cut off. [of course, he is also a traditional juju man who cures HIV, but maybe Africans should NOT follow that example?]

Here is the Honourable MP's thoughts, well articulated in hate. Black and White. 

These are examples that should be emulated by all African countries to forthwith stop the moral vice that is invading our society. I cannot imagine how a man can kiss and sleep with a fellow man! This is extremely satanic!

He doesn’t quote the Quoran. He is a good Christian? Maybe, the MP is!

Now, this rant is extremely interesting. Sad, and interesting. That a leader of the people of Uganda should expose their [ahem, ahem, ahem, should I use that word? I fail to find one less inflammatory.] stupidity and ignorance….

But, he is excused. After all, he is doing what Ssempa feels is justifiable. Showing off his anti-gay credentials. Never mind that it is akin to showing porn in church!

Now, should I blame the Churches, which have grandly rejected the bill?

It is very tempting. Very. To blame the church, because of course they are not blameless. And, like true hypocrites, they keep insisting that their position has not changed. That they still love us homosexuals, even when they started off by calling for our death, then ‘moderated’ in love to life imprisonment, till they were embarrassed by the world to now come almost totally around.

But, the MP, a leader of the people, for showing this kind of stupidity and ignorance, shows very clearly what the church in Uganda has sown in hate. And, for being an incompetent thinking ignoramus, why, there is none but himself to blame. Because, I don’t believe that a person of the MPs blessings, should articulate so fully such a stupid position. But then, I have mentioned stupid too many times.

As a Ugandan legislator, I support the criminalisation of homosexuality because it is unnatural, non-christian [or non-Islamic] and a moral and social evil. As a Parliament, we may consider revising the proposed bill to limit the maximum penalty for offenders to life imprisonment rather than execution because it gives room for offenders to be rehabilitated.

I call upon other Members of Parliament to support this proposed bill for the moral good of our society and Uganda’s young generation.

What I love about the gentleman, who once sat with Bahati on NTV and defended the bill, is the fact that he does not go in for the lies that Bahati and Ssempa have been spewing…. You remember that death was only for ‘defilement’? The guy is blunt, and true to his hatred.

As a Parliament, we may consider revising the proposed bill to limit the maximum penalty for offenders to life imprisonment rather than execution because it gives room for offenders to be rehabilitated.

And, talking of Christian love, the kind that Obua Denis Hamson articulates with flair above, Here is an interesting headline. 

The Baptist Church of Mizoram (BCM) today decided to take strong punitive action, including ex-communication, against homosexual members.

The assembly of the BCM, the highest decision-making body of the powerful church in the state next only to the Presbyterian Church, resolved that homosexuality should be outlawed, church sources said.

Jesus is turning in his grave. Sacrilege, sacrilege, sacrilege.

Where is all that talk about eating with sinners, bringing them closer, refusing stones to be thrown. Jesus!

But, the MP is not alone in his thought. Scott Lively. The guy has a healthy hate of the gay human being. And, he has the intelligence to clothe that hate in something akin to love. A very dangerous man. 

Lesson, hate is very easy. Matter of fact, hating is too easily done. So learning to avoid that pitfall is something that should happen. Actively.

I am gay. And, I admit that I once took for granted the hate which Ugandans have for us, but, I have come to the conclusion that one cannot just justify this reeking hatred without thought. it is appaling, it is unconscionable. One cannot blame everything on the preacher, on religion, on things that are outside one’s thinking capacity.

No. Hate is hate. However palatably clothed.

Have a great day.

gug

Two parts to the War

I recognize two distinct parts to this war on the Anti-Homosexuality bill.

In Uganda, I am fighting for the bill not to be made law. To me, it is simply a bad piece of legislation that poses threat to my freedom and life. In the US, in America, they are deeply examining the role of their countrymen. The three musketeers. Scott Lively, Scott and Caleb lee Brundibge.

There is, of course also the wider examination of what is true Christianity. It is being covertly fought, that battle. I am no Christian. So, I will not comment on that, which is distinctly not my battle. Of course, here and there, I will impatiently call upon Christians to come out and reclaim the essence of Christianity. That works for me. But, it is not my war, that. Though I would pray, please, dont be complacent.

But, I am being asked to comment about the role of the three American missionaries. Maybe some people would expect me to be outraged at this act of cultural ‘empirialism’, ‘neocolonialism’ and all the other isms that cloud the issue and stop logical thinking.

The part of the battle that I know best is the Ugandan one. I know what I want. I want, with immediacy, for the  bill, (text here) to be withdrawn. It is an immediate threat to my life and liberty. I know the likes of Ssempa and Buturo do know who I am. They are just waiting for the justification of the bill becoming law to begin the official crackdown on me and mine. That is what I believe.

I don’t want it modified. I don’t want it ‘watered down’. I know, and have read the bill. It serves nothing except persecution of what I am, what I can do.

For the American part, the ‘cultural war’ thing that I am being asked to comment about… I am no communist like 27^th Comrade, foaming and ranting about neocolonialism. Maybe I am more mature than him and have realized that the world is never, ever fair. And, we have to live reality as it is. And, he is not gay in Uganda, though he is a Ugandan living in Uganda. My lessons in reality have been much more harsh than his have been.

So, what should I comment about the three Americans? Why should I? They came, they did what they did. And, my countrymen carried it from there. So, I will acknowledge that my countrymen were naïve, stupid and impressionable. And, that they continue to be. It is not enough to choose and embrace the usual excuses. I know that. They should know that.

Should I forgive Don Schmierer of Exodus International who says he was duped?

I have no sin of him to forgive. I will let his countrymen and women do the judging. I will accuse my countrymen of being children not to examine what Schmierer was saying. I will also warn him not to take the ideals of the US to another country so simplistically. He may have meant well. But, we hurt.

Here is an interview of him. , from FOX40.

Don Schmierer wants to set the record straight that he's not in support of killing gays.

"I'm being accused of the absolute opposite of what I believe and teach. That's a slap in the face."

His problem started after speaking at a conference in Uganda back in March.

He says he thought he was preaching about open communication in parenting.

But now that his inbox is being flooded with hate-mail he says it's all a misunderstanding.

"I'm trying to help people understand the differences and how to communicate and how to listen to each other."

Schmierer says he got lumped with other speakers from the conference who may support the executing of gays.

"I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and I got sucked into something that was not my intent."

……

He says...."They should never do that. It's funny that they don't do something with heteorsexuals too. Why are they picking on gay people?

Actually, he doesnt lack defenders. Like this one, though the guy himself acknowledges that something did go wrong in the visit to Uganda

 Scott Lively, it is harder to say that I dont mind him. The guy is an unrepentant bigot. And worse. He is like Ssempa. With a deep seated need to hurt gay people. He continues to want to do exactly that. What he came to do in Uganda he has been doing the same in his own country. Again, it is his people to judge him.

Here is an article about what he has been doing.

And the Bee picked up on the fact that Scott Lively (pictured right) lived in Citrus Heights for a while five years ago. But the real local connection for Lively is his connection to the most aggressively anti-gay wing of Sacramento-area Slavic evangelicals, who have often run into head-on conflict with local GLBTQ people.

Lively’s book, The Pink Swastika, which blames gay people for the Holocaust (an incredibly malignant lie) has been translated into a Russian-language edition and widely disseminated locally. That means that a number of Eastern European immigrants, some of whom still carry trauma from Nazi atrocities in Eastern Europe, have been led to believe that gay people are responsible for it.

Further, Lively has become heavily involved with a group based in Latvia called "Watchmen on the Walls.” Two local men, Wade Kusak (also known as Vlad Kusakin, at the far left in this photo of the group’s founders at their Seattle conference) and George Nemerov, are local leaders in that group.

Among other things, Lively told a Watchmen on the Walls conference in Novosibirsk, Russia, that Satendar Singh wasn’t hit and killed; he got drunk and fell down–and that Russian Christians were being wrongly accused of his death (video here).

If you don’t have the patience to listen to his entire speech, this is what Lively said about Sacramento and Satendar Singh:

—-

    Now, I’ve been working with the Russian community in Sacramento. And I want to tell you this is an example of how bad things are in the United States. Because we’ve come to a place in the United States where the homosexuals have achieved very high power. And they’ve begun to punish… They’ve begun to cause the political powers to punish anyone who says that homosexuality is wrong.

    There was a situation in Sacramento a few weeks ago in a public park. There was a group of homosexuals and they were very drunk and one of the homosexual men was taking off his pants. And there were children in the park. And a Russian man went over to these homosexuals and he was rebuking them and there started a fight. And the Russian man punched the homosexual. [The audience starts to shout and applaud.] No, no, no, don’t… The man was very drunk… the homosexual was very drunk. He was very drunk and he fell down and he hit his head and he died. [Some in the audience start to applaud and laugh] No…. no…

    Now the Russian man has been accused of murder and the FBI is seeking him. And all of the powers in Sacramento have been accusing all of the Russian community of being murderers. And the goal is to silence everyone who speaks against homosexuality. And this is a very dangerous situation because we don’t want homosexuals to be killed. We want them to be saved. Amen?

 It is simply matter of fact that to Scott Lively, the gay person is a non-human being. Simple as that. But, for me to, err, judge him? His people, those will judge him.
Caleb lee Brundidge has not been making any statements. His boss, Richard Cohen has been capitalising on his fame to sell a sales pitch. To make money.
In Uganda, his most crucial acoylyte, Stephen Langa continues to promote his books and sell them, and of course, he is advocating for 'healing' instead of death. He is a quack. And, I hoped to say that when we talked, on BBC.
But, he is an interesting quack. He should be retiring and hiding, but comes out brazenly to self promote, even in this. Very interesting people, some Americans.

gug

Uganda In the Foreign Press

It is kind of funny. We Ugandans are quite vain. We value the way Uganda is portrayed in the eyes of the world. Even the government is not immune to that.
I think it comes from the days of Idi Amin, CBE (Conqueror of the British Empire). It is no joke to most Ugandans. We got tired of being the imbeciles of Africa. So, when the government gets good foreign press, most Ugandans, even those who dont support it, give grudging approval. Patriotic. And, a headline story like this in the Daily Monitor (of course, the New Vision is these days producing rubbish only, no news- govt mouthpiece, tamed), When the Monitor has a headline like this, it makes some of them sit back and ask, whatever happened to us?

Foreign press hits Uganda over gays

By Rodney Muhumuza

In a reversal of the favourable publicity that peaked during the 2007 Commonwealth summit in Kampala, Uganda is now taking a beating in the foreign press.

The litany of condemnations, in the US or elsewhere in Africa, translates into a battering that is inspired by the proposed anti-homosexuality law. In some cases, the articles recall the insane days of Idi Amin, whose alleged shenanigans continue to define Uganda among foreigners who have never been here, while many express outrage over the idea behind such a piece of legislation.

 Hey, I am not immune to that. Gay as I am..! I am Ugandan! So, it concerns me, though I am working to see that the story does get out.

No shitting. We deserve it for our stupidity, and if this helps wake us up, so be it.

Know what Ssempa will say? The foreign press is controlled by the gay agenda. All the other Christian leaders who condemned the anti-homosexuality bill, (text here) were labelled collaborators with the Homosexual International. Including Ssentamu of York, Rick Warren and others.

Tacked into the end of the story is the presumed reaction by the government. The Honourable Minister Oryem gives a characteristic answer of disdain.

Mr Henry Oryem, the minister of state for international affairs, yesterday said the government was not bothered by the criticism. “Homosexuality is not a priority for the people or the government of Uganda,” he said.

Indeed? I would have been suprised! With the demonstrations, the government statements not to 'bend over', the promises to show our public disdain and go ahead and kill our homosexuals. And all the other things....!

That retort is curious. If the bill is not so important, let us throw it out, shall we?

That article was talking about this editorial from the New York Times. They had not yet seen this one from the Washington Post.

THE ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY Bill of 2009 is an ugly and ignorant piece of legislation being considered in Uganda. If it is approved, the gay people of that nation would be subject to life in prison. This retreat from the death sentence originally proposed should neither be celebrated nor considered a concession by the government in response to pressure from the United States and other nations. The proposal is barbaric. That it is even being considered puts Uganda beyond the pale of civilized nations.

The nine-page bill, which says that "homosexual behavior and related practices" are a "threat to the traditional family," is an offense from beginning to end. The framers say it is needed to "protect" the country from those "seeking to impose their values of sexual promiscuity on the people of Uganda." They say the bill is also needed because children and youth "are made vulnerable to sexual abuse and deviation. . . ." Among the corrupting influences are "uncensored technologies" and "increasing attempts by homosexuals to raise children. . . ."

-----

The legislation talks about the "cherished culture" of Uganda and its "legal, religious, and traditional family values." We respect a nation's right to defend its culture and values. But sentencing men and women to life imprisonment because of their sexual orientation is an atrocity. Gays and lesbians would be punished by their own government for who they are. Contrary to the backward thinking of the Ugandan government, being gay is not a choice. But pushing homophobic laws that foment hate is.

The United States and other nations have urged officials to shelve the bill. So far, their entreaties have fallen on deaf ears……

I can feel the anger, the sheer disbelief behind the words. By contrast, the NYT editorial was mild. It was titled Hate begets hate. This is a rough, ugly indictment. Exactly the kind of language my country mates understand.
Hey, guess what, if this was in Uganda, the WP would be shut down for the next week or so, as the government questioned management about what they have written in their esteemed paper. Thanks, WaPo!

In Uganda, Andrew Mwenda laments the donor blackmail about gays. I would lament it, but, I am a gay Ugandan. The bill will first be withdrawn before I lament the, err, blackmail. To fellow Ugandans, we have to behave like a mature nation, we have responsibilities to OUR citizens. However bad we think they are. We dont have the right to legislate a genocide, simply because we think some people 'evil'. If the world condemns us for being stupid, well, better stomach that and get on with life. Stupidity is NOT helped by denial of the facts, like Nsaba Buturo, Ssempa and Bahati have been doing. Own up, bow your head, ask for forgiveness of your peers. Then we can move on.

Of course, by the time it got to the mainstream media, the blogosphere was almost saturated. But not quite. New revelations everyday. New things turning up. This was the story of 2009. For 2010, it just wont die. Have you watched the video of Scott Lively in Uganda? You will see what a darling man he is. How Christian is his love of homosexuals, and his campaign for this issue. He says he is not gay, like Ssempa, but, he is the world's self confessed foremost expert on gay issues and the gay agenda. I urge you, do watch that first video. Other parts of cyber are also waking up to the story. Here is POZ news. A story worth being aware of.

Here is a bit of analysis examining the Anti-Homosexual bill that I would like to share.

This law wouldn’t be anything new in the world: there are many other countries that still have draconian laws on the books. Most gays arrested in Saudi Arabia escape the death penalty and receive “only” a whipping. Iran has executed more than 100 alleged homosexuals since 1979. India last year finally took British-era laws off the books, opening the door for possible civil unions or marriage.

But Uganda’s proposed law is different in two ways:

It’s new.

It’s Christian.

What a damning indictment. It is new. It is Christian.
And, Christians in Uganda are very, very fervently pushing for it. Yes, they are. Want to read through Ssempa's Letter to Rick Warren? The law is new. It is Christian.

The letters of condemnation and non-support of the bill continue to pour in. Members of Congress from the US, the despicable Richard Cohen, the one who wanted to heal me on the BBC. Correction. He wanted to me to buy into the nivarna of healing for my homosexuality.
The man is a quack. A true quack. What matters to him is self promotion. The making of money. Forget the misery that he leaves at his back. He is a true Ugandan witchdoctor, a self promoting quack who will use each and every opportunity to try and paint himself in a good light! He opposes the bill. And then gives his option of getting the Uganda government to give him a contract for healing of Uganda's homosexuals. Hey, I am not English, nor is it my first language. A quack indeed.

More of Scott Lively's background is examined. And I ask myself, is this the guy who came and set off the 'gay nuclear bomb', the guy who spoke to the parliament of Uganda? A man as vile as this? Check out this guy from Oregon's account of Scott Lively's doing. Few people really like what he did. And, now that a video of the same is out, why, the self confessed world authority is receiving some world adulation.

I will end with this, from Truth Wins Out. Steps to a Genocide. It is blood chilling. I dont invite you to believe it. I just remind you that, just over the border in Rwanda, this thing happened, not so many years ago. This is real living history. Steps to a Genocide. It is sober reading. Of course it is slanted. I dont think there is any writing that is not. But, it is sober reading.

The world said, 'Never Again'? Well, the world needs to listen.

Have a good day.

gug

A Nuclear Bomb.

When Scott Lively came back from Uganda in March 2009, he wrote this on his website. 

“On the positive side, my host and ministry partner in Kampala, Stephen Langa, was overjoyed with the results of our efforts and predicted confidently that the coming weeks would see significant improvement in the moral climate of the nation, and a massive increase in pro-family activism in every social sphere. He said that a respected observer of society in Kampala had told him that our campaign was like a nuclear bomb against the "gay" agenda in Uganda. I pray that this, and the predictions, are true.”

Scott Lively’s prayers were answered. Within a month of his return to his country, back in Uganda, a legislator named David Bahati had drawn up a ‘nice piece of legislation’ (his words) with the bold intention to ‘wipe out homosexuality from Uganda’ The text of that legislation is here. 

It is truly a nuclear bomb. To do what Hitler tried to do. Wipe out homosexuality. For the homosexual Uganda who is arrested, charged and convicted, there are only two possibilities. Life imprisonment, or death. Once, the Mufti, leader of Muslims in Uganda suggested marooning all Uganda’s homosexuals on an island in Lake Victoria till we had died out naturally. Since we don’t reproduce. The good Christians of Uganda had a better idea. This bill.

I would feel sorry for Lively, except for the fact that his prayers are actually being answered in full. And, he is reaping exactly what he sowed.

He feels he was duped? No. He wasn’t duped. He is reaping exactly what he sowed. A whirlwind that is affecting him. 

Lively is practicing, for lack of a more appropriate term, "pink-baiting" and I  wonder just how many other countries he has gone to spouting his mess.

It's relatively easy to do. Just pad up the  prospective country as a bastion of morality, throw out some allusions about the gay menace, sprinkle a little lie here and there of gays "recruiting" children (or raping children, whichever would scare people more) and what you have is a moral panic that only serves to enhance the reputation of the person spewing the lies.

The scariest thing is that while, in spite his claim in November about the new hate crimes legislation, Lively is relatively safe to spout his nonsense, those who have to deal with the repercussions of his lies aren't so lucky.

And, he is unrepentant. Just check this comment here. 

One silver lining I see to this is that there is an ongoing honest examination of the anti-gay rhetoric in America. Because it is where this came from. It is the root of this genocidal bill. And, my poor countrymates believe the ‘threat to the family’ which in America is taken as mere political talk. Yes, it is good that that kind of hate speech is coming under the microscope. The New York Jewish Week takes a hard look here.

Uganda is taking another beating in the international press. Rightfully so. I think that ‘stupid is as stupid does’ [was that Forrest Gump…?], and, I am ready to admit that we are being stupid.

Ha!

I am Ugandan. I reserve for myself the right to say that of MY country.

In Uganda, we don’t like to be reminded of Amin’s buffoonery. But, that is what is happening. And, the current president, a man who came in power, (by the gun of course) determined to rid the country of the stupid label after the days of political buffoonery, to be compared to Idi Amin Dada, CBE (Conqueror of the British Empire), that might be the ultimate straw. Wish I could whisper it in his ear. But that is something that might be paid for in my blood. Here is the article.

To many non-Ugandans, Uganda conjures up two sustaining images; One, a small, beautiful, landlocked east African nation, once called the “Pearl of Africa” by her British colonizers. The other, a country ruled by African strongman Idi Amin, recently immortalized by the 2006 Oscar-winning performance of Forest Whitaker in, “The Last King of Scotland.”

A new image could be emerging for Uganda. One that would eclipse any other notion and one that Ugandans are hotly debating: one of the few countries in the world to implement the death penalty for gays and lesbians.

That article is worth reading.

I love this quote, which is repeated on another blog. These are the words of our leaders. Notice, one is one of the leaders of the opposition in Uganda’s parliament. Another is the estimable Minister of Ethics and Integrity. The one who says, ‘Killing them (gays) may not be ok.’

Gettleman quotes a member of parliament, Kassiano E. Wadri, who says that he detests gays and when he encounters a gay person, he thinks, “You need to break him.” Wadri’s sentiments are echoed by Uganda’s minister of ethics and integrity, James Nsaba Buturo, whom Gettleman quotes in yesterday’s article. Buturo’s stance on gay human beings and human rights: “Homosexuals can forget about human rights.”

Sadly, killing us gay Ugandans, breaking us, exiling us, marooning us on an island in the lake. Those are sentiments which fellow Ugandans express, right in our faces. They don’t know us. But, they are very willing to say they will kill us, right in our faces.

It is sad. But, has the world really waken up to the seeds of this kind of vile hate speech? 

Indeed, Hate begets Hate. As the NYT follows up in an editorial. 

“You cant preach hate and not accept responsibility for the way that hate is manifested.”

I like this summary, more because it doesn’t absolve my countrymates of their responsibilities to logic and thought. Yes, the Americans are culpable, because of their stupidity. But, the Ugandans are also culpable. Because of their continuing stupidity.

Set the fire they can't quench. And, at best, their defense is: "We didn't know!" At best, they were totally ignorant of the culture, and just saw speaking in Uganda as another opportunity to make money and get notoriety back home. I mean, hey—it's not like they wanted anyone killed; they just wanted to be able to crow to the rubes back home about what great anti-gay missionaries they are and justify holding out the coffers once more. "Your dollars will help stop the gay agenda in its tracks all over the world!" But they didn't want anyone dead. Heavens, no! Geez, we didn't expect the Ugandans to take us so seriously.

At best, they colluded with murderous bigots because they were too uninformed, cavalier, daft, hasty, greedy, eager, selfish, irresponsible, ignorant. Too something to understand what the fuck they were doing.

At worst, they colluded with murderous bigots because deep in their hard, dark little hearts, in places they never reveal in press releases, they don't much care if gay people die, as long as their names aren't anywhere near the death warrant.

And it is still good to examine Uganda in a broader context. Whither the Christian faith? What trends. Get that thoughtful opinion here. Of course, Christian scholars will be studying this for years to come, I think. Glad to know I am living history. But, I really hate being in the middle of it! 

Andrew Sullivan calls it ‘American Christianism’. It is too long that this has not been examined, been under the radar. I looked at the whole Anglican Schism thing as the South Bullying the North. I was amused. But this doesn’t amuse me. Not least because I am at the wrong end of the sword.

Someone reminds me that I have not yet got the 20 Million USD that Minister Nsaba-Buturo promised was on its way….! Yes, it hasn’t yet arrived. Am still waiting, Buturo. And, the holiday season is over. Waiting, waiting…! 

Well, I have to go check with my bank manager about some money which hasn’t yet graced my account.

A new day, a new year….

Have a great day. Let us see what this day will bring.

gug

The Kindness of Total Strangers...

The New York Times...

Now, I do know that the guys came here. Actually, they contacted me. No, I was more anonymous than I am now, but, we brushed shoulders, so to say...!
The strength of some media. It has a huge circulation, or so I am given to understand. So, with the NYT in play, the story is really in the mainstream media.

And, the little people like me continue to get the story, and amaze me with their connection with me. Here is what one blogger says. It is at the Goodgoodend blog.

And because this is a sensitive subject, let me make myself clearer: I don't know how I feel about the politics of homosexuality - civil unions v. marriage, health benefits, end-of-life decisions and other rights. I know exactly how I feel about homosexuals: I love you. Period. I love you whether it's nature or nurture, whether you're still in the closet or out in the open, whether you are happy or wish every day it could be different.

And because I love you, and because you are human, I believe you deserve basic respect and rights and opportunities. I believe you are entitled to life and safety and the freedom to make your choices just like anybody else.

….

I think I've certainly gotten in over my head again in terms of subject matter. In short, I don't know if it's God's perfect will for anybody to be gay. I do know, however, that condemning people and threatening death is never going to be a way to show them God's love.

I think all we can do is pray, friends. For the legislators in Uganda and across Africa who see these laws as a way to regulate disease or morality or both. For the people in those countries who are affected by these laws. And for the Christ-followers who come into contact with them every day with the opportunity to show them love and respect and compassion.

Thanks dude. You dont have to be gay, or to be into gay politics to be human. The story of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009 in the Uganda Parliament (text here) touches everyone. Even me it overwhelms me. The crass stupidity of my countrymates. And, the overwhelming kindness of strangers.

Here, another blogger, who is not gay, also offers a the concentrated kind of sober call to action that mobilizes human beings. Yes, Uganda is in an anti-gay panic, an anti-gay fervour. And, the world, instead of looking on with shocked disbelief and disdain for this backwater, is coming up with a tough look and censure.

Now, the rest of us can’t get away with just saying: “not that there’s anything wrong with that.” We’re past that mere tolerance crap, and we have to stand up and fight alongside those who are being attacked in this 21st century witch hunt. Having best friends and members of my family who are gay, I couldn’t bear the thought of having them treated that way, ever. Our generation is the product of years of fighting for equal rights for people threatened by those who were in power, by those who were in disagreement with them, or by simply the majority. Instead of focusing on a New Year’s resolution based on what’s in our pantry, let’s do something about this bill.

 The kindness of total strangers. Because, increadibly, they identify with what I am going through.

I kind of understand the Americans. Not Lively, and the other two Musketeers. But, the American public, human beings who find themselves responsible for something some over zealous countrymen exported. Dupes were they? Maybe not. But, fellow human beings in the US are incensed. Prosecute them, they say. For incitement to murder.

And, Honourable Bahati, Honourable Nsaba-Buturo also. And, Ssempa of course.

Many are not interested in the cries of 'I was duped'. Because, they were warned. Here at Box Turtle Bulletin, and here at Throckmorton's blog

When it comes to homosexuality, Uganda already has several riot inciters so the role of the Americans was to add a perception of credibility and urgency. What would really be helpful is for the three to say directly to the Ugandan people: we were wrong in what we told you. Gays didn’t cause the holocaust, they aren’t ill people who will respond to a forced cure and they aren’t the cause of all your problems. Disagree on the moral questions if that is your conviction but for the sake of Christ, do it agreeably.

Actually, it is very true that we had our riot inciters. Nsaba Buturo, Ssempa. I was always amused about what they used to say about us, and the extent of their ignorance of us. That vacuum of knowledge was filled by myths and lies, which gained the credence of truth. Yes, the three musketeers (Lively and Co.) are culpable.

Truth Wins Out is kind of tough. Savage in their denunciation. I know where they are coming from. I identify. I feel it.
So, Lively was happy that he had delivered a ‘a nuclear bomb against the gay agenda in Uganda.’ Its hard to feel sorry for him. Not me.

From the Petrelis Files, even school children in America are coming out to demonstrate their distaste to the bill. Photo from the Petrelis files.

Contrast this with the Photo from the New York Times article, which is here.

Notice the 'police protection' for the demonstrators? Oh no, they didnt need it. Not at all. But, nice having it in the picture.
Think we would get protection if we counter demonstrated? Of course not...!

To quote Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Hon. Nsaba Buturo, 'Homosexuals can forget about human rights'. What a bold statement, from the Minister of Ethics and Integrity. Why should they? The obvious answer is 'because they are not human beings.' I wonder what Buturo would say if asked that explicitly?

Yes, he is a born again Christian. Is Minister Nsaba-Buturo.

Uganda has a rich history of being mind-fucked by Evangelical Christians, so it should come as little surprise to learn that their fervor for Christian Orthodoxy has dribbled into their legislative system. Although many U.S. citizens fail to act on their homophobic feelings (with exception) apparently Uganda has missed the memo on that bit.

That is from here.

Bad press for Uganda? Ask me whether I care. I am Ugandan. I love the country. The people are my people. But, they have crossed the line when in stupidity they try to kill me. Sorry, I am also a human being. Just like they are.


gug

PS. Am I too angry?

They are feeling it...!

The pressure. Well, they are.

Major indicator, Minister Nsaba Buturo has come out with a statement. Good. And know what he says? After defending corruption in the Government, (an argument which no Ugandan above the age of 16 will believe... Fact. None of us IS that gullible), he then tackles the 'Kill Gay Bill'.

Apparently, Uganda is a democratic country, which has a democratic process, which allows the orderly presentation of a bill to kill some of her citizens. As long as they were born homosexuals, that is. And, the world must look on, and respect our sovereign sovereignty!

Had to beat. So, World, you must look on. As you looked on in Nazi Germany. Kosovo. Rwanda. Kenya. Cambodia.

We are a sovereign nation, and, you must respect our sovereign right to kill some of our citizens. Anal sex has no rights. These are just homosexuals. And, if you want to take our your money, then, well, why dont you...

US, continue giving us the PEPFAR dollars. Sweden, Norway, we deserve this money. Well, we have the children who are dying, and we have the women who have no antenatal care. And, you need to give us that money. But YOU MUST NOT DENY OUR SOVEREIGN RIGHT TO KILL OFF AND IMPRISON THOSE OF OUR CITIZENS WHO HAPPEN TO BE HOMOSEXUAL.

That is a worse sin. It is called neo-colonialism.

[Derisive sneer. Of course, when you mention such a thing, they will run off. They are wedded to political correctness]

Ok. I have now to link to the Honourable Minister's Statement. I dont know whether he is still the official government spokesperson, but, this is definately a statement from the government. So, let us read and understand it. And the nuances. Including the undesirability of the homosexual, evil, sinner. But I am repeating myself...!

Here is the link.

Maybe, most notable is what the Honourable Minister KNOWS Ugandans think of homosexuality.... I am tempted, and I succumb, let me deposit it just below.

 The people of Uganda believe that practicing anal sex at the expense of heterosexual sex is not a normal practice. Ugandans know or believe that homosexuality involves practices that are dangerous and high risk to the human body which is designed for heterosexual functions. Ugandans also believe that anal sexual intercourse, foreign objects used in sexual intercourse and promiscuity do not deserve to be defended at all. Having said that, it is clear to many of us that the over reaction so far is not surprising to us. Uganda accepts that in some countries it is normal practice for men to sleep with men and women with women. It is often defended that imperatives of human rights defend this practice. We do not believe so in Uganda. Majority of Ugandans hate to see the promotion of illegalities that they consider as dysfunctional, abnormal and unhealthy.

Wow, here is one Ugandan who doesnt think so... Well, of course he is mad, and one of those that you want to send to prison. I had forgotten.

I agree, they are feeling the Heat.

The pressure is being felt. In other places. And, I have to say that it is important. For those Christians who havent yet spoken out to oppose this law, I invite you to look at it. It says everything for itself. And, you will then tell me, in un-parsed words, why a Church, that espouses love, goes ahead to, have no comment, or actively support it.

Let me see

Don Schmierer signed onto the Exodus statement. He is the guy from Exodus, one of the Three Musketeers, who came to teach Ugandans the virtues of hating homosexuals. Sorry, what the Homosexual Agenda was, and how to resist it. He came this year, and had a quite succesful three day conference. So succesful, that his acoylytes are going ahead to wipe out homosexuals from Uganda. Sigh, he is sorry????

And, International Healing Foundation, the organisation to which the Second Musketeer (Brundbridge) belongs, has issued a non statement.... English is not my first language. I am puzzled whether they condemn or support the bill. But you know what, I have some common sense. Say, these guys read the bill, which is freely available. Even here. And, then gave a non-statement statement. Even I can understand that. Check them out at Box Turtle Bulletin.

And, please, continue the outing of the Family. We dont believe it in Uganda. Of course. How can our Dear Leader be dancing to foreign tunes? Only the reviled homosexuals do.
Out them, from that closet. We shall know who we are fighting. And, they are also in Rwanda. Out them. For the good of.... me, of course! Rachel Maddow is going strong on that.

Thanks, from a happy Gay Ugandan. You have made my day. At least, they will stop accusing ME of being 'foreign influenced!' Of course, the war doesnt stop here. Way to go. And, it is good to know how far they extend.

As for Warren and the Hatred Driven Life. Continue the pressure. Let him feel it. I dislike hypocrites, especially of the religious kind.... Bite me, I am on MY blog, and it is MY life that is at stake. I dislike hypocrites.

What is Extreme Prophetic? Why are all things fundamentalistic Christian featuring in this mundane anti-homosexuality bill no 18 in the Ugandan parliament? Anyway, this group, Extreme Prophetic is connected to one of the Three Musketeers. I am getting quite confused at the number of the Crusaders that crusaded on this cause. Sorry, I think I made a mistake. But, forgive my confusion. These are American groups, not Ugandan, and, I am told it is a huge continent, but it is thousands of miles from my little bit of the jungle. What the hell do they have to do with my sexuality in Uganda????

Sigh. Pardon the yell. Extreme Prophetic, they are here. I am bewildered.

Here is a pic of the Three Musketeers, with the guy who invited them to Uganda. In the name of... No. I will not blaspheme.

Image from 'The Way I see It'

Which reminds me, I do have some pics of the 3 at the anti-gay conference, in the preparatory phase of the 'Kill Gay Bill'. No. I am exhausted...!

Something I had forgotten. Most Christians in Uganda are Catholics. And, the Catholics have a fairly 'progressive' view of homosexuality. At least, they should not want to kill us.
But, the Catholic Church in Uganda is absolutely quiet. Studying the Bill. Letting the Protestants kill themselves off?

I would like to see some pressure on the Catholic Church. To stop their hypocritical silence. See here, a Catholic Cardinal overstepped the statements, expressing his homophobia.
"

Homosexuals and transsexuals will never go to heaven, says a leading cardinal.

In his comments, Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan said Roman Catholic Church still regards homosexuality as an ‘insult to God’, and added people were not born gay, but chose to embrace homosexuality of their own free will.

“Transsexuals and homosexuals will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven and it is not me who says this, but Saint Paul,” the Telegraph quoted Barragan as saying.

“People are not born homosexual, they become homosexual, for different reasons: education issues or because they did not develop their own identity during adolescence,” the 76-year-old added.

He said perhaps they aren’t guilty but by acting against the dignity of the body they will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

And, know what, the Vatican comes up with a slap on the hand. A rare one, because, well, they are promoters of homophobia also. [If they are not, why havent they come out to say ANYTHING in Uganda when what is happening is so much against THEIR doctrine?]

Anyway, they come up with this statement.

Cardinal draws Vatican rebuke for anti-gay talk

A Roman Catholic cardinal has drawn on an unusual rebuke from the Vatican

The comments prompted a response from Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi, who said the Web site to which Lozano Barragan spoke should not be considered an authority on Catholic thinking “on complex and delicate issues such as homosexuality.”

 

Current Catholic teaching acknowledges that some people have innate homosexual tendencies but that homosexual acts are “disordered.”

Question, why havent they come up with a statement on Uganda? Doesnt that Bill, the Kill Gay Bill, deviate from their doctrine and teaching? Why are they giving the impression that they are wholly behind the bill? Speak up, or shut up. From a non-believer. Again.

Why? Because these guys will stop the path to kill me in the name of your God. It is as simple as that. Speak up, you churchmen.
I will end here.

My love is pining away. His feet are in my crouch. Suggestively, and he has quite given up thinking that I will respond. At least let me give him a kiss, and that may do for the time being....!

[bow, bow, bow]

Have a good day!


gug

Movement....

Ha, not the political party in Uganda.

But, there is some movement occuring. I think, at least.

The rumours of the involvement of the Christian Right in America are becoming more and more believable. Hey, I am writing from Uganda. It seems sort of unbelieavable, but, well, I have been following the articles more and more. There are definately some Christian Rights Organisations, which have a stake in this anti-homosexuality bill in a tiny East African country called Uganda, and, who are hell bent on having such a genocidal legislation become law. Here is another plank in that particular coffin.

So, what does it mean for me? Well, I can understand why my people have become more and more homophobic over the last five years or so. Homosexuality is not new in the country. What is new is the current level of hysterical homophobia. I was talking to a Tanzanian friend who was suprised at what is happening here. Homosexuality is something that happens in Tanzania. No one asks, no one talks. It is a fact of life.

And in Kenya? Well, despite the church and other things, homosexuality IS talked about in Kenya. In addition to having an HIV prevention programme for gay men.

So, why Uganda? And, despite poor homosexuals being blamed for being in the pay of 'foreign masters' are the actual sell outs Bahati, Nsaba-Buturo and Museveni?

Bahati also refused to clarify reports originating from the United States that his anti-gay campaign was linked to an ultra-conservative group known as The Family. As we reported last week, an American journalist and author Jeff Sharlett told National Public Radio that Museveni and Bahati were in bed with The Family, a group he said fights homosexuality and promotes dictatorship. (See Museveni, Bahati named in US ‘cult’, The Observer, November 26 - 29)

Oh, the mad man Scott Lively was definately involved. But, it is likely he is also a pawn in a larger game. Guess it is matter of fact that pawns can become queens.

I am really glad that US LGBT people and friends are taking up that fight. Because it is too much for puny me this end! Not the reach, and, of course, I have no knowledge of the American jungle. And, it is a jungle out there.

Though Hillary Clinton didnt mention Uganda, clarifying remarks at the end emphasized that Uganda was indeed in her diplomatic sight screen. We will see what happens.

The UN Secretary General Special Envoy on HIV in Africa, Grace Mataka is in the country. Apparently, she came to talk to the government about two pending bills. One is the anti-homosexuality bill. And, another is one which seeks the death penalty and life imprisonment for spreading HIV. Seems as if we Ugandans are really good at working on laws that are stupid. Ahem. [I have the right to say stupid is stupid, dont I?]

But, I have been struck by the reporting. Does The New Vision, the government paper mention her press conference? Well, maybe in the innards of the paper. No headline stories, at least.
The Daily Monitor, second mass circulation daily in the country mentions that she is around. And, mentions the opposition to the HIV bill. Any mention of the anti-gay bill? No. Not in this account which they put on the front page.

Its the Observer, which has been quite on the mark with reporting about the bill in Uganda that rounds up the press conference which the UN envoy held. Yes, the anti-homosexuality bill was mentioned. And, she has been having a high level campaign to say something to the proponents.

"The presence in Kampala of the United Nations AIDS envoy, Elizabeth Mataka, capped a week of increasing pressure on President Museveni and Ndorwa West MP, David Bahati, over their campaign against homosexuality.

Essentially Ms Elizabeth Mataka, the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on AIDS in Africa, came to Uganda to attend events to commemorate World AIDS Day. But The Observer understands that prior to that, she met MP Bahati and was expected to meet President Museveni to plead with the two men to respect the rights of gay people.

In October, Bahati tabled the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009 in Parliament, seeking more severe punishment for homosexuality, which is already illegal in Uganda. Among other sanctions, the law proposes the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality – where the offender has HIV or the victim is below 18 years of age, or is a disabled person.


According to diplomatic sources, Mataka was expected to put Museveni in a tricky situation by demonstrating to him how the proposed anti-homosexuality bill will frustrate the impressive fight against HIV/AIDS in Uganda for which the President has for long enjoyed kudos."

Cant say I am unhappy about that kind of high profile movement..... Hope it has some effect. Here is the article. It is actually well rounded. Fact, most of the reports in Uganda (Non existent in the New Vision) have been kind of half baked. But the Observer, though well written, is not well read. Not the clout of the other two, or the red rug....

Well, some movement. Will keep my eye on the pulse....

Have a good day!

gug

PS. I have just re-read through this, and, I think I am being unreasonably optimistic. Yeah, it is better to have my eyes fixed on what is the reality, than think that my wishes will become fact. Here is a counter balancing article from Reuters. Uganda is set to pass the anti-gay bill. I think the analysis is good. And, based on facts on the ground.

Rebel?

Particular insight into who I am?

Maybe. I find myself particularly amused by the poking of holes into an emperor's ego. When it is safe, of course. I will not usually take it beyond the concerns of personal safety.

Anyway, I am enjoying the poking of Rick Warren. They want him to denounce the Ugandan bill. Here too. He is a politician. (No. No churchman that one, and he is twisting and trying to escape the pinning gaze.) Sigh, maybe, like Tiger Woods, he should come out and confess. I dont think Woods will. Too controlled, too private an individual.

But Rick Warren? There is the rub. He is a politician churchman, rubbing shoulders with presidents, having lots and lots of influence. With great influence comes responsibility. Please, dont let him get away with only a slap on the wrist to his friend Ssempa...! Dont let this Churchman get away from his responsibility.

No. he is not adult enough to own up. So, go ahead with the pressure. Actually, Warren has more clout in Uganda than poor gug here. So, keep up the pressure. That guy can bring St Ssempa to heal, off his high crusade... Maybe. Best chance that there is.

There are others on Impunity Watch. Yeah, they should be.

And, there are others who are silent. Loved this sarcastic bit. Which I am depositing here...

Thomas Sutcliffe: No dignity in this pretence of unity

These proposals are the sexual equivalent of the Nuremberg Laws

Tuesday, 1 December 2009

You probably – you poor dupe – have always believed that the Nazis were violently intolerant of homosexuality. But Scott Lively, author of The Pink Swastika, would like to put you right. In his book, Lively argues that far from being anti-gay many of the leaders of the party – including Adolf Hitler – were homosexual and that their sexual preferences directly contributed to Nazi atrocities.

The gays weren't victims of the Nazis, in other words – they were the Nazis and they're still at large. Lively is president of a conservative evangelical group called Defend the Family and earlier this year he was among a group of American evangelical preachers, anti-gay activists and "former homosexuals" (their term) who addressed Ugandan parliamentarians and evangelicals, hoping to stiffen their opposition to the slim prospect of increasing gay rights. To legalise homosexuality, Lively reportedly told them, was akin to legalising "the molestation of children or having sex with animals".

The efforts of these pious haters certainly paid off. The Ugandan parliament is considering a private member's bill which will introduce the death penalty for "serial offenders" and impose a prison sentence of three years on anyone who knows of homosexual activity and does not report it. And whether the bill passes or not the fact that it is being discussed at all is a measure of the intolerance towards gay people in that country. These proposals are the sexual equivalent of the Nuremberg Laws and it isn't hard to imagine what might follow on their heels were they to pass into law.

Whatever its roots in the culture of Ugandan life this hatred has been nourished by missionary religion – and not just the wilder fringes of American evangelism. In a recent address the Bishop of Bristol quoted a remark attributed to Henry Orombi, the Anglican Archbishop of Uganda, to the effect that he was "horrified to learn that homosexuals are trying to convert people to homosexuality in our schools". Another Anglican Bishop, Joseph Abura, has drawn an explicit parallel between gay people and wizards, and this in a country where witch-hunts frequently end in murder.

So far the Church of England has not made any formal condemnation of this pogrom in the making. The official statement from Lambeth was this: "It has been made clear to us ... that attempts to publicly influence either the local church or political opinion in Uganda would be divisive and counter-productive. Our contacts ... with the local church will therefore remain intensive but private." Which is odd really, since there are churches which have decided that tactical silence and behind the scenes persuasion simply won't do any longer.

Last week the United Reform Church condemned the proposed legislation as "morally repugnant". More curious still was an open letter from an evangelical group called Exodus International, addressed to President Yoweri Museveni, which argued that the laws would make it impossible to "extend the love and compassion of Christ to all". Ugandan gays could be forgiven for being a little wary of this particular form of "compassion" because Exodus International is another of those groups whose religious homophobia has resulted in their current plight.

But if even they can directly address the question it's hard to understand why Lambeth hesitates – unless the "division" that the Archbishop is really worried about is not between the citizens of Uganda, but between branches of the established church. The bad news is that that division already exists and Rowan Williams' attempts to keep one foot on either side while pretending it isn't there are increasingly undignified. There will come a point when that pretence becomes shameful, and it isn't far off.

Please, keep up the Pressure.....!

Recruiting Homophobes

I dont think the case for 'recruiting homosexuals' in Africa is proven. Yes, despite our Dear Leaders blaming of 'European homosexuals'

I think that is our perenial xenophobia manifest.

But, I think there is a very good case for the export of homophobia. Recruiting Homophobes. Will you forgive me if I strongly hint that it is Christian American homophobes who are recruiting in Africa?

The idea is not mine. No, it is not original. Actually, I lifted it from here. Reality Check; Globalizing the Culture Wars. Some excerpts. But, the whole article is worth studying. Not reading. Studying.

I want no place in some other place's cultural wars. But, I think I may have no choice. Here are some choice quotes.

"according to “Globalizing the Culture Wars”, a new report produced by Political Research Associates and released today, laws like the one in Uganda can be seen as the direct result of a campaign by United States neoconservative religious groups to use Africa as another player in the culture wars they have fomented on American soil for many years.

After a rigorous 16-month research and on-the-ground investigative period, Zambian Anglican priest Kapya Kaoma, author of the PRA report, found that U.S. conservatives are working in collusion with African clerics (specifically, the report focuses on Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya.), in three denominations (The Episcopal Church, The United Methodist Church and The Presbyterian Church), to counter any progress mainline U.S. churches are working towards, around LGBT issues as well as to foment homophobia on the ground in Africa."

"According to the report, American conservatives, by involving African clerics in these three countries, have managed to almost completely halt recognition by these churches of the full equality of LGBT individuals in the U.S. including the ordination of LGBT clergy. But, of course, this crusade by U.S. conservatives is having even more dire consequences on African soil, leading to a growing and increasingly violent homophobia throughout Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya; violence that is typified in the Ugandan bill before Parliament.
"

Read on.

I mean, seems as if we have a more than credible theory of our own to counter 'foreign recruiting homosexuals', the one which is being promoted by Scott Lively.

By the way, this benovelent Christian, who did the introduction of the idea that us homosexuals in Uganda were fronting for homosexuals in other countries to 'recruit' (He does have a publication called 'Recruit proofing your child' or something like that!)
He has some very sage advice on the 'liberalisation' of the Sodomy law. Well, this is part of the advice that he gave to Ugandan parliamentarians. Which has translated into the Bahati Bill

"But Scott Lively, president of Abiding Truth Ministries and a speaker at an ex-gay conference in Uganda last March, said he’s not completely opposed to criminalizing homosexuality. He said that he advised Ugandans to liberalize the law, add the option of treatment, and “make the law more palatable to the international community.” But he adds that he believes Uganda should maintain its law against homosexuality “and that they should use that as a way to basically say, ‘No, you’re not going to be able to promote this behavior because it’s illegal behavior.’
"

How benevolent indeed!

Sigh!!!!!!!! Now, I must make sure that I survive the genocide in the making......


gug

The ‘Dialogue’

It was this afternoon.

Sure, and I did attend. Kind of funny that I was there, and, of course it was interesting. On my part, to learn what the ‘other’ side thinks. And, of course, to see reason weighed down by the burden of unthinking emotion.

Afterwards, a friend commented that, in a way it was frightening. That, 2-300 years ago, that was how a ‘court’ judged summarily a witch. And, afterwards, they would go ahead and burn her. I didn’t dare point out to my friend that, just last year, in one part of Uganda, three people were accused of being witches by a village court. They were found guilty, and the sentence of death was quickly and immediately carried out. That was in modern day Uganda.

Oh, the sentence was carried out by the Biblical method of ‘beating/stoning’ to death. Here it is.

The dialogue had the atmosphere of a kangaroo court. True, and, the issue had already been judged. The judges came in well aware of what the judgement was to be. Sadly, for them, the sentence was not to be carried out. Because this was a dialogue. Not a debate. A ‘kimeeza’ in the local parlace.

Time check 1300 hours. That is when the debate was supposed to begin. There was only a handful of people inside. Mainly people from outside the campus….! And, of course the debate was not supposed to start at that time.

Time check 1345 hours. That is when the dialogue was supposed to start. Auditorium was about half to two thirds full.

Time check 1400 hours. The ‘moderator’ comes and gives us the oldest African excuse. We are tardy. We don’t know time. So, because the moderators wanted the debate to start at around 1400, and knowing the time keeping habits of their audience, they had put the ‘official’ time forward by a fantastic hour. A full hour….!

But, even then, the discussants were not yet in.

Time check 1430 hours. Dr Tamale has been seated for a while at the front bench. So has Major Rubaramila. The room is now overflowing. Standing room at the doors. We are beginning to murmur that they should have chosen a bigger venue.

But, of Mr. Bahati, there was no sign. We were told, some ten minutes ago, that he was some two-three minutes away. (I call them 3 African minutes…, bite me, I am African, and I do know how elastic time is here.)

Time check 1440 hours. MP Bahati in the house. And, the crowd settles down, for what is to happen.

NB. The fourth ‘discussant’ was found not to be the Provincial Secretary of the Church of Uganda, as had been put in the billing. It was Stephen Langa. The organizer of the 3 day anti-gay seminar. Earlier on this year.

Why the change? I don’t know. We were not told. Of course, I am able to speculate freely. The Church of Uganda is still seriously studying the bill, and has no ‘official’ position.

And, the Church of Uganda cannot have the official Church spokesperson giving the as yet unmade church position as he has done more than three, four times ago.

Sad. I was really waiting to see what the good Reverend was going to say! More nails in the coffin.

MP Bahati gave the first presentation. On why the Bill is necessary.

He is a young man. Said he has one kid, who he is very fearful that he can be ‘recruited’ into being a homosexual. He is an accountant by profession. A chartered accountant, I think that is the word? And he is of course also an MP. Of the ruling party. And the public face of the ‘Anti-Homosexuality Bill’

He gave the usual reasons. Why the bill is necessary. You know them. Homosexuality un-natural, abnormal, un-African. The threat from outside the country. The imposition of ‘outside values’, etc, etc. They have been well laid out in the bill.

And, he goes on about the threats that he has been receiving. Didn’t say from where.

He is a politician. And dull, as a speaker. Didn’t impress me with his intelligence. I mean, he just seems to be the guy who decided to be the ‘fall guy’. Anyway, he was what he is.

Anyway, then came Stephen Langa. Odd, he is an Electrical Engineer, from the University of Nairobi.

Then followed the most hopelessly illogical and inconsistent reasoning that I have ever listened to. No, I am not a stellar logician. But, I am a person who knows the consistency of logic when a person is presenting it.

Langa presented a conspiration theory. The ‘Gay Agenda’. The support from outside. The ‘recruitment’ (maybe it was him whispering into the Presidential ear? You know, recruiting European Homosexuals). A conspiracy theory which begins by trying to upset the opposition point of view. Listen well, they are going to lie, they are going to cry, they are going to say they are human. It was sad. And scaring.

The audience lapped it up. It was his. Yeah, he is also a Pastor, I am told. Yes, a pastor, in the Ugandan, evangelical sense. He talked of science, but showing the most unscientific evidence. Gosh, it was so bad. Morality taught as a science. Dr Tamale had to jab at him that, he was, as a pastor, had a right to believe and talk as he was talking. But, he was not supposed to make us believe that what he was saying was right.

Fear mongering. I have heard of the term. Never really seen someone do it, so effectively. And, he was quoting The Pink Swastika. By none other than Scott Lively. It is a matter of fact that we are going to feel the after effects of his preaching for long afterwards. God bless you, dear Lively

In the middle of the Langa presentation, Pastor Martin Ssempa made a grand entrance. The audience clapped, drowning out the speaker. He swaggered up the auditorium, to where the most noise was being made. His brown shirts were all seated together. It was his place, his crowd. And they showed it.

Oh, this will be too long.

And I don’t need to say much more, do I?

The Major is a well intentioned individual who is fighting a war without knowing the crowd. But, he is a soldier. He scored his points.

Last came Associate Prof. Sylvia Tamale.

Well, the lady did it. Taking the bill apart in a few concise words. She gave the same arguments as she wrote in the article. But this time had the time to open up on what she meant. And, the lady is damned good.

End of it all, her recommendation to the Honourable MP? He should either withdraw the bill as an embarrassment to the Country Uganda. Or, it should be let to die quietly in committee.

I will post her speech. Well, I will get it. It was fantastic. Don’t have it now, but will.

Then came the mess of the Q&A.

I was embarrassed. This is supposed to be the premier university of Uganda. Most of the people present, and peeping in through the windows, were students. Yes they were.

But, the clear logic of Tamale had not been any impression. They commented. And commented, and showed their ignorance.

I am a Ugandan. Yes, of course I am gay. But, I was acutely embarrassed at the reasoning capacity, the logic behind what people were commenting. Because it was too illogical.

These university students were ready to take in the ‘here is the information, believe it’ preaching of the preachers. Logic was left behind. And, it was extremely, well, village meetingish.

A University dialogue in the Faculty of Law was no more than a village meeting. I am Ugandan enough to be acutely displeased. And worried.

Yes, there is a big problem, if those we call our bright future are no more than ‘believers’ in some illogic.

Maybe I was an Egyptian in a long gone life…! Hey, I have to blow my own horn, (trumpet for you.)

I was complaining about that and someone told me, smugly, that I am gay. That means that I am logical, and, I come from a long line of super inventors. I claim the sexuality of Leornardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Alan Turing, and many others. Hey, I am gay, and have to look at the brighter side of life!

Anyway, the dialogue ended at well past five. As scheduled!

And I made my way out. Cause I had to congratulate the people of the minority opinion. MP Bahati was very encouraged by the positive crowd. And, he was having all these people congratulating him and giving him hugs. To them, he had definitely won the day.

Well, my opinion was different. But then, I am gay, aint I?

Someone, Kaybie, has surprised me by having made a comment about the dialogue. He or she was there, and their impressions are here. They are interesting. Do check them out here.

Dialogue? No, it certainly wasn’t a dialogue. It was a kangaroo court. But, I was impressed by the logic, and illogic, of the sides. Very interesting. Maybe the fact that I am gay, and Ugandan, makes me more susceptible to being critical?

gug