THE Gay Agenda

On the face of it, the gay agenda seems to be a real thing…


A ‘deep, dark, vileness’… the words of Steven Langa were made very famous after the anti-homosexuality conference. A ‘creeping evil’ as David Bahati repeatedly states. These guys are actually convinced of this thing. That there is an actual ‘gay agenda’- an organized evil force that has to be fought. Of course, all in the name of Jesus, or the appropriate deities.

And, do recent events tend to show that?

Malawi caving in to international pressure. Uganda stalling in passing its ‘Anti-homosexuality bill’? Here is one Zimbabwean newspaper’s thoughts on what happened.

Gays’ pyrrhic victory in Malawi
GAYS have won a victory in Malawi through coercion and arm-twisting of the Malawi government. Malawi succumbed to extreme pressure from the USA, Great Britain and Europe in general assisted by the secretary-general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon.
If the United Nations and western nations were as united as they are against the trampling of human rights in Africa as they have been united against the trampling of gay rights, Africa would have very few political prisoners

Oh, the language of the paper is rash, and bitter. Minorities, persecuted minorities tend to think that if others accept them, then it is better. Gay Africans usually find that we are not accepted by others, and others believe that supporting us will tarnish their own credentials. In Uganda, it is only the vileness of the anti-homosexuality bill as an attack on human rights that brought many human rights NGOs on board. They thought of us as untouchables before. But the bill was too vile. They did touch us then. Some feared, nevertheless. The Zimbabwean newspaper, not a supporter of Mugabe, continues its diatribe.

The Malawi gay couple knowingly broke the law against gay marriage; the pair was tried in a competent court of law, found guilty and sentenced according to the constitution of Malawi.

In other words, the Malawi couple should still be in jail, from the writer’s point of view. They are evildoers, breakers of the law. Why were they released? [Shake of the head- the writer, the newspaper is Zimbabwean…!]
Africa, beware of the gay agenda, it continues. This is not pretty.

Africa, beware of “gayonolisation” (a form of colonisation). Why is the West so interested in sponsoring gay couple marriages and practices? The West is well known for long-term planning — with millions of Africans dying of diseases and wars, Africa will have no replacement for its dead if the entire continent is inhabited by unproductive gays.

Hmmmmmm!

Now, we see where the gay agenda is leading. Africa is huge, rich in resources, with a small population. The gay agenda is geared towards turning all Africans into ‘unproductive gays’. Now, now, now, if I was the one who wrote those words, I might be accused of exaggeration. But, I have also been hearing the same sentiment again and again in Uganda. Minister Nsaba Buturo of Ethics and Integrity was fond of asking rhetorically, ‘What will happen when everyone is gay?’ Certainly, many fellow Africans believe that we gay Africans….!!!!!! Absurd. Silly, Stupid. But true. They do believe it.

And what of us gay Africans? Unpatriotic, fighting for the ‘western’ gay agenda…

Gays, for their part, should not crow at all for having won recognition of their unholy war because their actions are diverting attention from more serious human rights abuses all over the world. They are forcing their own acquired sexual preference on African countries.

The whole article is silly. That is a fact.

But this is the kind of serious silliness which has to be addressed.

A gay African is considered a pariah, un-African, un-patriotic. We are vilified in church, mosque, the public spheres and the private. And, fellow Africans believe the lies of gay agenda etc.
Yet, it is also a fact that the recent events in Uganda and Malawi, and Kenya, did draw a seemingly disproportionate attention from the west. Why was that?

In part, I think it is because of the realization that a proxy war is raging in Africa. The American cultural wars. I believe that is the reason why the story had such carrying power in the US. The fact that, though the west is being accused of ‘exporting’ homosexuality, a case was made and literally proven, of the export of hate- homophobia. The war did go back home, to the US… and there, there were some real advantages.

The fact that Obama is US president and not G.W. Bush, the fact that the gay lobby in the US was feeling like flexing their muscles. And the fact that the EU takes matters of equality with European seriousness….
Yet, you know, the reason I think a gay person in the west will support a gay African is because we do identify with one another. The times when gay people were killed, imprisoned, castrated, vilified- those times are not too far gone in the memories of most gay people in the west. Yes, Iceland may have gone the full course, but in Britain, Section 21 is still remembered. The Nazi extermination camps and pink triangles are not merely part of history. They are a very recent vileness. Stonewall, and the post Stonewall anger is still ongoing. I think (or would like to think!) that a gay person in the west understands the ‘less than human’ contempt that many people think we are.

During the times of Reagan, HIV raged as the US government did little, (at least that is what I have learnt from recent history!). So, gay men did what they could. They became the HIV activists. The cost was in lives of friends, lovers, acquitances lost, but the lesson was re-learnt, re-emphasized that we gay humans have to fight, and fight for our very survival.
Those lessons, the fight for gay EQUALITY rather than rights, that to me explains the phenomenon of gay comradeship, across the races, countries, continents. We are different. Adversity, persecution, that makes us the same. And will continue in the near future, I bet. Not any depraved, evil ‘gay agenda’. Just a simple, desperate, need to be understood as different, but equal; also human.



gug

Hate!

When I first heard Steven Langa speak, he said words to the effect that he is for Family. And, against anything that is against family.

Then of course he went on to spew his hate about gay people. The excuse? We are against family.

Such is simple faith. I have no doubt that he is a believer. I have no doubt that he doesn’t question his faith and his ‘need’ to fight the gay agenda. That hidden, deep… whatever.

Why do people feel that we threaten them so?

Was talking to someone who theorised, we represent change for some people. Those who are labelled ‘conservatives’. And, that fear of change is palpable. They will go to lengths to oppose this.

I have come to recognise the disguised or Christian way to nuance hate. Forget the Ssempa way. He just wants to oooohhhh and aaaahhhhh while watching gay porn. But, the refusal to call a gay human being gay. No. They argue that he is a ‘homosexual’ and that they are just being ‘true’ to what is. If you are an American, can you imagine refusing to call an African American so, because in your view, that person is a nigger….

Of course, Ssempa goes further. Not his the nuancing. Sodomites! Don’t call them gay. They are not happy people. Really?

Then, there is the refusal to accept that we are human enough to reach out for companionship and a permanent state. They call our commitment ceremonies homosexual “marriage”. Putting it like so of course does two things. First, emphasize that it cannot be marriage. And, denigrate the resulting union.

Christian. Nuanced hate.

I have been trying to finish a blog post about the convolutions that the churches in Uganda went through to correctly, in politically correct Christian speech, clothe their hate of gay people. I am not yet finished, and I am determined that I will. Because it is a chronicle of all that is bad and ugly in the ideals that we call religion.

I don’t hate religion.

No. That is a sentiment that a man called Bolton helped me work out on this very blog. Some years ago. I didn’t know that I was so bitter. But, somehow, I managed to work out that venom.

But, the things that happened, are happening in Uganda have reminded me that the religions, Church and Mosque are intrinsically cruel.

They need to be called out. We have the single most damning weapon. Truth. And, if that is what it takes to bring them to shame, why, we shall record the truth that we see.

I was actually thinking about this article,  of a Christian registrar in England who wants the right to refuse to perform gay marriages. Well, doesn’t matter that gay English also pay her salary, does it? What matters is that she is a Christian, and, she should not perform gay ‘marriages’

We, us homosexuals, and the people who are like us can never qualify for anything that underlines our differences. Here is an article that examines a court challenge that is happening in Guyana. 

Why do we continue winning in the courts? Not ‘activist’ judges.

I am gay. But, I think that ultimately, the petty reasons cannot stand logical examination.

Of course, we shall continue losing with the ‘majority’. Simply put, the majority will not like what we represent. The change, the difference that we embody. So, we shall always lose there. But, logic will continue winning for us. Whether it is with church or others. For surely, we are human beings, aren’t we?

And, Desmond Tutu, and people like him are there to say on our behalf,

“Its time to stand up to another wrong.”

Someone examines a fascinating question to me:- Why Have Christians Led Anti-Gay Pogroms Before the Islamic World? 

I think he actually tries to explain it by saying homophobia in Islamic lands is so deeply entrenched that gay people are simply invisible. But, why Christian leaders in Christian lands. Leading pogroms! Jesus IS turning over in the grave. Sacrilege to you, I know. But, a worthy question. Think of Bishop Chai in Kenya, Archbishop Orombi in Uganda, and, of course the now silent one, the one from Nigeria.

If Ssempa is a Christian leader, add him to that list of infamy.

Why are Christian leaders leading anti-gay pogroms? Actually, the question is Christians. So, the net swoops up Langa, Nsaba-Buturo, Bahati, and the others.

African activist believes that Uganda is better than the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009. That analysis is actually good. Is Uganda a theocratic state? Why do MPs think and act and talk like the Bible or Quran informs all legislation? And other questions. Actually, it is the kind of analysis that I would recommend to 27^th Comrade. He might actually be jolted from his heaven of bits and bites, and actually use that brain to figure out a few things.

I will have to go to sleep. Soon. But, not before I recommend Andrew Mwenda’s excellent article. 

Hope you get a good morning.

gug

A Good morning

Grey morning.

I am told that to the east of Kampala, there is no rain. Sun, in abundance. But, in Kampala, the days, the mornings dawn grey.

Not the dull grey of depression-, it is just a variant of the beauty of the day. Later, the sun will be out, and it will be hot. And bright, and clear.

Yesterday was a busy day. Not in that I accomplished much, but in that I was happy to do what I could.

There was one sour note to it. Before I went to bed, I got the chance to throw my voice again at the waves. As gayuganda, of course.

BBC. Don’t remember the programe. Was on with Richard Cohen, the prophet that Stephen Langa represents in Uganda.

Bad introduction?

Richard Cohen is the founder of International Healing Ministries. They heal away the gay…! He is the one who got the invitation from Stephen Langa to come to Uganda. And, he passed it on to his minister, Caleb Bundr…

And, it is his books that have been used, and are still being used in Uganda for the anti-gay crusade.

Oh, I am not kidding you. Stephen Langa holds Richard Cohen as a shining example of how homosexuality can be healed. His books are the bible of the cure. They are selling like hot cake at Langa’s anti-homosexuality seminars and crusades. I am not kidding you.

Biggest problem. Richard Cohen is a fraud.

Simply put, he is no scientist. He is a very big fraud. And, he has been discredited multiple times in his own country, the US. But, in Uganda, he is a prophet. The Prophet.

On the BBC, he wanted to heal me.

I, errrr. I exploded. Don’t think I was coherent, or made much sense. Don’t think I drove home the points that I wanted to. Don’t think I connected. There was too little time, I was too angry, too disgusted that this guy was offering me a nivarna that I knew to be as false as the witches coven that Ssempa believes is at the bottom of Lake Victoria.

His are the words, the ideals, the prophesies which my countrymen have seized upon to ‘wipe homosexuality out of Uganda.’ He is a fraud bent on selling his books, which are demonstrably false.

Hey, if you don’t believe me, check out the video of his show down on the Rachel Maddow Show on MSBC in the US. He is a fraud, plain and simple. Check those videos. They are two, and they are instructive. One, two.

It was a few minutes when I was frothing at the mouth…!

Later, the kind lady presenter told me it was great. Of course she was being kind. [Shake of the head], why do people believe that their feelings about my sexuality transcend my feelings about my sexuality, above my life? Why do they insist on changing me, even at the threat of death or imprisonment?

Point is, I have been through the hell they offer as heaven. Been there. Done that. I have the scars to prove it.

Different cultures? Maybe they don’t understand me. Maybe they don’t understand the livid, vivid pain that they cause me?

I am not sure.

All I know is that I heard one of the prophets of the projected Uganda free of homosexuality. And, I saw red at the arrogance that I imagined in him. But then, I might be mistaken.

Spent a restive night. Woken up to a fresh, crisp, grey day. And I feel good.

Hope the day is good to you.

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

Round up...

Seems as if there are always lots of articles on the Bahati Bill and Uganda these days.

The most amusing, and evocative was this one in the Monitor. The point was easy. For the Bahati Bill, Return to the sender is the best action. Read it.

And here is an excerpt

Bahati’s Bill should be returned to sender

DANIEL KALINAKI

Sitting in a cafe in a European capital last week, I was, I admit, a bit surprised when the two gentlemen on the next table fell into a passionate embrace and then kissed, smack on the lips.

I brought my eyes back to my book and coffee in case I was caught staring, but my mind kept going back to the issue of gay rights in Uganda.

If this scene had played out in a cafe in Kampala, and if Ndorwa West MP David Bahati has his way and forces through his Anti-Homosexuality Bill, I would have been required to immediately call the police and report the two ‘criminals’.

Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda but MP Bahati has written a Bill so strong in its homophobic sentiments and the sanctions it prescribes, a lay reader of the Bill would imagine that this is the greatest challenge facing our country in our lifetime.

Few things evoke as much emotive debate in Uganda as homosexuality. It is labelled evil and foreign, a virus that crazy white people with their crazy white ways are smuggling into the country with the help of local acolytes. A few reformed converts have turned up to talk of money being sent surreptitiously to local networks to ‘recruit’ young people into homosexuality never mind that there is never evidence adduced of who sent how much money to whom and how it was spent.

In a country of thieves, rapists, murderers, adulterers, etc., the one practice many people can confidently condemn publicly without fear of personal contradiction is homosexuality

Continued...

I sincerely believe that a kind of dialogue has actually started. Heavily counter weighed, and emotional. But, much better than it was in the country in the days just after the bill was tabled.

In the international press, dialogue continues. It is not suprising, given the terribleness of the bill as it is, and the failure of those who support it to see how bad it is. I am Ugandan enough to feel irked by what I consider bone headed stupidity. But, that is a matter of fact. Here is one persons opinion on it in the New Statesman.

To me, this is a must read report. Yes it is. It just seems to be too close to the truth for me to doubt it. Maybe I am forming my own Conspiracy Theories. Ones that are fitting to me. A Homophobia agenda!

But, it does still explain too much for me to dismiss it like so. And, I am recomending it to you. To everyone, interested in the global connectedness of Uganda's blood curdling homophobia. Here is the links. To the Full Report. To the Executive Summary. It is appropriately titled "Globalising the Culture Wars: US Conservatives, African Churches, and Homophobia" Listening to Langa and Ssempa, I see the real thing. In flesh and blood. Yes I did. Yesterday.

Christians outside Uganda continue to be amazed, and incredulous. About the Bill. Well, I was calling on Christians to act. And, it is Christians who are putting the pressure on Christians here. For their uncharitable actions.

I was very glad that the Church of Uganda has stopped giving out its incediary statements. Yes, they are under scrutiny. And, I expect they know it. No more hate speech, in the name of Christ. I was waiting for it yesterday.

Here are some fighting words from the Canadian Synod of General Synod on Uganda. Please remember, me, when I call these guys non-Christians for supporting the bill, they disdain what I say. Because I am a homosexual. When Christians, indeed, those 'foreign Christians, who they have constantly deviled show Christian Compassion and call upon them to show restraint, in Christ's name. They listen. of course, they call you 'foreigners'. But, they listen. Despite everything to the contrary, they want to live up to their label of Christian. That is why such a letter says so much, in so little. Fact is, it is worth much more than the many words on this blog.

Amazing. They actually call on the Church of Uganda to oppose the bill! Yeah, you do it! Even non Christian me see it is not Christian at all!

Other Christians are outraged that THEIR churches are not coming up with condemnation. And, they are expressing this outrage. Thanks, fellow human beings. You make me feel human. Even when I am a Ugandan homosexual living and working in Uganda.

Williams of Canterbury is under pressure. I hope Sentamu of York feels it too. I feel, in a way, that it is also an opportunity for him. To come up and point at the Church of Uganda and say, you are doing a non-Christian thing, Brother. In COU rhetoric, Williams has been the wolf in sheeps clothing. Does he really have to be pressured into taking a stand?

Here is another article, addressed to Christians to STAND UP and be counted. Is a good one. I love the title a lot. A very Un-Christian Campaign against Homosexuality in Uganda.

The Exodus letter is a particular foil. Why, even Exodus does not support the Bill! That is a shock, to Steven Langa. An unpleasant one. Because he is using information published by some of the signatories of this letter. He quotes them. And, very embarassing that they dont support his bill! Even his allies see that his action is un-Christian. He also quotes Lively, extensively. Yes, he does. This Lively. To Langa, the true intellectual mind behind the Bahati Bill, Lively is THE prophet of his crusade. And he promotes his books. Repeateldy. Even yesterday. (It was the Pink Swastika)


I will always remember Langa's face when he was challenged that Exodus was not supporting the bill. That they were not supporting him, though he was quoting them. And, it was a fellow pastor, I believe, who challenged him. Could he answer? Ha!

And, of course, human rights activists, and LGBT friends world wide continue the pressure.

Thank you. To all.

Yes, we might have a miniscule chance of getting this horrendous genocidal bill stopped. We can try. With your help. Help, Please!

gug

Masturbating Ugandans!

So help me gods, but me, sexually liberal me, who is gay and living in a (gasp) loving, homosexual partnership, I don’t believe that masturbation is a bad thing. I mean, that was the very firstest way that I, ascended, reached the peak. And I have faithfully and wonderfully become re-acquinted with the practice.

It is cheap, easy, accessible.

I masturbate. My lover masturbates. I mean, we both masturbate, looking in one another’s eyes. And love seeing the others climax. Wont tell you the lovely, depraved things that we do after that… I mean, this blog is already XXX-rated.

But, here is an article about masturbation in the New Vision.

And, know who they quote? Steven Langa. The guy who brought the Anti-Gay Americans, the Ex gay, anti-gay Americans during the Anti-gay seminars. Here is the article.

Kick the masturbation vice out of you

Friday, 11th September, 2009          

By Maureen Nakatudde

FEAR, hopelessness and guilt are some of its fruits. But despite this, masturbation has been lauded as an HIV preventive practice and that it reduces the chances of rape. Moralists, however, argue that the bad effects of masturbation are worse than its merits.

Steven Langa, a counsellor with the Family Life Network in Kampala, says when a person gets addicted to the habit, he can suffer from impulsive masturbation. “Here, the habit has really got out of hand,’’ he explains.

Sexual malfunction, Langa adds, can result, especially among the young.

“For instance, if they are still far from finishing an exam, they can involuntarily masturbate when the supervisor announces the remaining time.”

He says after masturbation, the victim only regrets the act. “The person wants to escape but cannot.”

Gerald Kiyingi, a doctor at Kawolo Hospital, says one might lose interest in his partner, which can result in instability in marriage.

Since God didn’t create man to gratify himself, masturbation is against God’s design for two people of the opposite sex to explore each other.

Besides, counsellors argue, the habit is associated with shame and low self esteem. This is because the person starts comparing himself to other people.

Prevention

According to Langa, for a person to stop masturbating, practices like reading and watching pornographic material should be stopped.

Mark Petersen, in Steps in Overcoming Masturbation, offers ideas to help curb the vice. He argues that making a decision to end the practice is itself a great leap towards victory.

When in bed, if that is where you have your problem, dress yourself for the night so securely that you cannot easily touch your vital parts, and so that it would be difficult and time-consuming for you to remove those clothes. By the time you start removing protective clothing, you will have sufficiently controlled your thinking that the temptation would leave you, Petersen counsels.

Following a programme of vigorous daily exercise could be of help. Petersen says the exercise reduces emotional tension and depression, basic requirements in curbing the vice. Double physical activity when you feel stress increasing.

If you are being tempted, you are advised to distract yourself. This can be by turning your thoughts to constructive business.

If you are Christian or Muslim, you can memorise a verse from the Bible or Koran. He adds that reading a book, visiting a friend or doing athletics can counter the vice.

Gosh, why are all things that are good and lovely, errr, evil????? Makes me thank the gods I don’t believe such nonsense! Bahhhh!

gug

Sodomy War

Crusade. War on Sodomy. Kicking homosexuality out of Uganda.

This article was back in June, history, with regards to today’s quickly moving events. But I like the illustration of the Church’s priorities… This is how God’s Holy Warriors, the Anti-gay Crusaders do battle against the vice in Uganda. The US has its anti-gay church of holy warriors. The guy is called Phelps? The one who was denied entry into Britain. (Which reminds me, why don’t we request that dear Ssempa is not allowed that sceptred isle? He may not find it funny!). Ssempa is our Phelps. And the holy associates are Steven Langa, Solomon Male, Michael Kyazze. God bless them.

Tongue in cheek. Hope your Sunday is a good one. Enjoy it. And don’t you bash any homosexuals!

ANTIGAY TRIO DECLARES WAR ON HOMOSEXUALS
By Mask Admin

UGANDA – 05 June 2009: The fight against gay church leaders is on in Uganda, led by top anti-gay Pastors Martin Sempa, Solomon Male and Michael Kyazze.

According to media reports these Pastors say they have received about 150 complaints from alleged sodomy victims who claim to have been abused by a number of church leaders.

While Uganda’s gay community is skeptical about the validity of this claim, the anti-gay religious group says it won’t reveal the names of victims because they are protecting them from the police who had earlier terrorised and intimidated young boys who accused Pastor Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Centre for sodomising them.

Sempa also revealed to a Ugandan tabloid that more Pastors have been accused of sodomy and will soon be shamed.

“The sodomy storm has forced many victims to come out but we don’t trust these cops”, Sempa told the tabloid.

Kyazze said “we are not going to keep quiet until those sinners are exposed. We have a big picture and when our confidence in our [police] force grows, we are going to break the news.”

Meanwhile the anti gay trio allegedly held a prayer outside Uganda’s Central Police Station as Kyazze testified to reports that Pastor Kayanja had been abusing young boys.

They are also planning to organize an anti-homo crusade at Lugogo that will take 40 days of fasting and prayer.

“We are going to wear black clothes to show our grief for the nation. We will pray to God to heal the nation of child sacrifice and homosexuality”, Sempa said.


Amen??????


gug

Consequences

Coming home today, a friend told me of a curious story. He had got a call from George Oundo, aka Georgina. Guy wanted money- if he was not to ‘out’ him.

The friend cursed Georgina away.

And, on returning home from work, he found his domestic help with a strange story. The help was visited by Red Pepper people. They know he has a story about his boss, he was informed. And they were ready to pay well for the story. Which story? The boss’s (homo)sexual escapades.

Georgina, good Christian as he is, (he says he is doing the outing etc for God and Country), has a lucrative side line. Blackmail.

He has blackmailed many. And continues- I have failed to figure out what he is after.

But, besides the blackmail, there is a lot of fear.

Remember the guys in Mbale? The couple that was arrested for being amorous. They are still in jail. On remand, almost a month since the arrests. There is literally no case against them. But public opinion, and politics.

There is a sadder case in Mukono. A seventeen year old was sentenced to life imprisonment, because he had gay sex. Life imprisonment in Uganda means exactly that. No parole. No time out. Life in prison. The boy can only appeal that sentence.

There is another case, in Entebbe. And others.

Suddenly, prison is becoming something that anyone suspected of being gay gets rail roaded to. Doesn’t matter that you may not be gay. Or you may not be guilty. Fact is, us seasoned gay people are kind of too suspicious to be caught in the act. But damn!

I am just thinking of Stephen Langa, that nice Christian man, doing his round on the fm stations, complaining that homosexuals were not being arrested. Well, we are being arrested. And sentenced, to life in prison.

Guy visited me yesterday. His name, his pic was published. He cannot sleep at his house. His LC chairman advised him that residents will lynch him. And a friend that was staying at his house was beaten up. Because of suspicion that he is gay.

He was suicidal. Where is this going to end?

Father Musaala, his career is in tatters. Until he can ‘prove’ that he is not homosexual. His rivals must be happy about that- they did destroy this pretender to the love of god, didn’t they? 

By the way, in the same red rug issue in which people were outed was a pornographic 'confession' from dear Georgina. He detailed how he was a wife to a 'popular priest' for over a year, for some money... Didnt require an Einstein to figure out who the 'popular priest' was supposed to be.

All lovers of homosexuals, (or any who can pretend) have to affirm their heterosexuality. Bishop Ssenyonjo, that venerable granddad has to begin his defence of us by asserting that he is not gay. He must be, after all, Georgina ‘outed’ him.

But the one thing which amused me about this hysteria was the Pastor Kayanja saga. Apparently, his pastor rivals could not get someone like Georgina to accuse him. So, they are offering money for the confessions. Kayanja is a very influential man. Politically very well connected (which in a way makes him vulnerable!). He found the need to make the accusations New Vision headlines. And then to go to Red Pepper, of all papers! Apparently, his detractors complain that he is not anti-gay enough. That is why they say he must be gay, because he is not anti-gay enough. (The headline in the red rug was Pastor Kayanja reveals his homo history! but like much that that rug writes about, the story was miles away from the headlines.  Poor Kayanja!)

I swear, I am not lying. Most of these things are documented, by the Red Pepper, and its sister anti-gay publication, the New Vision.

Actually, it is early days.

Uganda has been homophobic. But not above many other countries in Africa. What started as an anti-gay, Christian seminar to deal with the homosexual agenda has morphed into some tears of pain for many of us. And it is not yet finished.

Where will it end?

 

gug

Loving the Sinner

This is the kind of love that this sinner would rather do without. The love of Ssempa, Buturo, Langa, Orombi, and various others. Christians, who hate the sin of homosexuality, but love us homosexuals.

Matter of fact, I have been set off by some anonymous commentor on the blog. He or she was supporting Buturo, that he is against the ‘spread of homosexuality’ but not homosexuals. Poor Christian, needing to disguise hate for love.

I think it is the bare faced hypocrisy that touches me. I don’t mind a person saying he hates me. Me, as in a homosexual. I am what I am. Someone may say that he hates me because I am black or a nigger. I will shrug it off. I don’t love everybody. Hell, I am also prone to prejudice!

But when someone puts a knife in me, and starts splitting hairs on how the hate that he or she shows is in truth love, I see red.

Ok, fact is, I see it as a chance to turn that knife into his or her face and twist it, a little, and more than a little! Ssempa, the anti-gay Ssempa who loves us so much that he believes we should get HIV…! Why? Because, if, God forbid, we were allowed to have the knowledge to stop ourselves from getting HIV we would just be ‘promoting homosexuality’. And you know what, the sin of promoting homosexuality is so heinious that it is important for all Christians to prevent others from commiting it. It is worse than making sure that fellow human beings get HIV because they are homosexuals. Poor Christians indeed! I thought he had stopped reasoning like that, but apparently he is continuing... The 'representative' of some American Right activists...!

I can quote the number of times, the vitriol that has poured out of the mouth of Minister for Ethics and Integrity in Uganda, Nsaba Buturo. He wants us out of the country, we are worse than animals, immoral, etc, etc. The words that pour out of the gentleman’s mouth, the hate speech is so un-Christian that many people are shocked that he says all ‘in the name of Jesus’! But he does, all in the name of Jesus.

See, in Uganda, nothing is too bad for homosexuals.

Listening to Stephen Langa and his friends from America, I was stuck by how hate filled this can all be. They have one premise. Homosexuality and homosexuals must be evil. Starting from they manufacture lies, half truths, conspiracy theories, and others. All of these are ‘proof’ that homosexuals are evil. I am galled by the people who go ahead and believe it all. Why do they believe? Because homosexuals are evil. So, what is there not to believe?

Someone stated in a comment that although in the US, homosexuals are 5% of the population, they commit 30% of the child abuse. Is it true?

I don’t know the figures on child abuse in the US, but when I see that kind of assertion, I immediately suspect that it is not true. But, someone does believe it. And why do they? Why do they believe that kind of thing? Because they have to. They have this image of me the homosexual as so evil that anything that is bad is easily blamed on me. Their hate has to be justified. They cannot believe that a homosexual cannot be good. No. Never. Why not? Because he or she is a homosexual!

Sad, isn’t it?

George Oundo, and his ex-gay friends, have been going around 'outing' people on radio and television in Uganda. They did it under the good Christian help of Ssempa, and Langa, and the 'Family Life Network'. Listening to Oundo, you would be struck by how much venom and hate he was spitting, frothing against his gay friends. Was that love? No. It was poison. Hate. But this was a 'young christian' who was being encouraged in his new expression of love to 'out' gay people. Listening to him, I wondered how Ssempa and Langa could even associate with this naked hate. It does mean something to trumpet that someone is Christian, doesnt it? Well, maybe it does.

But why do Christians hate us so much?

See, I told you that I am also subject to prejudices. But, forgive me. It is Christians who are persecuting me. I ask to be left in peace, they throw stones and hammers, and bibles and other things. The hate speech that is coming out of their mouth is in the name of their being Christians. Am I wrong to paint all Christians with the same tar brush?

There are Christians who are gay. (Course, Orombi does not believe that Gene Robinson is a Christian. But that is an internal matter for them, and I don’t belong to that club… What I know is that both are Christians…!) And there are others who take it upon themselves to attack the hate speech that the Ssempa’s preach. Like Desmond Tutu.

Sadly, it is a human failing, choosing out a small, minority group that can be bullied and hated and thrown to the lions. We always forget, that they are also humans. It is by an active act of thought that we root out this kind of prejudice. That we make it irrelevant. Or, like I do, we start wondering why others don’t see what we see!

 

GayUganda 

Another Christian group vows to fight homosexuality in Uganda

First published: 20090414 9:48:46 AM EST

 

Christian Peace Youth Ministries International (CPYM), a Uganda based youth pressure group has joined other organizations and pressure groups against homosexuality.

According to the Director of CPYM, Ev. A.K Johnson Aggrey, the group is planning numerous workshops in schools to counter the vice that is said to be eating away the morals of children in schools.

This comes at the time when the pro and anti-gay activists are raising against each other in both the local and international media.

The pro-gay activists recently attacked the anti-gay workshop organizers headed by Stephen Langa, the Executive Director of Family Life Network.

In recent years, gay activists have attempted to force change and strive for a more tolerant society. As the activists have become more vocal, the opposition has intensified.

In August 2007, the activist group Sexual Minorities of Uganda launched a campaign entitled Let us Live in Peace.

Anti-gay groups responded a week later by holding a rally in a sports stadium. Three months later in November 2007, gay activists and bishops engaged in a heated impromptu debate before an international audience at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala.

In spite of, Persecution

Have just been to a bar.

Easter Saturday. It was crowded. Sunday and Monday are public holidays. And, this is party time.

Many other guys out there. And gals. Seems as if my ‘circle’ has been decimated, by the outings. Kind of tough, going out, and most of those that you know are not there. Gay, I just make new friends. But not very politic with my husband looking over my shoulders. He is the jealousy kind. Legendarily jealousy, if I am to be accurate!

‘You guys ok?’

A friend had appeared out of the blue, and the rain. Was overcast, most of the evening. With a cool breeze touching my now shaven head. I had hid out of the breeze, with the guys and gals inside, where it was warm, the music was high, and we were grounding and gropping one another. That is, until I felt like getting some air. And found that it was drizzling outside.

I was leaning on my lover’s shoulder, high, bit tipsy, oblivious of any interested eyes.

Yeah, we are fine.

‘Despite the persecution?’ he was concerned, looking into our eyes.

‘Yeah, despite the persecution’ we replied, after some hesitation.

He nodded, and left us to our devices.

I watched him go, trying to figure out what he meant. Then I understood. Remember the guys who were arrested in Mbale? Brian and Fred. They are still in prison, far as I know. Apparently, they are a couple. Have been, for 5 good years. That is why the neighbors were able to know what would be happening in their house. That is why they were arrested, but apparently, it was not in a compromising position. Now, most of the kuchu community believes that me and my partner are at higher risk, of outing, and arrest than most others. We have got that question a lot, the last couple of days.

Is it true? Are we at increased risk?

Probably. Cant believe that most of our neighbours have not got that suspicion. Eight years living together in same house is not a short time. But, we do have some ‘guardian angel’, so probably we are not as much at risk as others may think. Or, at least that is what I hope!

Today, was talking to one guy. He has appeared on TV as gay, sometime before. A bit involuntarily. He was worried. Seems the Local Council Chairman at his place wants a personal word with him.

Good Christian easter spirit, with the anti-gay hysteria ongoing, seems to be that the community ‘demands’ that evil ‘homosexuals’ leave the community. He was asking for advice. He fears going home. He fears that the Local Council chairman wants to serve him an eviction notice.

I was upset. That should not happen. He is a Ugandan. He has a right to live wheresoever he lives. That right is enshrined within the constitution. I know! No other Ugandan has the right to ‘chase’ him from his home for any reason.

I told the poor guy off, and sent him to other people. What I said was fact. That is the law, far as I know, but reality tends to twist it in another way. Fact is we have been branded child abusers and a risk to the community, by dear Pastor Ssempa and Steven Langa’s anti-gay campaign. And, for most of our country mates, with the law a parody of useless justice, mob justice, which knows no law, is a quicker, surer way of achieving ‘justice’.

A long digression.

Didn’t stop me thinking that, with Christians in church for the Midnight masses and other holy functions, we gays were quite safe in the bars, where the anonymity of each and everyone else saved us from being ‘outed’. Ok, I did feel safe, leaning against my lover, in a bar in the middle of Kampala, more than a little drunk, at that particular moment.

Times are tough.

Yes, for the time being, we are safe.

A good Easter holiday. Despite the persecution. Irrespective of your Sexual Orientation

 

 

GayUganda

Letter from America…

No, sorry. Letter of an American living in Uganda

Uganda must not budge!

Tuesday, 7th April, 2009      

As a pastor of a Bible-believing Baptist Church in Masaka, I want to applaud Mr. Steven Langa of FLN for his outrage at the UNICEF book being distributed which promotes homosexuality as a lifestyle that is “acceptable and okay to live with”. He has a right to be outraged and so does every God-fearing family in this country. I have seen homosexuality literally bring my country (USA) to spiritual ruin and shame to the point that now their ‘marriage’ is an acceptable practice. Let not America think that she is so great that she is not above the judgment of God. God help my country to come to her senses and get back to the principles on which it was founded, the biblical definition of marriage—Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. Sodomy is an abomination in the sight of God and was punished by death in the Word of God, it is not an acceptable lifestyle. I have lived in Uganda for 13 years and one testimony that I have given to my friends in the US, over and over, is the strong stand that Uganda takes against sodomy. Uganda must not budge an inch. All these UNICEF booklets should be recalled and burned. If we do not stand for something, we will fall for anything!

 

Keith L. Stensaas

Masaka Independent Baptist Church

A Well Organised Campaign

Not ours. We are not organised. It is the anti-gay campaign in Uganda I am talking about.

Seated, shirtless, at home. It is warm, the warm of the rainy season, the sun very bright, the skies very blue, and rain a threat of the afternoon.

I am relaxed,

and it is with the lifting of some of the tension that I have realized how stressed I have been. For the second day of the week, I have not seen any adverse headlines in the New Vision. Government paper- it seems to have taken up the anti-gay cause, these last few days.

No adverse headlines.

Seems like a dream. Nobody outed over the weekend. Seems as if the press is moving on. It was yesterdays news? The outings. The accusals of ‘recruitment’, the speculations on who is and who is not a homosexual.

By the way, the Observer had a very interesting article. In this day and time of Gay Witch hunts, how to recognize a gay or lesbian Ugandan. It was in the public interest. It is very important that you recognize those who are gay and lesbians. Don’t let them near your children. Chase them from jobs, etc, etc. It is here.

And today in the morning, I heard, on Beat fm, one guy protecting Father Musaala. Seems the only way we will get some airing is when we admit fawningly that we are ‘ex-gay’, so the guy didn’t disappoint. He is ex-gay (like it is a new fashion shirt that he is putting on), and he was counseled by Father Musaala until he became ex-gay. So, he is making the rounds of the fm stations, shoring up the good Father’s name. Unfortunately, the presenter was not very respectful of the guys 'ex-gay' credentials. Poor guy, he 'looked gay'!

AfroGay has an analysis of the politics behind the ‘outing’ of Father Musaala. I continue to be leery of that particular outing. Too convenient, too much that the ‘outers’, Pastor Ssempa will gain from the demise of their pastoral rival. But, again, I have to admit to being extremely biased against the Ssempas of Uganda; professional anti-gay activists as they are, and very politically adept. I just have to be careful about what I say, just don’t want my own prejudices to cloud my judgement.

I wanted to comment about the anti-gay campaign in Uganda.

It has been very well organized. (I do wish we gay people had the money and the ability to organize like these guys have accused us of being. I mean, it would just be fair, you know!)

Past years, there were so many homophobic, and frankly un-Christian statements from the likes of Ssempa, Nsaba-Buturo, and others. Many of them are on this blog.

But, during that time, there was a hint of disorganization. They prepared the ground, but were too hate filled, too extreme. I mean, why reject an HIV prevention programme? I remember Ssempa's statement to that effect… But I digress.

Come this year, entered Stephen Langa onto the scene. He has been working a lot, but underground, or so he seems to have. Good connections to the American right, in particular those who are obsessed with homosexuality as a problem.

A coup, he landed them an invitation to a 3 day conference.

Jan, and Feb, he advertised.

I was very amused when one of his e-mails landed into my e-box. He was using the mobilizing power of the churches here, and why not the mega one, Kampala Pentecostal Church? He did a few press conferences and statements. Seems as if only UG Pulse was biting most of the time. Why? I can only speculate.

Then came the conference itself. I have catalogued some of that, err, (shit) here.

Apart from me writing about it, and a small article in the Monitor newspaper, (the second largest circulating daily), the press didn’t bite, for some reason.

Post conference, he was not deterred. He has been continuing with organization. Formed an anti-gay task force. Meetings every Sunday at Hotel Triangle. Setting up objectives, aims, and what to do.

And fundraising…

While he accuses us of all this shit (the same that he is doing.) Why not? We are homosexuals. Bad, by definition. Very bad. For him, of course he does it in the name of God and Country.

George Oundo lit on the scene. And the New Vision took up the campaign. Sensational headlines. ‘Recruiting’. Outing, as sensationally as possible. Front page. With commentary from Ssempas and Langa. And, last Saturday, the triumphant nailing of UNICEF for ‘promoting homosexuality’. The enemy is defined, both inside and outside the country.

Inside the country, gays are reeling from the juggernaut. Had not foreseen the sundering of our closets. We have turned, and presented another cheek for the mighty Christian moral anger. (Maybe if we act more Christian than the Christians, they will let us off the hook. Maybe.) Oh, we shall survive. Despite the ongoing crusade. That is a given.

What next?

They tied the new ‘Pornographic bill’ to recruitment of gays. Apparently, we didn’t exist in the days when there was no ‘pornography’ in Uganda. A severe, punishing bill has been introduced in parliament. It targets pornography. For a doubter, it also aims to curb homosexuality. The things Ugandans believe!

And, a new bill to outlaw homosexuality and being gay in Uganda has been in the offing for a long, long time. Minister Nsaba Buturo has been taking his time, don’t know why. So, with the excitement of the population, and the fact that there is going to be a mass rally, and ongoing are anti-gay seminars and the gathering of signatures, this will be introduced.

Stephen Langa plans to speak to the president. As a concerned parent of course. About the ‘international organisations’ spreading homosexuality in Uganda. Nsaba Buturo has already talked to Uganda’s UN ambassador (remember, we are on the Security Council this year, and the next. Clout, huh!)

Soon, very soon, will be the bill. And it will sail through parliament. Who dares oppose this will of the people?

A well organized campaign indeed.

 

gug