Old vs New

An interesting review of the struggles between traditionalists and progressives in the Anglican Communion. I am not a church historian, and once saw this whole thing simply as an attack on my sexuality. Apparently that is a myopic simplification. It is a bit more than just about my sexuality; the Anglican schism. And, yes, this is a global village where the ideological struggles are not limited to the west, or the east, but also in our poor towns and villages in Africa.

From women, to homosexuals, and I bet there will be another focus of contention when that is resolved.

 The liberals were certain they were doing God's work by dragging the communion forwards, whatever the small print of the resolutions might say. But the conservatives were more convinced the future belonged to them. Christianity is growing fast all over Africa and it is widely claimed – without much evidence – that this is a result of theological conservatism.

It is an interesting article.

Now, besides the ideological and religious changes in thought about gay sexuality, there has been an ongoing, more scientific update of knowledge ongoing. True, same sex attraction is no strange thing amongst all animals, a fact of life that disturbs only us humans, apparently. But, first the docs thought we were sick, then they discovered we were not, and then many of them were treating us because many of us want to change even when we know that we are not sick.

But, now, the science has swung so far the other way that it is agreed amongst many that, not only are we not sick, the posibility of change of sexual orientation does not occur, and, trying the various healing therapies is harmful. The treatment is harmful to the patient. So, British doctors are recommending that it makes no sense to use taxpayers money on 'conversion' therapies.

The annual meeting of the British Medical Association has declared that therapies to 'cure' gay people of homosexuality are harmful.

The body met in Brighton yesterday and more than two-thirds of doctors present backed a call for the Royal College of Psychiatrists and other mental health standard-setting bodies to reject the treatments and ban their use in codes of practice.

Health departments should also investigate alleged cases of conversion therapy being funded by the NHS, the meeting agreed.

What does that have to do with me in Uganda? Global village, you remember? And, it is sometimes funny to find that anti-gay activists blame us for 'importing' homosexuality, and then tell us we can be cured, from imported 'conversion therapy'. Oh yes, they do. What they copy of other cultures is okay, what they accuse us of copying is not... the myopia of self interest.

Actually, very similar to the hypocrisy of Uganda's pastors. Remember the Pastor wars? Ssempa and co accusing various other pastors in Uganda of not being anti-gay enough or being gay? I had not seen this article in the New Vision, and I am not aware of the latest news about that court case, but I am still amused at the lengths these good Chrstian leaders were willing to go to, in their anti-gay fervour.

A witness in the Rubaga Miracle Centre criminal trespass case has told court that Omega Healing Centre pastors, Robert Kayiira and Michael Kyazze, bribed him.

Herbert Tumukunde, a shamba boy at Rubaga Cathedral, said the pastors promised to give him large sums of money, build him a house and fly him to the US if he obtained incriminating information against Rubaga pastor Robert Kayanja.

Tumukunde told the Mwanga II court, presided over by grade one magistrate Esther Nakadama, that a stranger gave him Kyazze’s phone number, instructing him to call the pastor.

“Someone told me that Kyazze had a profitable deal for me to unearth acts of sodomy against Kayanja, so I immediately accepted. The offer was too big to refuse,” he narrated.

–

Now, to round up news of hypocrisies, LifeSiteNews, which specialises in news about Life, family and culture headlines an article, 'Why is Hillary Pushing Gay Rights onto Africa?'.

Now, I know that that article has been written by a Christian who 'loves' gay people. But, for all the love that this person has, I really prefer the love and actions Barack Obama, President, and Hillary Clinton, Sec of State showed when the Anti-homosexuality Bill was being pushed by my brothers and sisters (Christian) in Africa, mandating death and life in prison for me. Yeah, Hillary Clinton did ring up Museveni to push for my life.... that my country should not mandate death and jail for me because I am gay.

That, that was enough, and continues to be enough for me!

gug

Medical Science and Sexuality

Written 17 August 2009, and not posted. But I want to post it.. Why not?!

It is afternoon.

Have been doing some work. Reading, and also listening to music.

The sun is overcast. Clouds, grey skies. It is still. Not deathly so. The leaves on trees shiver, now and again. But it does emphasize the fact that it is still. Sunshine is weak, watery, and where I am, the shade is cool. Cold I would say, but I wouldn’t go that far.

Beautiful. Am alone, just enjoying myself. Listening to music. Capital fm. Seem to be into that type of music these days.

Music on the air. And in the distance, children at play. Busy little buggers. Play means noise, in quantity. And they are enjoying themselves.

Reading.

For some reason decided to delve into medical knowledge of homosexuality. Long story. Ok, short of it, the American Psychiatrist Association released something last week declaring that homosexual change treatment was a sham. That it just was not okay for a doctor to tell a patient that they will change their sexual orientation.

That was last week. Didn’t blog about it. I had set myself the task to read more about it. And, well, procrastinated, till now…!

Anyway, decided, if I am to go medical, then I will seek out the best. Not Wikipedia… Too lite. Emedicine, and the article on homosexuality. Language is hard, I must say (is true, doctors speak another dialect!), but it is simpler than when I first read the article. At least, I understood it better, this time.

When we are debating, matter of fact we fly off the handle too quickly. Logic is replaced by political correctness. Yes, I do it. Often. It is refreshing to read a thoroughly professional article that treats homosexuality like any other thing. No redness to the eyes, no spitting derision. You know, reading some of the Christian right articles on homosexuality, I get the feeling ‘homosexuality’, the word is used like a curse. 'Homosexual' so and so. The 'homosexual' did this and that. A damning label. And then, there is us, the out and proud gay. Gay Uganda… Of course that infuriates others. Someone has even tried to counter that with ExGayUganda, for god’s sake!

Back to the medical article. It is thoughtful. It is balanced, and it is well researched, and thorough. Sorry, I am not qualified to weigh the references. But I think they are solid. And it is empty of politicking. Well, I don’t think Ssempa would like the fact that doctors are warned not to promise patients the nivarna of changing their sexuality. And they are warned that it is a necessity to know, and beware of their own prejudices when dealing with gay patients. Gay human beings. But facts are facts… (except to politicians)

The APA advises that all sides have to note that some gay people will still want change. Don’t promise the impossible, they advise. But explore what is possible. Celibacy, changing churches, etc. Aim not for ‘political correctness’ of one type or another- (what is politically correct in Obama’s America is diametrically opposed to what is politically correct in Ssempa and Nsaba-Buturo’s Uganda), aim not for political correctness, but dealing with the individual in totality. Explore sexuality. Affirm the faith. Let the individual be comfortable with what they are, where they worship. Deal with the whole human being, not an isolated part of the whole.

Very thought provoking. Very thoughtful. Kind of makes me wish to study more of this, with less of my personal blinders. (of course they do have their own uses…!)

Have a great day!

gug

Personal Convictions

Yesterday there was a seminar for kuchus. Of a sudden the gay community in Uganda is moving by leaps and bounds. They are organising. We are organising, and the impetus is coming from us.

Kuchus are like kuchus everywhere. We are what we are. Gay, and fun loving. We are more likely to attend a party than go to a gay pride event. And organising in Uganda has been plagued by secrecy and the fact that many people fear coming out and embracing their sexuality. Too many constraints, which apply to me as well.

But a leadership is emerging. It is under pressure. But it is genuine, as opposed to many who have been out shouting when in actual fact they are not kuchus!

I was not able to attend the seminar. But I had a personal renaissance in thinking which has been buoying me on since yesterday.

I sat down to read a lot of 'medical' literature about sexuality. You know medical literature. Tough words, incomprehensible meanings which one has to master. An insistence on exactness of meaning which beats less science oriented thinking. I accessed the 'emedicine site' and searched on sexuality. Read three articles 'Sexuality: Gender Identity', 'Sexuality: Sexual Orientation' and 'Homosexuality'.

After I had swam through the words and oriented myself and come up for air, I was exhilarated. I mean, all this stuff was out there and I knew it, but I did not really know it!!!!

I wanted to understand more, and tackled 'Homosexuality' on Wikipedia. And that gave me a wealth of information that I found personally enlightening.

I knew all these things. But in an abstract way. Maybe I was due refreshment on my self knowledge as a homosexual. Maybe it is the fact that, even though we do not sense much overt hostility the internalised level of attack on our selves as homosexuals is considerable, and that once in a while I want to read, to refresh myself on what I am.

I found myself singing. It reminded me of the day that I affirmed myself as gay. I did not tell anyone. I just said it aloud and stopped hiding something which was so glaringly visible to my mind. And I was so deliriously happy that it buoyed me on for more than a year!

Yesterday, I could not help telling my lover about it. I even told him that I do not want to hide anymore. I felt like climbing the minaret of the Old Kampala Mosque and singing that I am gay, a homosexual!

Caution. I had to caution myself. There are medics who believe the homophobia. There is the case of the head of the Islamic Medical Association in UK and of course Bush's Surgeon General nominee at the moment. Maybe their minds can be changed. But it is great to sweep the mind with the refreshing clarity of science. And to know that science does move people, especially doctors.

And something else. If I am to come out, which I want to do as sensationally as possible, I have to tell my relatives first! I owe it to them not to hear it on radio or TV.

Tough thing to do. But then I will be able to sign this blog in my names. Not as …

GayUganda