The Experts Speak; On Steven Langa's and David Bahati's Quack Psychology

[forgive my crowing. Yes, I am too combative, which kind of makes me an unhealthy person to debate with.
The damned doctors are way too well enscoced in their ivory towers to come out and pronounce on things which concern us mere mortals. But, the South Africans are coming out. Swinging.]

An Open Statement from the Psychological Society of South Africa to the People and Leaders of Uganda Concerning The Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009

An Open Statement from the Psychological Society of South Africa

to the People and Leaders of Uganda Concerning

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009

And addressed to:

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

aak@statehouse.go.ug

Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Edward Ssekandi Kiwanuka

dnuwamanya@parliament.go.ug

Introduction

On the occasion of the proposed legislation in Uganda to greatly expand your country's existing criminalisation of homosexual behaviour, as well as to criminalise those who fail to report even suspicion of it including family members, colleagues and health care professionals;

And given arguments made in the bill itself and from its proponents in numerous public statements that it is intended to achieve the laudable goal of protecting youth, families and communities;

And given that there has been ample critique by civil society including human rights, public health and faith communities addressing a range of serious concerns from those perspectives;

And given that it is good practice that legislation is based not on unsubstantiated opinions, but rather on recognised research findings;

And given that there has not yet been a scientific analysis of the core assumptions and arguments being made to justify the legislation;

And given that the considerable body of relevant international scientific research provides a context in which to assess the assumptions and issues presented by The Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009; 

It is therefore incumbent on representatives of organised psychology, as leaders in the field of mental health and well-being, to offer such an analysis and recommendations as follows[1]:

The Nature of Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation refers to one's emotional, romantic and sexual attraction to men, women, or both sexes.  It can also refer to a person's core sense of identity based on those attractions, related behaviours, and membership in a community of others who share those attractions.

Research and clinical experience have found no relationship between sexual orientation and someone's ability to contribute to the community and to influence children to become responsible members of society.

Research and clinical experience further concludes that for most people sexual orientation is not "a choice" or "voluntary."  The core aspects of sexual orientation, whether heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual, typically emerge by early adolescence, even though the individual may not yet have become sexually active.

While "causes" for any of these sexual orientations remain unclear, they are highly resistant to change.  Further, there is no reliable evidence that sexual orientation is subject to redirection, "conversion" or any significant influence from efforts by psychological or other interventions. 

Research and clinical experience concludes that homosexual or bisexual orientations are naturally occurring minority variations of normal human sexuality. They are also documented widely throughout nature.

The Sexual Orientation of Adults Does Not Adversely Affect Children in Their Care

A common manifestation of prejudice against homosexual people has been the allegation that gay men in particular pose a danger to children.  Yet, all available reliable research data and clinical experience concludes that gay men are not more likely than heterosexual men to sexually exploit and abuse children.  Claims to the contrary seriously mischaracterise the research and rely on suspect sources.  The presumption that homosexual men are paedophiles also is not supported by respected, peer reviewed research.

South African-based as well as other international research has found that there is no difference between children who are raised by homosexual versus heterosexual parents regarding matters such as sexual orientation, gender identity, sex-role behaviour, likelihood of being sexually abused, self-concept, intelligence, personality characteristics, behaviour problems, peer relations, parental separation and divorce, general adjustment and accomplishment of developmental tasks.

Effects of Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation

Both international and South African research has found significant negative effects of exclusion and other forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation. Sexual orientation-based discrimination presents the same risks of psychological and other harms as discrimination on the basis of race, religion or gender.

Notably, among youth who identify as homosexual or bisexual or who think they may be, research concludes that family rejection and exclusion, as well as bullying by peers, correlates highly with a range of high risk behaviours and outcomes ranging from truancy to substance abuse to attempts at suicide.

In much of sub-Saharan Africa, homosexuality is firstly interpreted as "foreign," portrayed as "un-African" and a "white import."  In some traditional African beliefs, those of a same-sex sexual orientation are considered cursed or bewitched; that is, damned by the forefathers and the gods.  In primarily Christian and Muslim African countries alike, gay men and lesbian women are confronted with religious condemnation. 

Much evidence points to this stigmatisation leading to deep-seated and widespread prejudice, discrimination and violence toward those who are not heterosexual.  A session on homosexuality at the 2^ndAfrica Conference on Sexual Health and Rights, hosted in Kenya in 2006, noted that fear, hatred and abuse at the hands of largely intolerant and unsympathetic peers and elders hampers the personal growth and well-being of African homosexuals.

Also widely documented among the outcomes of prejudice and discrimination are consistently high rates of anti-homosexual harassment and violence, both state sanctioned and extrajudicial.  Furthermore, criminalisation on the basis of sexual orientation has been found to exacerbate social discrimination and, in particular, leads service providers to discount, ignore and neglect the needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual people, thus compounding their vulnerability.

Conclusion

The scientific fields devoted to mental health and well-being, including psychiatry, psychology and sociology, do not consider homosexual orientation to be a disorder, but rather view it as a naturally occurring variation of normal human sexuality.  Research and clinical practice indicates that homosexual people have an overall potential to contribute to society similar to that of heterosexual people and that they pose no greater risk to children than do heterosexual people.

While the proposed bill cites "…the need to protect the children and youths of Uganda…" as justification, there is no credible, reliable evidence that the measures contained in the bill will achieve that outcome.   Research and clinical practice instead indicates that the abuse of human rights and fundamental freedoms embodied in the bill, and the state sponsored discrimination and affronts to basic human dignity it mandates, would instead result in profound physical and psychological harms to the already vulnerable lesbian, gay and bisexual youth in the very population the legislation claims to protect.

On the grounds outlined in this statement, the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) therefore joins the international community in strongly opposing the proposed anti-homosexuality legislation.   The PsySSA joins in the call for Ugandan leaders to abandon or defeat the bill, and instead to join the trend in the international community of decriminalising homosexuality.

Call to Action

The Psychological Society of South Africa invites other organisations and professionals dedicated to mental health and well-being, particularly throughout the African continent, to join us by endorsing this statement and forwarding notification of endorsement to the President of the Republic of Uganda and the Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament at the addresses above as we will do upon release of this statement.  We further ask that organisations and individuals so doing also kindly copy their endorsement to PsySSA so that we can monitor the response.

• Psychological Society of South Africa notification address: nelja@unisa.ac.za

The Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) is the professional body representing psychologists in South Africa. PsySSA has since its inception been dedicated to making a significant contribution to solving the pressing human development problems in South Africa. PsySSA is committed to the transformation and development of South African Psychology to serve the needs and interests of all South Africa's people. PsySSA advances psychology as a science, profession and as a means of promoting human well-being.

The Psychological Society of South Africa is a member of The International Network on Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns and Transgender Issues in Psychology.

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[1]  Note, list of references available on request.

A Gay Ugandan and Religion 1

(Wrote this some time ago. One thing led to another, and I did not post it. Today I have to post it. Will update in the next post.)

Its official.

The Church of Uganda, Anglican, has confirmed that they will not sit together at the same table as the Episcopal Church of America.

The issue is my sexuality. Homosexuality.

The Church of Uganda believes that my sexuality is unnatural. And that it is a sin. They believe that it is sinful to encourage a person like me to salvation in Jesus' name.

The opposite point of view is held by the Episcopal Church. Homosexuality is taken, not as a choice, but as a fact of life. There are people who are homosexuals. And these people have a right to the call of Jesus. They also have a right to be called to minister in the name of Jesus.

So, the Episcopal church ordained a homosexual as Bishop. Gene Robinson. Starting off the schism.

The Church of England? Well, they are in the middle (apparently), believe that homosexuals exist, and they are natural, but we are called to be celibate(?). So that we do not sin. The idea, I believe, is that since we are all made by god, and homosexuals were also made by god, then we are children of god. But we sin when we have forbidden, sinful sex.

That is what the Catholic Church also believes.

Hold.

Before you begin bashing me for my opinions, I must affirm that this is what I have picked up from a constant awareness of what is going on. Not a study of the religious views.

I was 'born' in the Church of Uganda.

True. My dad was very shocked when I told him that I don't believe. When I made the mistake of casually mentioning it to Maama, her distress nearly made me take back my words. But it has been a long journey. No, I cannot state, truthfully, that I believe. And my parents distress does not take away my 'faith' in no faith.

So what do I think about the COU move?

Curiously, I don't have the restrained anger I once had. Don't even remember clearly why I was angry at them. Something about being duped and having to consider something important when in actual fact it isn't. At least not to me, at the moment.

I see the same anger in my lover. He does believe.

He has changed, from a daily 'prayer' to a once in a blue moon. He is angry at the way the church seems to consider him a sinner simply on the basis of sexuality.

My lover, I believe, has a right to faith. To believe. I have no doubt about that. Just as I have no doubt that I have a right to not believe.

What is the general reaction in the country?

Uganda is a very homophobic. And the fact that the debate was actually going on amazed people. They could not believe that homosexuality was compatible with Christian beliefs. And to be told that there was a Church, which had ordained a homosexual as a Bishop? That, to them, was a long stretch of the credulous.

When I listened to the language of the bishops here, I knew it would come to that. Slowly, very slowly, the schism has widened, to breaking point. When the guys here said that they could not sit on the same table as the Anglicans, I knew it was just a matter of time. Cultural considerations. You don't share the table with an enemy! (Or an inferior)

To the man in the street, it is good riddance.

To the homosexual Ugandan, the kuchu, the gay Ugandan?

I made my peace with my faith. I don't know how the others are going to.

Have a friend, a kuchu, forced to marry, very involved in the schism and whole dialogue issue. Cant say I know how he is taking it. Remember, when I used to visit him, he had a sticker affirming his faith in his room.

Funny, the whole idea of Jesus eating with sinners. The COU are so hostile to us that they have refused any dialogue, except the monologue when they condemn us from the pulpits. When we came out last year, they were at the fore front of the 'Rainbow Coalition against Homosexuality'. They were instrumental in making sure that we did not have a say at the Peoples Space during CHOGM.

It is a fierce battle, apparently, for the faith. And until last year, mid August, it seemed as if they were shadow punching. There seemed to be no homosexuals in the country.

Oh yes, now they accept that we are there. That there are Ugandans who are gay. But still, no dialogue, except 'Repent Sinner!'

If I tell them that this kuchu is Gay and Proud, they will not understand it, will they?

Anyway, it is official. Cant be gay and in the Church of Uganda, since it is the cause of the modern day reformation. Will be interesting how it is written up 100 years from now. Reformation 2 or 3?

GayUganda

Ssempa’s Obsession

In the New Vision is an interesting letter to the editor. Someone is complaining that Pastor Ssempa was not given enough time to discuss the all important issue of homosexuality on a radio talk show, the ‘Capital Gang’. What kind of leader is Kahinda Otafire (Minister of State for Local Govt) not to understand the importance of this debate?

Made me wonder. Someone is obsessed with my ‘deviant’ sexuality. But it is not me. Oh, I am gay, and a Ugandan. But it is a fact that I have lived with this consciously for more than ten years now. It is simply not that big a deal anymore. I will fight anyone who wants to put me in prison because of my sexuality, because of what I am. But that is a small thing in comparison to all the things I am.

Think of my lover. He is preparing to go to work now. He is a man, my lover, my man. But he is also a brother and leader in his family, with responsibility as the elder son alive. When I hold him in my arms, he is everything in the world to me. But I also know him as a good administrator, a contentious debater, a rabid ‘movement’ supporter, and a fervent Christian. Our sexuality does occupy his mind, but it is not such an over-riding thing that he would have to put down everything to debate it. It is simply one of many things that are part of our lives.

But that is not the same with Ssempa, and Nsaba Buturo.

Homosexuality is to them a clear and present danger. It should be attacked with all the weapons possible. Yesterday, waking up Sunday morning, I heard Nsaba Buturo advocating for ‘Universal Moral Education’, to combat such evils as homosexuality, of course. Universal primary education is a fantastic idea, which we have failed to implement well. But the honourable Minister of State for Integrity feels that homosexuality is such a clear and present danger that children must have classes in morality. That he has already been in contact with the Minister of Education about the idea.

Someone is obsessed with my sexuality. And wonder of wonders, it is not me. Tovi described his god as one without tolerance. But it seems the intolerance is mainly with my sexuality. For other things, like corruption, he may wink, but god help the homosexual. Remember the saga of Mega FM and Nsaba Buturo?

Why is Ssempa so obsessed with homosexuality? There must be a reason that is cogent. His obsession predates the press conference by years. And it is an obsession.

As for the rest of the 95%, I am not sure that they would not want to move on. The debate has been, and we go on. Not so Ssempa, and Nsaba Buturo.

And I?

Beautiful weather outside. My weather sense is that the rains are gone. For now. The sun rises in a blaze of light and heat, the air is clear and the skies clean of the white fluff we call clouds. A very beautiful day, promising blazing warm weather.

I have time to write, and to think of poetry and other things. My sexuality; oh, my lover is gone to work. Wish him a nice day. Hope he comes back safe and sleeps in my arms tonight. What is more important than love?

GayUganda

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

A Mother's Anguish: Tale of Three Mothers

I was impressed by this lady’s reaction to the knowledge of her son's homosexuality. She took some time to understand the boy, but she did. She watched his struggle. She understood the challenges of being different in a homophobic society brought. She understood the inner struggles and related to the pain of growing up. And she still understands him, now that he is an adult. And she dares to challenge the unthinking hatred of those who believe that her son's homosexuality is a challenge to their state of wellbeing. His sexuality did not change her sexuality. The challenge was the understanding that it was not her under siege, but the son who needed to be understood and respected. And loved because that was him. That story is here.

But this mother was different. She did not understand her son. She did not even make an attempt to. He is her only son, but when he came out as a homosexual, after years of hiding the fact, she rejected him. She disowned him and threatens to sue anyone who refers to him as her son. To her, the difference in his sexual orientation defined the whole of him. This is the mother of the Indian Prince I wrote about here. And the link to the article in the paper.

There is another mother on my mind. My mom.

She doesn’t know that I am gay. She doesn’t know that I am a homosexual.

My lover has come out to his mum. She was ok with it, and she knows that I am his partner. My mum is another matter.

Do I love her? Yes, I do. Does she love me? Yes she does.

Then why don't I tell her? There may come a time when she will have to know. I am too out, too comfortable with my sexuality. Too many people know me as a gay man with my partner. And in Uganda, such an outing is news worth enough to hit the headlines in some of the dreaded tabloids.

But it boils down to this; will she react like Mom One or Mom Two?

I have thrown enough hints. I have prepared the ground as thoroughly as I can, but whenever I come to the point of telling her, I fear to lose her love.

She is a religious person. And I cannot help thinking that her church is constantly harping at how sinful I must be to be a homosexual. The Anglican crowd is splitting because of that. The cardinal is of the same mind. The Moslems think I should be stoned. The government is adamant. I don’t know about the traditional healers view of this, but then, they are re-known for being on the fringes of society. It may not matter much.

I will tell Mama. I need to tell her. But for the time being, I will enjoy the love that we can share. Funny, I am almost sure of how Daddy will react. Most likely disavowal and disinheritance. Being sure of that means I will not tell him if I can help it. He does love me, so I may be mistaken.

GayUganda