Holidays...

Its evening.

Seated. Our living room.

Bicycle boda man brings crates. Beer. Soda. In preparation for the big day.

For partner, it would not be a day without the requisite celebrations. So, a 'Christmas tree' is already bedecked with jewelery. More lights and glinting pieces than the green, I see.

I never put it up. Because it is not necessary. He will put it up when the time's right. And, he will put it back when it is right.

Why is it that I never notice these things?

Different people. Different interests. Is always funny that we are so different, and so compatible. We shouldnt be. Conventionally speaking. But, we are. Opposites, attracted, and staying together.

Which reminds me that it will soon be ten years. And, another celebration to prepare for.

But now, it is evening.

I am seated in the couch, feeling dusk descend to the valley I call home. It is quiet.

At one of the neighbours is a children's home. They practice dance, dramas, and it is in the evenings that the drums open up.

Their noise barely disturbs the silence of the day. It is a quiet evening.

The day has been very hot. Hot, dry, dusty. The dry season is really setting in. Yes, the morning was overcast. But, that was no longer the case later in the day. The sun was out by midmorning. And, it was hot, and windy in the afternoon. Hot enough for me to enjoy a good walk and come home sweaty and sated with exercise.

Evening, I didnt want to go out like I usually do. I am at peace, with myself, with the world all around me. I am feeling increadibly calm. Life, as the advert goes, is good.

So, let me take a detour around the cyberspace and come up with some laughs.

First is this. A look at our desire for marriage. Gay people wanting to tie the note. Why, and why not. Its pretty silly, and funny, and nice all in a very commonsensical way.

Even at this much lower-pitched occasion, everything in me screamed: "Why are you copying the heterosexuals when we've all made such a mess of things?" You had lives devoid of antenuptial contracts, estate Volvos, children who needed expensive dental treatment, mortgages, divorce and horrible old faithfulness - well that is if the writer Edmund White is anything to go by.

Now the new promiscuity, and I am talking gay males, is getting married. Like Elizabeth Taylor, you sleep with someone you marry him. Gay men can't wait to swear to faithfulness. They meet on Monday and marry on Saturday, so enticing is the thought of the metaphorical meringue frock.

Here's a strange thing: straight males about to marry women are often frightened. Commitment is such a wonky companion. They say: "Do you think I should really go through with this?"

They finger their antenuptial contracts and discuss with lawyers who will get the holiday house should the marriage dissolve. I have a close male friend who has been engaged for 40 years but cannot make the jump into marriage.

However, talking to gay men I encountered an enthralment and desire, a great longing to walk down an aisle.

Fitting.

Why am I with my partner? Hell, simple. Because, I am a human being and I desire all the conforts of that state. Why have we been together for so long? Well, the counter to that is, why not?

What about tying the note and walking down some aisle? Well, that would need some very serious negotiations. Aka the heterosexuals in the above article.

Here is another very thoughtful post on gay equality. Yes. It is not gay rights. Gay Equality, looking at DADT and its broader contexts in a world of interesting insights. I will not pick and choose a quote. Just point you to the article and analysis. http://www.juancole.com/2010/12/senate-repeal-of-dadt-in-global-context.html Thought is a good thing. Critical thinking is something that most of us are denied.

I came across the article of the Deputy Speaker of the UK Parliament who has come out as gay.http://news.scotsman.com/news/Tory-MP-set-to-admit.6665380.jp Wow. Good for the guy. Others say it may be for the wrong reasons. But, at the same time, I always think of coming out as an intensely personal thing. I will never be able to judge when one should come out, and when they should not. One could almost say that this whole blog is a long coming out process.

And last, to dear Honourable Nsaba-Buturo.

He is on his last legs as a member of parliament for the ruling party. He may come back as an independent. But, what is amusing me is his escalation of his moral campaign. The Morality police is back, out in force.

First of course, he is always after the homosexuals. His legal prey.... that is a given, in Ugandan. Google Nsaba-Buturo, and you will almost certainly come across his many anti-gay statements. So, maybe the latest tiff with the Human Rights Commission in Uganda is not such a big deal. What is a big deal is the fact that people are not taking it as quietly as they take other things. Like frank 'Hang them'... The Sunday Vision is the government mouthpiece. The fact that this letter came out is an indication that some toes are sore... in more than one way. 

More interesting is this article-

THURSDAY last week, Club Silk's Pole dancing did not take place. Snoops can now reveal that management heard that state minister for ethics and integrity, James Nsaba Buturo was expected to storm in and cause the arrest of several people.

Apparently, it is said that the minister sent to the club his scouts last month who confirmed that action was needed. Management says the club is taking a break and when it resumes, entrance fee will be hiked.

Hey, people do have strip shows in Kampala. We wait for the Buturo's to go to sleep....

Seriously, these things happen. And, see the reaction to Buturo's moralising? He sends in scouts... spies. [Duh, it is always in the papers, the 'news' about pole dancing and strip shows.... yes, strip shows... duh] So, why is he sending in his 'spies' now? He sends them in. They hear of it, and tone down for a few days... and soon it will be back to 'normal'. Oh, if it was homosexuals....!

Uh, Demented Buturo...

He is actually a comedian. Bad one... but, has served up a few laughs in his own way...

Here is to wishing you continued holiday cheer

gug

Don't Ask. Don't Tell.

The day is beautiful here.

Been in bed, holding the man I love. We made beautiful love, and held on afterwards. Left him there, suddenly restless, drawn to the computer, and cyberworld.

It is a blessing, and a craving, a release, and a hunger to satisfy. The need to connect with people far and near, to share my day, and learn of the things that have happened with them.

In the shade of trees, with hard bright, golden sunshine promising a very hot day.... hot by Ugandan standards, not unreasonably unconfortable, I learnt that the odious law, DADT has been repealed.

Seventeen years it held sway.

And, it is down. It is gone. It is history.

Dinosaurs like Senator McCain may feel it is the end of an era, and the beginning of the end. Armageddon unleashed. Their right. It is their country. They are the elected representatives of their people.

But, and a huge but, I join with other American friends in rejoicing over the repeal of this odious, and stupid piece of legislation. To me it is nothing but a symbol. A big one. Of the lack of respect, of the disparagement that other people may have of me, simply because I am gay.

I mean. Look at it this way. Because one is gay, they cannot serve in defence of their country? They cannot do that? Gosh, it was more than a symbol. It was an insult in the face of gay Americans. A calculated, in your face insult that they had to stomach. For 17 years. And, I am ecstatic that this dinosaur act has been repealed.

True. I do live in Uganda. And, in Uganda, our legislators are quite happy to put in place laws which would kill us because we are gay and HIV positive. Or because we make love, like I did this morning with my partner of almost ten years.... we are 'serial offenders'. And, our religious leaders want us exiled on islands so that we die out.

Yes, I do live in a country that has open, rabid contempt for people like me.

But, I will not fail to find it a joy that DADT has been repealed. That Obama has been handed a political victory. That my gay friends in the US have got one of their most dearly sought political victories.

It was, and still is, a symbol of the contempt. That one cannot serve their country, because they are not of the straight sexual orientation.

I feel it everyday when Martin 'eat da poo poo' Ssempa remarks sneeringly that we should get out of our country. Yes, that we should get asylum and leave our country, because the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is going to become law. When Buturo sneers and says, 'Homosexuals have no Human Rights' and he tells us, get out of the country.

It is a symbol. And, it is a victory.

Conglatulations to all our American gay and lesbian brothers and Sisters. It was a long journey, it was a long war. It was well fought. I know, their were victims and casualties. Read somewhere that Lieutenant Choo had a break down. Such are our fights.

But, victory has come.

And, I will pick these inspiring words from Rachel Maddow, Yes, you are my heroine, Rachel.

I will end with them here

"If something is really, honestly indefensible, it can be defeated. The people perpetrating that indefensible thing will want you to think that what they are doing is inevitable. They will want you to think that it cannot possibly be changed or fixed. That it is the way it has to be, that that is the way it's gonna be, they will want you to think those things. And it's not true. An indefensible practice or policy is, in America, vulnerable."

- Rachel Maddow

Have a very lovely Sunday. And, hope the preparations for the big day are going well.

gug

The Waves, and Making them sing

I am at ….

 

Shit. Yes, that is an expletive. Nearly did write where I am…. and, that is just not allowed. Hey, I am still who I am. Lovely, anonymous gug. Who can I be, and who can be what I cannot be?

 

Rhetorical questions. Was going through the mail, and various other bits and pieces of news. Saw the Gay Ugandan Teen vigorously defending his credentials.  Yeah man, you have to say who you are, and what you are. Somewhere on this blog, I was told I could not be Ugandan. Gay, yes, Ugandan, no…. because, [well, this is tongue in cheek], there are no gay Ugandans. After a long time making my voice heard here, not even Buturo would countenance that I do not exist. He would dearly love to shut me down… or throw me out of the country. But, I do exist.

 

Brings me a thought… on the Throckmorton blog, there is this guy called Maazi, who goes on and on…. The guy is the very epitome of what I believe dear Honourable Dr. Nsaba-Buturo would be. I have no evidence…. hey, I don't know the guy. Just that, if the blogosphere had an incarnation of the Spirit of James Nsaba Buturo, it would be Maazi on the Throckmorton blog. I am not kidding you!

 

Buturo… I have been laughing my head off. He is deciding to fight the Uganda Human Rights Commission. It is worth a laugh. The guy is a fool…. In my own demented mind of course. He is a fool. Because, me being me, I would not fight these wars that he keeps picking up.

 

Why does he do them?

 

I am not sure. He hates homosexuals with a passion. Yes, he does. And, anything that mentions homosexuality in a colour other than the darkest black is suspect. The documentary which Buturo banned was tending to white. And, that was unacceptable.

 

So, he jumps in, with his two feet. And, the commission is really riled. Yes, let them be. Because, they deserve to be reminded that, gay Ugandans are actually Ugandans. And, in the rush to step on our freedoms as human beings, the likes of Buturo and Ssempa are actually trampling on all the other freedoms of Ugandans. WE gays are a very tempting target for any bigot. And, they lash out at us. But, do remember, they lash out and trample on my human rights, they also trample on yours.

 

Welcome, dear Human Rights Defenders of Uganda. You are welcome, and we hope, with you as allies, reluctant or not, we shall fight on, and win this war. It is damned cold when we fight alone!

 

A few things to mention here. Would Jesus Discriminate?

 

In a way, standing on my own very personal side of the battle, I fail to see the bigger part of the picture. I was interested, when the Anti-Homosexuality bill came out, and suddenly, Christians were up in arms against it. That indeed caused the Churches in Uganda to step back and pause. They were in full cry, and that was a terrible thing to see. Reminded me of what it must have been like, in the years of the Spanish Inquisition. When the Church was burning people, all in the name of Christ. Anyway, they did step back. The Anglican Church, the Catholic Church in Uganda, the Seventh Day Adventists, the Ugandan Orthodox church.

 

But, not so most of the Pentecostals. Who continue to persecute us in Uganda. I know, even the others continue to persecute us. They are not as vocal as they were. Which is slightly better.

 

But, when Bahati goes to the US and lays down the word of God as he sees it, I am seeing other Christians, this time in the US, galvanized, and saying… NO. You do not represent us. And, you are the very anti-thesis of what Christ is, what Christ taught. That does warm my frozen heart. A little, shall we say?

 

Here is the article, 'Would Jesus Discriminate?'.  Someone takes on the horror of what Bahati, Buturo, Ssempa and Co mean for real Christianity. And, it is not a pretty picture.

 

Professor Matua is far more blunt. He came to Uganda. Remember the Baraza, when one MP said he would be the hangman for his son if the son was gay? Well, Matua saw the face of real hate then. And, he deals with it in Kenya. This article is very much worth reading. It is a classic of legal thought.

 

And, I am not a lawyer, nor am I Kenyan.

 

But, I dare to say, I am a Human Being. And, I laud that roar into the jungle.

 

Have a very good weekend.

 

Mine is shaping up to very good.

 

 

gug

Demented Buturo

That demented politician has a problem in his brains.

Surely! A person who believes that women who wear miniskirts cause accidents because male drivers are distracted has a serious defect in his sex life. Presumably, he was speaking from experience. I mean, he must have been distracted by the flesh on show, and that was the reason he called a press conference to utter such an absurdity.

But, now there is this saga. You do remember that the Honourable Dr. Nsaba-Buturo was once quoted saying 'Homosexuals should forget about Human Rights'? Yes?

Ok. Now, in Uganda we have the Uganda Human Rights Commission. Yes, a very toothless organ.... in many ways. But, why blame a baby for not having teeth? A baby does grow up. Anyway, the UHRC was scheduled to screen a film at the National Theatre....

You know the National Theatre. It is right downtown in Kampala, next to the Parliament buildings. This is where Ssempa's antics of showing porn were first recognised. I remember, some American students were so disturbed that some vomited... Yes, literally threw up!

Now, the Uganda Human Rights Commission was scheduled to show a film about Human Rights Defenders at the same venue. And, they found themselves blocked. By none other than the Honourable Minister of Miniskirts. Sorry, Ethics and Integrity.

But the minister accused the UHRC of trying to promote homosexuality and immorality. "The commission is now the spokesman of the people breaking the law, we did not appoint them to promote illegalities," Dr Buturo said while addressing journalists in Kampala yesterday. "Some people are determined to change the morals of our country and are using all tactics. We shall put up resistance because Uganda doesn't believe in homosexuality.".

Mr Kaggwa had earlier quoted Article 54 of the Constitution, saying the commission is independent and shall not, in performance of its duties, be subject to the direction of any authority.

But Mr Buturo said: "The rights body should support what government stands for. If UHRC ignores Uganda's interests and promotes illegal things, we shall respond appropriately."

Despite the ban on Monday, the video was shown to journalists and students on Wednesday at UHRC headquarters.

"The documentary highlights the work of human rights defenders and the challenges they face," Mr Kaggwa said.

In the film, Mr Kikonyogo Kivumbi, who is identified as the defender of minorities, disparages the Anti-Homosexuality Bill as an object to deny the rights of the minorities and allows medical practitioners to report gay patients to police.

"We are giving a very strong voice to Parliament not to pass the Bill. Uganda is committed to fighting HIV/Aids and when the minorities are threatened with arrests, they will fear to go for medication and yet it is their right," Mr Kivumbi says.

This segment seemed to have angered Dr Buturo who asked that the film be edited before it can be screened to the public.

I did say that a baby can grow teeth, with time, didnt I?

The Uganda Human Rights Commission is seriously unhappy. They are supposedly an independent body. They are supposedly charged with overseeing certain things. And, though years ago they would not touch gay Ugandans with a very long stick, they seem to have changed their minds.

And, the Minister of Miniskirts is standing in their way. They are not amused. And, they are turning up the pressure.

It will is ironic that the UHRC finds itself with teeth to really tackle human rights abuses in the country. Ironic, because it is suddenly speaking out, And for homosexual Ugandans.

Maybe it is fitting. It is.

But, I am amused, happy, interested, and continuing to watch this saga. Why? Because, it does feel good to know that I am a human being, in the eyes of people, my significant others. It is a good feeling. Oh, let me revel in it. It might not last that long....!

gug

Bahati's US trip....

It was interesting. I have wondered why he went. Its a busy time for him. He is campaigning for re-election. And here he was going off to the US for a conference that he was not going to attend, which he knew that he was not going to attend.

So, why did he go?

Well, I can speculate. But, I do not really know....

Then comes the issue of how he left the country. No. Apparently he was not booted out. Like he was told you are persona non grata. But, apparently, he was told in diplomatees that his hosts were unconfortable with his continued presence....

Oh yes... Makes me laugh. Here is the LezGetReal analysis. It was a PR trip. And, he did flunk... in my views, not in his anyway.

But, he is a politician. There is an art to denying the obvious. You know, 'I was misquoted'... 'I was mis read', 'I was mis-interpreted'. Raila Odinga, Prime Minister of Kenya is a very wonderful, recent example.

I don't think Bahati's dive into the trenches did him a service. He is too out there radical and believing in me being evil for him to be credited by his supporters publicly. Oh, they will do it behind closed doors. But, they fear to talk, and leave him to founder and speak for the Christianity that he believes in.... Uh! It is a horrible farce. A very horrible farce. And, some of our allies are taking the war straight to his sponsors, calling them out for what they are. Sponsors of genocide.

Oh yes, I do believe that my death, even when legislated by Bahati and my country, Uganda, would still be the death of a human being. I am a Ugandan, and I believe that I do have the same right to life as does Honourable Bahati. His right does not pass mine.

I am supremely aware that he said that, because I am a sinner, and the wages of sin is death, then, legislated death is okay for me. [Shhhhhh. I had forgotten. I am NOT a Christian. Shhhh, shhhh.]. And, that, even though I am a Ugandan, in Uganda, homosexuals have no human rights.... in Honourable Bahati, and Honourable Nsaba-Buturo's views.

Shrug.

It is exhilarating. Fighting, winning. Even when the wins are few and far between. It is exhilarating. I bet you, Bahati, Buturo, they will never be blessed with my appreciation of the beauty and wonderfulness of life, living and being alive in my country, in Uganda. It is a visceral sensation, abiding, strong, invigorating. Energising.

It is my blessing, as a gay Ugandan, a gay African.

I will look on as others take the battle to my enemies across the waters. Because, they are my enemies. And, I will cheer them on. When they speak, when they hit out at those who fund and host the likes of Bahati and Buturo and Ssempa . Others are fighting against the same kind of radicalization which the world finds in Osama bin Laddens view of Islam. And, they are right to be worried. Because, if they do not take in hand people like Ssempa, Bahati, Buturo..., and, Solomon Male, their own take of the brand of Christianity is going to go to hell. Literally. Here are some quotes from Bahati's interview with Rachel Maddow.

Bahati explained that homosexuality is not a human right in Uganda, and claimed that his bill will defend the children and the families of Uganda. When Maddow questioned him about how the bill would defend children and the family, he said that foreigners are recruiting Ugandan children into homosexuality. He said that God created man and woman for marriage and procreation and that homosexuals defile children.

Lies About Gays and Punishment For Their Existence = Love.

He also claimed that he "loves" gay people but must protect children who are "recruited" by homosexuals. He could give Maddow no credible evidence of this, but insisted that it is a fact studied by Ugandans. Bahati claimed that $15 million was spent in the last 7 months in Uganda schools to pay children to become gay.

Maddow told Bahati that the notion that "gay people are recruiting kids" is a myth that is not supported by any kind of facts. She told Bahati that if videos and evidence exists, then he should release the evidence. By the second day of the interview, no evidence was provided.

Uh, take the Blatter faux pas. On the face of it, nothing. But, I am glad he said it. Because, it gives me, and allies, the chance to make sure that, for the 24 hours that follow, the world is aware that in Qatar, we are to be re-closeted, for the duration of the world cup.

Yes, we are soldiers. And, we cannot but take any and all advantages as they are offered. It will, hopefully, remind the world that, in much of the Arab world, people like me are killed for being what we are. Very similar to Bahati's ideal world, of course. That is what we are fighting to prevent. Doesnt stop us from dealing with it!

Greetings to all and sundry.

Yes, the struggle continues. Yes, we can.

gug

Miscellaneous things.

Uh, I was going to make a very unseemly whine…. But, why ever should I?

 

Update in Kampala. Beautiful, beautiful weather. The clouds of a few days are gone, and it is hot. Hot, hot, hot. A little breeze, sweat on the skin, and the light of a bright sun splashed everywhere.

 

Christmas shopping. The crowds are out in strength, and where I am, the roar of traffic is a constant in the background. Yes, I feel good. But, have to dip a little into my inbox…..

 

Bahati believes that Homosexuals have no human rights. Well, homosexuals are not human. So, logically, no rights, yes?

 

No. I am human. Bite yourself.

 

But, Nsaba-Buturo continues the persecution, or pursuit, back home here. Just yesterday, there was supposed to be a film about working as a human rights defender in difficult circumstances. It featured homosexuals. So, of course, it was unacceptable to dear Buturo. No. I am not kidding you! Here is the link.

The programme was organised by United Nation Human Rights office of the High Commissioner (UNHR), Uganda Human Rights Commission and Human Rights Centre Uganda at the National Theatre. But when organisers arrived at the theatre, it was locked.

The UNHR representative in Uganda, Ms Birgit Gerstenberg, described the ban as a pity but said they were intending to meet Mr Buturo over the issue today. The show was aimed at highlighting what human rights defenders go through while stopping discrimination in Uganda.

Mr Buturo told Daily Monitor that the organisers refused to delete homosexual contents in the documentary. "Some people are determined to change the morals of our country and are using all tactics. We shall put up resistance because Uganda doesn't believe in homosexuality," he said, adding that 40 pupils were invited to watch the documentary.

"This is terrible. I told those people to shut up because they are supposed to defend our country," Mr Buturo said.

 

Those people were promoting homosexuality. They didn't delete what?  Sometimes it is easier to laugh at a thing like this than give a negative comment. Poor Dr. Buturo. So determined to keep Uganda clean of homosexuality! I almost find it in my mind to pity him. But, that will not stop me from hounding him. Sorry, Dr Buturo…. Sorry, sorry.

 

Someone asked me, rather incredulously, whether these guys do believe their rhetoric. They do. They actually, absolutely, unreservedly believe what they say. It is kind of amusing. Me, here in Uganda, I listen to their daily offerings, and they kind of slip off, water off a duck's back. But, they are as outrageously believing of their offerings. For many, it is not even a political ploy. Bahati, Buturo, they are true believers in the evilness of homosexuality. They believe, and the gods help you if you don't believe like they do.

Uh, was the film, They call me Kuchu?

 

I agree with this guy.

What fuels the fiery hatred that so many Christians and others harbor for gays can't be explained by pointing to the Bible alone. Clearly something more visceral is going on with that.

 

Dare I bring up the 'Recruitment' argument? Here is Religion Dispatches, talking about dear David Bahati. Bahate, as some of us have taken to calling the gentleman. 

The thrust of the argument made against gays and lesbians in this country is that "they do not reproduce, so they must recruit."

That argument against gay and lesbian rights has been quashed by medical and psychological professionals who have long studied the issue and found that no such thing happens. Gays and lesbians are who they are and no one "recruits" them to a "lifestyle." But, good propaganda never dies—it simply moves to a new location when it's no longer welcome in its old home.

 

I love the last bit of that article. What gives the author hope, she writes, is the fact that bigotry is a learned behaviour which can be unlearned. Yes, that surely is true. Amazing, amazing… Bahati believes, but, mate….!

 

Have to stop here. Long posts are supposedly anathema… but, still have more to say, tomorrow?!

 

Be well

 

 

gug

Why they persecute us.... in their own words.

Uh,

the finals of the Rolling Pebble saga were supposed to be today. They didnt materialise.... [I had problems with the date, you know, the 13^th and all that...] So, I am happy that it is now going to be the 15^th. Don't really know what the fuss is about. But, welcome the opportunity.... [touch wood]! The finals, like in the final rulling on the Rolling pebble saga.

Hey, there is a new, relatively, gay ugandan blogger around. He is the Gay Ugandan teen. Love his thoughts. He is dissecting the Rachel Maddow, David Bahati interview. Worth reading... Hey, even Ugandan teens [some, those who are gay, of course], do think of Bahati as a cringe inducing embarassment of a politician. You go, dude, just blast them, and claim your space on the blogosphere.

Here is an excerpt of Bahati's justification for my persecution. Oh, he says it is love, not hate. I think I have justification in protesting.

In an interview on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show, the lawmaker insisted his bill was not about hate.

"We have a huge problem in our country," Bahati said. "People who are coming from abroad, investing in Uganda to recruit children into a behavior that we believe is a learned behavior and can be unlearned."

"We believe that our children should not be recruited in something they don't believe in," he added.

"I am not in a hate campaign, I do not hate gays, I love them, but at the same time I must protect our children who are being recruited into this practice."

Bahati went on to assert that more than $15 million has poured into the country over the past 7 months to defeat the bill and to recruit children into being gay.

"They go to a school, teach them, entice them with money, to lure them into this practice," he said.

When Maddow asked, "How do gay people hurt your family?" Bahati answered that it hurts the Ugandan family when the "purpose of procreation is undermined."

If you really want any confirmation from me, a gay man in Uganda.... I do not, and have NEVER recruited a child into homosexuality.

I am pretty sure that I was not recruited.... don't even know what that means, unless it is something like turning a straight person gay. I don't think it is possible. That does not stop Bahati from accusing me of recruitment. And asking that I be hanged.

And, here, from LezGetReal, an open letter to the couple that hosted Bahati in the US. It is a serious, heart to heart letter. Becomes quite political at the end. Does lessen the outright heart to heart touch, but, it is serious. You hosted a ghoul. Why did you?

Mr. Bahati told Ms. Maddow on her show that the Bill is founded and rooted in one fact; he said it is a based on evidence that Homosexuals are "recruiting children in Uganda, into homosexuality." Now I am a lesbian and cannot for the life of me imagine what that means. I asked a gay male colleague what it meant to him and it defied his sense of logic too. So when Maddow asked Bahati for proof, Mr. Bahati said he would provide this proof. Maddow is waiting and the gay community is not holding its breathe because we know its a lie. The very concept is non-existent. If anyone was indeed harming children in a sexual way, I imagine such would fall under Uganda's sexual assault laws, no matter who would cause such harm, gay or straight.

Sadly, anti-gay speech is politically correct in Africa.

An article in the Christian Science Monitor examines this. They assert that the Anti-Homosexuality bill in Uganda was withdrawn. Not true. As Bahati was happy to confirm to the Americans. But, there is this article about the Kenyan consititutional process.

And in Kenya, as the country prepared to vote last summer in a referendum to establish the new Constitution – an attempt to prevent a return of the leadership crisis that followed ethnic clashes after the December 2007 elections – it was conservative Kenyan churches (urged on by the Pat Robertson-funded American Center for Law and Justice) who opposed the Constitution, arguing incorrectly that the new Constitution would have legalized abortion and same-sex marriages.

Converging reasons

Wanyeki Muthoni, executive director of the independent Kenya Human Rights Commission, says that the tumult over homosexuality is the result of three converging trends.

First, Kenyan gays are becoming more politically active and vocal, lobbying hard for "basic equality and nondiscrimination." Second, the global debate over the ordination of gay priests, increasingly accepted in Europe and the United States, has caused a conservative backlash here in Africa, with African churches largely rejecting those reforms. Finally, African churches have been radicalized by what Ms. Muthoni charges is "the ever-increasing influence of homophobic American Evangelicals in Africa."

I followed the Kenyan Constitutional process from afar. And, I was quite happy at the fact that it was successful. Suddenly, there was the dawn of a new Kenya. A vibrant neighbour who is unafraid of democratic ideals. I was happy for them.

And, yes, I was very concerned at the way the evangelicals formed the core opposition to the constitution. Yes, they did. I didnt know that they were being funded from outside.... funny, me as a gay African, I am supposed to be the one getting the foreign funding, from recruiting American and European homosexuals.

In Uganda, for the 3 reasons given above, I am quite aware that the first one does not apply.... that, unless you want to assume that gayuganda is an army. Some do. For their own convenience. But, gayuganda is not an army. The other two reasons for the rising anti-gay sentiment in Uganda are very true.

I was restless... and there was so much to write about...

I go now to exercise....!

gug