Uganda

[fjp999]

We have heard many times the words of African leaders who try to explain homosexuality as un-African.

This idiocy is spread by the average joe in other African forums... of course there is no arguing with them but then there is no arguing with my mom. She loves me and all but when pushed her beliefs are just as ignorant and damning as many... thank the gods that my mom is not the ruler of a country

[marshlander]

From the "Walking With Integrity" blog.

... Musevene had threatened to gun anyone down on the streets who even dared to celebrate gay pride. Fifteen years later, there will be a different demonstration and the threat of gunning them down will not work this time. When a young democracy like Uganda neglects the role and place of its minorities, as Musevene has done for 20 years with the support of the United States government, Ssempa and Bahati, (the author of the bill) become a manifestation of a deep illness that is within this society.

As with the Rwandan genocide, once the fear, hatred and dehumanization of any population has taken root, there is not much rational and inclusive citizens or the international community can do to change the course of a potential blood bath. When we looked back on the causes of the Rwandan genocide, one of the main forces that created the climate of destruction was the Christian Churches. There is clear evidence that without the years of preaching, using communications and media networks and the organization of the churches in particular, the genocide of 600,000 people could not have happened. The Catholic Church denied its role and the Pope commented that because a “few bad apples” were involved in some horrific events, the institutional church could not be blamed. Similarly the Anglican Communion was largely silent about our participation in the genocide and a few Rwandan bishops escaped To Uganda and Kenya who were accused of helping to mastermind local atrocities and informing the mobs about where terrified groups were hiding in sanctuary-often in there churches. The then Archbishop of Canterbury did not call for an ecclesiastical inquiry or demand bishops be tried by their peers or court. His office and the office of the Anglican Communion largely remained silent and the focus shifted to rebuilding the infrastructure and leadership of the Rwandan church without any significant reflection on our corporate role in creating this former Frankenstein. I have friends working in Rwanda and many of these issues are still to be resolved. Every 25 years, we can anticipate the build up of animosity, fear and intimidation that are largely religiously condoned. Rwanda is about to introduce it’s own form of the anti-gay bill and President Kagame, (a close friend of Rick Warren) is Musevene’s former Defense Minister. As the “Purpose Driven Country”, Rwanda and Uganda shares the same moral vision and a common hatred for gays. Rick Warren’s recent “Letter to the Pastor’s of Uganda” was a brave attempt to put the cork back in the bottle and to distance himself from something that his movement has helped to create. But the genii has escaped. Frankenstein will be marching on the streets of Kampala on 17th February, in all its frightening monstrosity and carrying a very large Bible.

If a million Ugandans take to the streets on February 17th, one third of them are probably Anglicans who will be calling for death to gays and fines and imprisonment for those who minister to them. Some of our Anglican bishops may also support the demonstration. For the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church not to make a statement on this potential crisis in the modern human rights movement, knowing we helped to create this madness, is still a mystery to me. Maybe they are doing a “Rick Warren” and making sure the Church truly distances itself from this ugly situation. It won’t work.

One of the discussion points raised by this article was interesting :-

Many of us have written...clearly, the non-interest from leadership at the Episcopal Church and The Church of England (and various other Provinces of The Anglican Communion) regarding Uganda is pathetic. Worse still is the "moster" roams and OUR leaders are irresponsible (mostly)...one wonders if they enjoy NOT having to fight Goliath? One wonders if they are cowards or simply unaccountable for their non-action in the face of murderous crimes of hate. They have made their choices and those choices must not be forgotten or rationalized...OUR physical and spiritual lives are at stake once again in a very REAL way (ask Drexel Gomez in LGBT bloodrenched Jamaica...he who chairs the Anglican Covenant Caper.

As usual, it seems to be the leaders leading the flock astray :frown:

[fredv3b]

Just to prove that Marshy isn't the only one banging the drum on this, this is a really good video proving just how draconian the proposed law really is.

[marshlander]

Thanks, Fred. That's one of the clearest explanations I've yet seen.

Kathleen Parker's piece in the Washington Post is a striking essay on the unintended consequences of "moral colonialism", referring to the American gay cure fanatics who seem to be treating Uganda as some kind of lab for their horrible ideas.

A couple of comments jumped out at me:

Often cited as having stirred the pot are pastors Scott Lively, Caleb Lee Brundidge and Don Schmierer, who last March worked with Ugandan faith leaders and politicians to help stop the "homosexualization" of the country.

No, nobody "made" Bahati write the bill. But these three pastors, known for their conviction that gays can be "cured," have been spreading their particular brand of gospel in Uganda, and it seems to have found traction. The three have distanced themselves from the proposed law and say they never encouraged punishment for gays.

This may well be the case. In fact, let's assume it is. Let's further assume that these missionaries have only the purest of intentions and want only to help strengthen the traditional family. Dear Sirs: Uganda isn't Connecticut. A country where gays are routinely harassed, rounded up and incarcerated doesn't need stoking by American fundamentalists on a mission from God.

And, of course, we are often reminded by those in power in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria and goodness knows how many other places that homosexuality is un-African.

In the 1880s, the (Christian) martyrs of Uganda were burned to death by Mwanga II, the king of Buganda, who was miffed, by some accounts, when his own homosexual advances were declined by recent Christian converts.

[fredv3b]

Often cited as having stirred the pot are pastors Scott Lively, Caleb Lee Brundidge and Don Schmierer

Personally, I would have characterised it as pouring hot oil on the fire.

[marshlander]

I must be tired. Why does this read like those bits in Tolkien's novels where the eagles arrive?

Who'd have thought it of the scouts? Bravo.

UGANDA
Since the mid-1990s, The Scout Association has been clear and unequivocal in our equal opportunities policy and practice especially regarding sexual orientation, as befitting our role in contemporary society.
We are recently aware that the Ugandan Parliament has received a Bill that calls for the death sentence for repeat practicing of homosexuality. This Bill is presented by a Ugandan MP (David Bahati) who is also currently the National Chairman of the Uganda Scout Association. In terms of our own policies and understandings, we find the Bill not only discriminatory and contrary to the sanctity of life, but also completely incompatible with our interpretation of the values of our worldwide Scouting Movement.
We have already drawn our grave concerns on this to the attention of the Secretary General of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM), and we are subsequently aware that the issues are now subject both to WOSM's direct engagement with the Chief Scout of Uganda (Mrs Maggie Kigozi) and to ongoing global consideration by members of the World Scout Committee.
We hope that the bilateral and very positive educational and solidarity projects that have been fostered for many years between Scout Groups in the UK and Scout Groups in Uganda on such matters as health and community development will not be prejudiced or compromised by this situation; we await the formal and public response from the Scout Association of Uganda and from WOSM, whereupon we will review our position. (more)

[marshlander]

Good to hear news that some Ugandan citizens are feeling strong enough to tackle these proposals.

Around 450 activists presented parliament speaker Edward Ssekandi with a petition. "The bill is not about protecting Ugandan culture and traditions as it purports. On the contrary it is violating our cultures, traditions and religious values that teach against intolerance, injustice, hatred and violence," said the leader of the movement, Reverend Canon Gideon Byamugisha.
Campaigners say that the proposed law violates the Ugandan constitution, which supposedly guarantees freedom from discrimination on the grounds of race, sex or beliefs.
It could even criminalise those such as pastors or aid workers who work with HIV-positive homosexuals, Byamugisha claims.
"This is a bill that requires various members of the community, family members, service providers and spiritual mentors to spy on one another," he said. "This would obstruct religious leaders, doctors, counsellors and other service providers in their essential roles, and would facilitate political and religious witch hunts and false accusations against real and perceived enemies."
But other Christian groups in Uganda, for instance the fast-growing Pentecostal church, accuse Byamugisha of misleading his flock according to his own political agenda, according to RFI's correspondent in Kampala, Patricia Okeod. [URL="http://gayspeak.com/forum/redirector.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.english.rfi.fr%2Fafrica%2F20100301-ugandan-activists-call-withdrawal-anti-gay-bill"](more)
[/URL]

[marshlander]

Looks like it's one step forward and at least two back.

Uganda has hosted a rally organised in connection with American evangelist Lou Engle's "The Call" ministry.

Kampala, Uganda — As the car carrying American evangelist Lou Engle gained distance from the stage, exiting the grass sports field for the airport, the revival meeting organized by Engle’s The Call kicked into high gear in support of Uganda’s anti-homosexuality bill.
“The bill will be passed into law without any debate,” boomed James Nsaba Buturo, Uganda’s Minister for Ethics and Integrity, and a well-known backer of the bill, drawing cheers from the audience while Engle’s vehicle was still in view.
“We must tell the whole world that Uganda will not accept that nonsense that says homosexuality is a human right,” Buturo added to the crowd of several hundred people. “It is an abomination.” ... more

[marshlander]

While surfing various links I came across this blog, Gay Uganda

As well as his personal messages there are also links to his favourite Ugandan gay websites.

[marshlander]

Just in case anyone has forgotten, here is the grizzly story so far ...

Box Turtle Bulletin » Slouching Towards Kampala: Uganda’s Deadly Embrace of Hate