From today's Independent, interesting little letter and exchange.. Reveals views in Rwanda as well....
Letters: Homosexuality in Africa
Ferocious witch-hunt against gay people in Africa
Friday, 15 January 2010
The European Parliament has joined the effort to raise awareness of the stream of aggressive state-sponsored homophobia that is sweeping across much of Africa, and Daniel Howden's article "The love that still dare not speak its name" (11 January) gave valuable coverage to this huge and frightening human rights threat. Just before Christmas MEPs called on the Ugandan government not to approve the anti-homosexuality bill put forward by that country's parliament.
This is not "just" about denying equal rights in society to gay people. It is not for example about refusing same-sex marriage. It is not even "just" about refusing to decriminalise gay sex. It is about persecution and witch-hunting on a ferocious scale which threaten not only limbs but lives. The proposed law in Uganda would make execution a routine penalty for gay sex and (perpetuating an ignorant myth that ignores heterosexual transmission) for those testing positive for HIV, while the familiar ban on "promotion of homosexuality" would stop organisations working in HIV and Aids prevention.
Not only is snooping and settling of scores encouraged but, since anyone knowing of homosexual activity but failing to report it would risk up to three years in prison, a fear-based incentive is given to file wild and erroneous reports.
Many of the countries going down this road are members of the Commonwealth, of which one central goal is the promotion of human rights. This organisation needs to act to enforce its core principles, not turn a blind eye to the most gross abuses of fundamental rights, including the right to life.
Sarah Ludford MEP
Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman
London N1
------------------
This letter was followed by a comment from a reader, and references Rwanda............
Your article makes a factual error regarding criminalising of homosexuality: the government of Rwanda has no intention of criminalising homosexuality, which we view as a private matter and not one for the state.
Indeed, President Kagame just this weekend, speaking to young leaders from 24 countries attending a human rights conference in Kigali, pointed out that, despite the anti-gay debate ongoing in the region, Rwanda has a more fair and open approach: "We have laws already in place that cater for the existence and co-existence of different lifestyles, and to create harmony in society. We plan to leave it like that rather than heightening tensions and bringing out unnecessary conflicts and debates that will not help the rebuilding of our country."
Louise Mushikiwabo
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Kigali, Rwanda
--------------------
Good news that Rwanda is stressing tolerance and plurality, in keeping with post-genocide values that President Kagame has publicly promoted.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Uganda Will Drop Anti-Gay Bill, says Museveni
Impt development - the result of a terrible bill, and growing global pressure. Let's keep the pressure on.. Bahati, sponsor of the bill, is still hopeful for a punishing bill and plans to lobby Museveni. See below from Plus News.
UGANDA: Museveni distances himself from "cruel" anti-gay bill
Museveni has been silent on the controversial bill until now. Story in Plus News.
KAMPALA, 14 January 2010 (PlusNews) - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has indicated he will not back a bill that would impose the death sentence for the crime of "aggravated homosexuality" - when an HIV-positive person has sex with anyone who is disabled or under the age of 18.
Museveni appears to have bowed to international pressure, telling members of his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had all urged him to ensure the controversial bill does not go ahead.
"I told them that this bill was brought up by a private member and I have not even had time to discuss it with him; it is neither the government nor the NRM Party," he told party members during a meeting on 13 January, according to local media. "This is a foreign policy issue and we have to discuss it in a manner that does not compromise our principles but also takes care of our foreign policy interests."
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill (2009) - introduced as a private member's bill by ruling party MP David Bahati in October 2009 - would also force people accused of aggravated homosexuality to undergo HIV tests, and would impose prison sentences or heavy fines on members of the public who fail to report homosexual activity.
Bahati said he looked forward to discussions with Museveni that would result in a version of the Bill that would accommodate international interests while not compromising Uganda's "internal principles".
Rights groups and health workers have expressed relief that the bill now seems unlikely to be passed in its current form. "I have always known that this Bill cannot be passed; if it is passed it will affect our international relations, but it is also a very cruel Bill," said Frank Mugisha, chairman of the gay rights organization, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG).
"Even without the Bill, the gay community operates from underground; we service providers were afraid, but now we know that the Bill will be debated and improved," said Janeva Busingye, coordinator of the Ministry of Health's Most at Risk Populations Initiative.
Men who have sex with men have been identified as a population at high risk of contracting and transmitting HIV, but they have never been included in Uganda's national HIV/AIDS response, mainly because of existing laws outlawing homosexuality; a 2009 Modes of Transmission study recommended that legal impediments to their inclusion in the response be reviewed.
UGANDA: Museveni distances himself from "cruel" anti-gay bill
Museveni has been silent on the controversial bill until now. Story in Plus News.
KAMPALA, 14 January 2010 (PlusNews) - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has indicated he will not back a bill that would impose the death sentence for the crime of "aggravated homosexuality" - when an HIV-positive person has sex with anyone who is disabled or under the age of 18.
Museveni appears to have bowed to international pressure, telling members of his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had all urged him to ensure the controversial bill does not go ahead.
"I told them that this bill was brought up by a private member and I have not even had time to discuss it with him; it is neither the government nor the NRM Party," he told party members during a meeting on 13 January, according to local media. "This is a foreign policy issue and we have to discuss it in a manner that does not compromise our principles but also takes care of our foreign policy interests."
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill (2009) - introduced as a private member's bill by ruling party MP David Bahati in October 2009 - would also force people accused of aggravated homosexuality to undergo HIV tests, and would impose prison sentences or heavy fines on members of the public who fail to report homosexual activity.
Bahati said he looked forward to discussions with Museveni that would result in a version of the Bill that would accommodate international interests while not compromising Uganda's "internal principles".
Rights groups and health workers have expressed relief that the bill now seems unlikely to be passed in its current form. "I have always known that this Bill cannot be passed; if it is passed it will affect our international relations, but it is also a very cruel Bill," said Frank Mugisha, chairman of the gay rights organization, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG).
"Even without the Bill, the gay community operates from underground; we service providers were afraid, but now we know that the Bill will be debated and improved," said Janeva Busingye, coordinator of the Ministry of Health's Most at Risk Populations Initiative.
Men who have sex with men have been identified as a population at high risk of contracting and transmitting HIV, but they have never been included in Uganda's national HIV/AIDS response, mainly because of existing laws outlawing homosexuality; a 2009 Modes of Transmission study recommended that legal impediments to their inclusion in the response be reviewed.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Updates: Uganda bill, blogger death threat, Prop 8 trial- more 'Family 'Matters
Welcome back to PoxVox. Some good news below, and some more bad...
Before we go there, thanks to all of you who have written to encourage me to write this blog, and who are following on Facebook, Twitter, PulseWire or here on Blogger. Do let me know what resonates, and what you'd like me to look into. I'm still a bit of a luddite, and appreciate ways to make this blog useful to a broad community.
If you're sending me documents or leads, please let me know if you're sharing information that you want to remain a) public, on the record; b) off the record and c) what's your source?
Now, onto the raging Culture Wars..
It's been a very important week on the frontlines of I-Hate-Gays war ...
First the Uganda 'death penalty' bill.. some encouraging developments. It seems the government is now saying it has not taken any position on the bill that is before parliament and it will hold discussions with MP David Bahati to reach an agreed position. This revelation was made today in Entebbe during the NRM's National Executive Conference at State House. The Uganda Online story says that President Museveni is encouraging extreme caution about going forward with the bill.
So it's clear that the growing global pressure to halt the bill has finally reached his ears -- including the public disavowals of his 'friends' at the Family or Fellowship network who have been pushing him to backpedal quickly. The message: killing any vulnerable group -including sexual minorities -is dangerous for Uganda, especially given the region's history of war and neigboring Rwanda's genocide.
The latest word from my colleagues in the human rights/LGBT rights field who are Uganda insiders is that recent domestic opposition to the bill from Ugandan interfaith communities has helped, and that global opposition is so strong that it’s not likely to be rushed to a vote anytime soon, and certainly not in its current form. There have been calls to withdraw the bill -- the outcome many in Uganda favor.
And domestically, the three Americans who are accused of fomenting this gay witch hunt in Uganda have come under intense criticism by many quarters. I'll write more in blogs to come about the trio and their activities on the gay marriage front, too.
More Death Threats for LGBT in Uganda...
Meanwhile, as many predicted, the proposed Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality bill and the battle has already begun hurting Ugandans who speak out to defend gay rights. Blogger Gay Uganda writes today that he's gotten anonymous death threats, posted to his blog.
This of course, clearly demonstrates that speaking out publicly and online is having an impact in raising domestic and global public awareness - to oppose this brutal legislation.
Which means, it's important for all of us to speak out, to let LGBT colleagues like him know a global commmunity is reading, listening and responding to their brave actions. We need to oppose hate speech and death threats, as well as draconial bills.
Updates on Prop 8 trial in San Francisco:
The first day of the groundbreaking Prop 8 'trial' began in SF yesterday and several updates have been posted.
Equality Now has sent out a brief update on the SF court trial taking place now over Prop 8. Geoffrey Kors sent LGBT supporters this message:
Yesterday, at the first day of court in the federal challenge to Prop. 8, we saw the well-established pattern of hate versus love, fear versus equality.
Ironically, defenders of the ban on marriage successfully delayed broadcast of the proceedings on YouTube by arguing that witnesses would be subject to harassment and intimidation — exactly what the LGBT community has been subject to for centuries. They convinced the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the broadcast of the trial temporarily and even objected to one of their ads being shown in the court room.
Here's a clip of Kors debating the issue and trial with Andrew Pugno on CNN:
While LGBT supporters feel positive about the first day’s public debate of their views on Prop 8, Kors says, they are disappointed by a US Supeme Court decision to halt, at least temporarily, plans to let Google's video site stream coverage of the "Proposition 8" trial, including on You Tube.
But active civil society and LGBT advocacy on the issue may change that. According to presiding Judge Walker, the court received more than 138,000 comments on the proposed broadcasting, and all but 32 were in favor of allowing the public to view delayed broadcasts of the trial.
Supporters of live coverage remain hopeful that Google’s live web broadcast access will be restored this week
Here's a link to Expert trial analysis by the National Center For Lesbian Rights' (NCLR) Shannon Minter of the first day’s hearing.
MORE 'FAMILY MATTERS'....
Since I started this blog last week, to begin tracking the identity and activities of members of The Family a.k.a. 'The Fellowship', I have been poking around the web, talking to journo and human rights and LGBT colleagues. Seems organizing efforts are gaining focus for a proposed action in DC for the National Prayer Breakfast that The Family organizes every year in February. Global Equality is one of the groups pushing the envelope...
On a personal level, I've started creating an 'L-Word'-like chart of Who's Who in The Family -- and Who's Zooming Who. A kind of Family Ties map. I'll be happy to share it with others when it gets a bit firmed up. And I'm reaching out to ask any of you who are similarly inclined to share what you may know with me. I'm especially interested in Following The Money.
Interestingly, many, many Internet links that carried stories about The Family are now 'inactive'.
For now, the more one climbs the Family ladder, the more rungs and names one encounters. Which has led to me ask: who's NOT in the Family? If so many in Clinton, Bush, Reagan admins were or remain high-up members or associates or friends-of-Doug Coe, and there are little Prayer Cells in many other Parliaments and countries, then what does our government really look like? If The Family has put its key men and women in charge at the State Department, who is really directing our foreign policy?
Who in the Obama administration, for example?
We know about Hillary Clinton's strategic, spiritually lifting women's Prayer Warrior days with leaders of the Christian Right who are known members of the Family, but who else has been enjoying spiritual succor at C-Street?
And who's enjoyed the financial rewards of dining with The Chosen?
ta, for now..
Before we go there, thanks to all of you who have written to encourage me to write this blog, and who are following on Facebook, Twitter, PulseWire or here on Blogger. Do let me know what resonates, and what you'd like me to look into. I'm still a bit of a luddite, and appreciate ways to make this blog useful to a broad community.
If you're sending me documents or leads, please let me know if you're sharing information that you want to remain a) public, on the record; b) off the record and c) what's your source?
Now, onto the raging Culture Wars..
It's been a very important week on the frontlines of I-Hate-Gays war ...
First the Uganda 'death penalty' bill.. some encouraging developments. It seems the government is now saying it has not taken any position on the bill that is before parliament and it will hold discussions with MP David Bahati to reach an agreed position. This revelation was made today in Entebbe during the NRM's National Executive Conference at State House. The Uganda Online story says that President Museveni is encouraging extreme caution about going forward with the bill.
So it's clear that the growing global pressure to halt the bill has finally reached his ears -- including the public disavowals of his 'friends' at the Family or Fellowship network who have been pushing him to backpedal quickly. The message: killing any vulnerable group -including sexual minorities -is dangerous for Uganda, especially given the region's history of war and neigboring Rwanda's genocide.
The latest word from my colleagues in the human rights/LGBT rights field who are Uganda insiders is that recent domestic opposition to the bill from Ugandan interfaith communities has helped, and that global opposition is so strong that it’s not likely to be rushed to a vote anytime soon, and certainly not in its current form. There have been calls to withdraw the bill -- the outcome many in Uganda favor.
And domestically, the three Americans who are accused of fomenting this gay witch hunt in Uganda have come under intense criticism by many quarters. I'll write more in blogs to come about the trio and their activities on the gay marriage front, too.
More Death Threats for LGBT in Uganda...
Meanwhile, as many predicted, the proposed Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality bill and the battle has already begun hurting Ugandans who speak out to defend gay rights. Blogger Gay Uganda writes today that he's gotten anonymous death threats, posted to his blog.
This of course, clearly demonstrates that speaking out publicly and online is having an impact in raising domestic and global public awareness - to oppose this brutal legislation.
Which means, it's important for all of us to speak out, to let LGBT colleagues like him know a global commmunity is reading, listening and responding to their brave actions. We need to oppose hate speech and death threats, as well as draconial bills.
Updates on Prop 8 trial in San Francisco:
The first day of the groundbreaking Prop 8 'trial' began in SF yesterday and several updates have been posted.
Equality Now has sent out a brief update on the SF court trial taking place now over Prop 8. Geoffrey Kors sent LGBT supporters this message:
Yesterday, at the first day of court in the federal challenge to Prop. 8, we saw the well-established pattern of hate versus love, fear versus equality.
Ironically, defenders of the ban on marriage successfully delayed broadcast of the proceedings on YouTube by arguing that witnesses would be subject to harassment and intimidation — exactly what the LGBT community has been subject to for centuries. They convinced the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the broadcast of the trial temporarily and even objected to one of their ads being shown in the court room.
Here's a clip of Kors debating the issue and trial with Andrew Pugno on CNN:
While LGBT supporters feel positive about the first day’s public debate of their views on Prop 8, Kors says, they are disappointed by a US Supeme Court decision to halt, at least temporarily, plans to let Google's video site stream coverage of the "Proposition 8" trial, including on You Tube.
But active civil society and LGBT advocacy on the issue may change that. According to presiding Judge Walker, the court received more than 138,000 comments on the proposed broadcasting, and all but 32 were in favor of allowing the public to view delayed broadcasts of the trial.
Supporters of live coverage remain hopeful that Google’s live web broadcast access will be restored this week
Here's a link to Expert trial analysis by the National Center For Lesbian Rights' (NCLR) Shannon Minter of the first day’s hearing.
MORE 'FAMILY MATTERS'....
Since I started this blog last week, to begin tracking the identity and activities of members of The Family a.k.a. 'The Fellowship', I have been poking around the web, talking to journo and human rights and LGBT colleagues. Seems organizing efforts are gaining focus for a proposed action in DC for the National Prayer Breakfast that The Family organizes every year in February. Global Equality is one of the groups pushing the envelope...
On a personal level, I've started creating an 'L-Word'-like chart of Who's Who in The Family -- and Who's Zooming Who. A kind of Family Ties map. I'll be happy to share it with others when it gets a bit firmed up. And I'm reaching out to ask any of you who are similarly inclined to share what you may know with me. I'm especially interested in Following The Money.
Interestingly, many, many Internet links that carried stories about The Family are now 'inactive'.
For now, the more one climbs the Family ladder, the more rungs and names one encounters. Which has led to me ask: who's NOT in the Family? If so many in Clinton, Bush, Reagan admins were or remain high-up members or associates or friends-of-Doug Coe, and there are little Prayer Cells in many other Parliaments and countries, then what does our government really look like? If The Family has put its key men and women in charge at the State Department, who is really directing our foreign policy?
Who in the Obama administration, for example?
We know about Hillary Clinton's strategic, spiritually lifting women's Prayer Warrior days with leaders of the Christian Right who are known members of the Family, but who else has been enjoying spiritual succor at C-Street?
And who's enjoyed the financial rewards of dining with The Chosen?
ta, for now..
Thursday, January 7, 2010
In case you missed this Tues...the dance of the accused...
Tues Jan 5 carried a Baptist Press headline story about 5 US Congressmen who sent Ugandan President Museveni a letter -- part of a Manhattan Declaration -- urging him to oppose the Uganda death penalty for gays bill.
"Reps. Frank Wolf of Virginia, Chris Smith of New Jersey, Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania, Trent Franks of Arizona and Anh "Joseph" Cao of Louisiana referenced the Manhattan Declaration, signed in November by more than 140 leaders representing various branches of American Christianity."
Note that among them are known members of The Family, like Joe Pitts. Clearly The Family has been in major damage control mode.
Meanwhile, the decision to revise the bill -- to strike the death penalty but offer life imprisonment instead, drew this comment from a top Ugandan minister who backs the Anti-Homosexuality Bill:
"....we now think a life sentence could be better because it gives room for offenders to be rehabilitated," Nsaba Buturo, Uganda's minister of ethics and integrity, told Reuters. "Killing them might not be helpful."
(My italics and bold added).
Really, now? Not helpful, eh?
And can we just point it out again, in case it slipped by: this is from the country's minister of Ethics and Integrity.
Case closed.
"Reps. Frank Wolf of Virginia, Chris Smith of New Jersey, Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania, Trent Franks of Arizona and Anh "Joseph" Cao of Louisiana referenced the Manhattan Declaration, signed in November by more than 140 leaders representing various branches of American Christianity."
Note that among them are known members of The Family, like Joe Pitts. Clearly The Family has been in major damage control mode.
Meanwhile, the decision to revise the bill -- to strike the death penalty but offer life imprisonment instead, drew this comment from a top Ugandan minister who backs the Anti-Homosexuality Bill:
"....we now think a life sentence could be better because it gives room for offenders to be rehabilitated," Nsaba Buturo, Uganda's minister of ethics and integrity, told Reuters. "Killing them might not be helpful."
(My italics and bold added).
Really, now? Not helpful, eh?
And can we just point it out again, in case it slipped by: this is from the country's minister of Ethics and Integrity.
Case closed.
US promoters of Uganda anti-gay bill active in N. California
Take note of Kel Munger's blog on how allies of Don Schmeier of Exodus Intl, and Scott Lively - author of The Pink Swastika, have been advancing anti-gay propaganda and recruiting in Northern California.
She mentions a group, Watchmen on the Walls - that has an active chapter in Sacramento. Some of them have been very active on the anti-gay marriage Prop 8 initiative. They have been particularly active recruiting in the Slavic immigrant communities including Russian and Latvian.
For info on the Watchmen, go to reports at the Southern Poverty Law Center, that has been tracking hate groups for a long time now.
All you California people- take note....
She mentions a group, Watchmen on the Walls - that has an active chapter in Sacramento. Some of them have been very active on the anti-gay marriage Prop 8 initiative. They have been particularly active recruiting in the Slavic immigrant communities including Russian and Latvian.
For info on the Watchmen, go to reports at the Southern Poverty Law Center, that has been tracking hate groups for a long time now.
All you California people- take note....
Ugandan president urges softening of anti-gay bill -AP Update
Ugandan president urges softening of anti-gay bill
By GODFREY OLUKYA
Associated Press Writer
Published: Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010 - 10:42 am
Last Modified: Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010 - 12:16 pm
KAMPALA, Uganda -- Gay Ugandans likely won't face the death penalty after the president said he opposed the provision in proposed legislation, but an international gay rights group said Thursday even a watered-down bill would be repressive.
President Yoweri Museveni has told colleagues he believes the bill is too harsh and has encouraged his ruling National Resistance Movement Party to overturn the death sentence provision, which would apply to sexually active gays living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape according to a copy of the draft law.
The proposed bill, though, says anyone convicted of a homosexual act - which includes touching someone of the same sex with the intent of committing a homosexual act - would face life imprisonment. It is unclear whether Museveni supports that provision or not.
Gay rights activists say the bill, introduced in the fall of 2009, promotes hatred and could set back efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in the conservative East African country. Protests already have been held in London, New York and Washington.
London-based gay-rights activist Peter Tatchell said even if the death penalty is removed from the bill, it will still contradict several major international conventions on human rights, which could cause donors to reduce their aid to Uganda.
The new bill, he said, builds on Uganda's prohibitions against homosexuality by including Ugandans living abroad and by expanding the definition of homosexual acts to include touching. The draft law stipulates that Ugandans abroad can be extradited and punished.
"Even a softened bill will be extremely repressive and discriminatory," Tatchell told The Associated Press. "Even before this new law, homosexual relations were punishable by life imprisonment and there was widespread homophobic discrimination and mob violence. The status quo won't change."
A top minister suggested scrapping the death penalty in favor of counseling.
"The death penalty is likely to be removed," said James Nsaba Buturo, Uganda's minister of state for ethics and integrity. "The president doesn't believe in killing gays. I also don't believe in it. I think gays can be counseled and they stop the bad habit."
Ruling party spokeswoman Mary Karoro Okurut said she also agrees with the president that some punishments in the bill should be dropped. But she said she will still push for a modified version of the bill when it comes to parliament in late February or early March.
"Although the president is against some parts of the bill, the bill has to stay," she said. "(Homosexuality) is not allowed in African culture. We have to protect the children in schools who are being recruited into homosexual activities."
Frank Mugisha, leader of Sex Minorities Uganda, said the gay-rights group will campaign for and support Museveni in the 2011 polls because of his opposition to the bill's harsher provisions.
"If one scratches your back you also scratch his back," Mugisha said. "Museveni's action shows that he is a true democrat. As a head of state he is doing the right thing of protecting all interests of its citizens, including those of the minorities."
Tatchell said he was "very surprised" that the Ugandan group would endorse the president, whose government banned same-sex marriage in 2005.
"Museveni is using gay people as a scapegoat just as Mugabe did in Zimbabwe and Hitler did in Germany," he said. "It's an easy way to deflect public attention away from the Ugandan government's failure to tackle poverty and human rights abuses."
The measure was proposed in Uganda following a visit by leaders of U.S. conservative Christian ministries that promote therapy for gays to become heterosexual. However, at least one of those leaders has denounced the bill, as have some other conservative and liberal Christians in the United States.
On the African continent, South Africa is the only country that allows gay marriage. However, some South African groups have rejected homosexuality as "un-African" and gangs carry out so-called "corrective" rapes on lesbians. A 19-year-old lesbian athlete was gang-raped, tortured and murdered in 2008.
The Catholic church in Uganda has said it supports the bill but not the death penalty provision. But a group of non-traditional churches has accused Museveni of siding with gays and maintains that the Bible supports killing gays. Anglican Archbishop of York John Sentamu, who is one of the global fellowship's most senior priests, has said he condemns the proposed law in his native country.
By GODFREY OLUKYA
Associated Press Writer
Published: Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010 - 10:42 am
Last Modified: Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010 - 12:16 pm
KAMPALA, Uganda -- Gay Ugandans likely won't face the death penalty after the president said he opposed the provision in proposed legislation, but an international gay rights group said Thursday even a watered-down bill would be repressive.
President Yoweri Museveni has told colleagues he believes the bill is too harsh and has encouraged his ruling National Resistance Movement Party to overturn the death sentence provision, which would apply to sexually active gays living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape according to a copy of the draft law.
The proposed bill, though, says anyone convicted of a homosexual act - which includes touching someone of the same sex with the intent of committing a homosexual act - would face life imprisonment. It is unclear whether Museveni supports that provision or not.
Gay rights activists say the bill, introduced in the fall of 2009, promotes hatred and could set back efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in the conservative East African country. Protests already have been held in London, New York and Washington.
London-based gay-rights activist Peter Tatchell said even if the death penalty is removed from the bill, it will still contradict several major international conventions on human rights, which could cause donors to reduce their aid to Uganda.
The new bill, he said, builds on Uganda's prohibitions against homosexuality by including Ugandans living abroad and by expanding the definition of homosexual acts to include touching. The draft law stipulates that Ugandans abroad can be extradited and punished.
"Even a softened bill will be extremely repressive and discriminatory," Tatchell told The Associated Press. "Even before this new law, homosexual relations were punishable by life imprisonment and there was widespread homophobic discrimination and mob violence. The status quo won't change."
A top minister suggested scrapping the death penalty in favor of counseling.
"The death penalty is likely to be removed," said James Nsaba Buturo, Uganda's minister of state for ethics and integrity. "The president doesn't believe in killing gays. I also don't believe in it. I think gays can be counseled and they stop the bad habit."
Ruling party spokeswoman Mary Karoro Okurut said she also agrees with the president that some punishments in the bill should be dropped. But she said she will still push for a modified version of the bill when it comes to parliament in late February or early March.
"Although the president is against some parts of the bill, the bill has to stay," she said. "(Homosexuality) is not allowed in African culture. We have to protect the children in schools who are being recruited into homosexual activities."
Frank Mugisha, leader of Sex Minorities Uganda, said the gay-rights group will campaign for and support Museveni in the 2011 polls because of his opposition to the bill's harsher provisions.
"If one scratches your back you also scratch his back," Mugisha said. "Museveni's action shows that he is a true democrat. As a head of state he is doing the right thing of protecting all interests of its citizens, including those of the minorities."
Tatchell said he was "very surprised" that the Ugandan group would endorse the president, whose government banned same-sex marriage in 2005.
"Museveni is using gay people as a scapegoat just as Mugabe did in Zimbabwe and Hitler did in Germany," he said. "It's an easy way to deflect public attention away from the Ugandan government's failure to tackle poverty and human rights abuses."
The measure was proposed in Uganda following a visit by leaders of U.S. conservative Christian ministries that promote therapy for gays to become heterosexual. However, at least one of those leaders has denounced the bill, as have some other conservative and liberal Christians in the United States.
On the African continent, South Africa is the only country that allows gay marriage. However, some South African groups have rejected homosexuality as "un-African" and gangs carry out so-called "corrective" rapes on lesbians. A 19-year-old lesbian athlete was gang-raped, tortured and murdered in 2008.
The Catholic church in Uganda has said it supports the bill but not the death penalty provision. But a group of non-traditional churches has accused Museveni of siding with gays and maintains that the Bible supports killing gays. Anglican Archbishop of York John Sentamu, who is one of the global fellowship's most senior priests, has said he condemns the proposed law in his native country.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
short Who's Who in The Family
Thanks to Utah Savage
for compiling a little list in November of Who's Who in the US Congress and other high spots regarding membership in The Family. And we're surprised Brit Hume is pushing Tiger Woods to jump onboard the ship of fallen Christians who have lots of power and need public redemption. Of course Hume is v. close to the group - he's been a speaker at events. Ah, separation of the media and the state and the church and the....?
Have a look see here
Seems like the 12-step slogan might help out members of The Family: You're only as sick as your secrets. No?
for compiling a little list in November of Who's Who in the US Congress and other high spots regarding membership in The Family. And we're surprised Brit Hume is pushing Tiger Woods to jump onboard the ship of fallen Christians who have lots of power and need public redemption. Of course Hume is v. close to the group - he's been a speaker at events. Ah, separation of the media and the state and the church and the....?
Have a look see here
Seems like the 12-step slogan might help out members of The Family: You're only as sick as your secrets. No?
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