David Cato, Ugandan gay rights activist (AP)
David Cato is not your everyday activist. The Ugandan native began advocating for gay rights after he had been attacked and beaten four times, arrested twice, fired from his teaching job, and had his sexual preferences published in the local press.
“It’s a question of visibility,” Cato told the Associated Press. “When we come out and ask for our rights they pass laws against us.”
Much light now shines on the difficulties faced by this African nation’s homosexual community, thanks to one of the laws of which Cato speaks: the Ugandan parliament has proposed legislation that would impose the death penalty for some gay Ugandans.
According to the AP, the legislation in its current form would mandate a death sentence for active homosexuals living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape, and also dictate that anyone convicted of a homosexual act face life imprisonment.
Additionally, anyone who “aids, abets, counsels or procures another to engage of acts of homosexuality” faces seven years in prison if convicted. Landlords who rent rooms or homes to homosexuals also could get seven years and anyone with “religious, political, economic or social authority” that fails to report anyone violating the act faces three years.
Homosexuality already is illegal in Uganda: the Penal Code bans "carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature," with a possible penalty of life imprisonment, but prosecutions are rare because the standard of proof requires that offenders be caught in the act.
David Bahati, the legislator sponsoring the bill, told the AP he was encouraging “constructive criticism” to improve the law but insisted strict measures were necessary to stop homosexuals from “recruiting” schoolchildren.
High school teacher David Kisambira agreed with Bahati’s assessment, telling the Associated Press, “A good number of students have been converted into gays. We hear there are groups of people given money by some gay organizations in developed countries to recruit youth into gay activities.”
Gay Rights activists (and anyone with a modicum of both humanity and sanity) are raging against the proposed law, and both the British government and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper have denounced the legislation. Sweden, calling the anti-homosexual bill “appalling,” threatened to cut $50 million in development aid it sends to Uganda.
The Associated Press points to a visit by leaders of U.S. conservative Christian ministries that promote therapy for gays to become heterosexual as the impetus for the legislation. The bill was introduced following a conference in Kampala earlier this year attended by American activists who believe gays and lesbians can become heterosexual through prayer and counseling.
One of those participants, preacher Scott Lively (who writes books suggesting ways parents can keep homosexuals from “recruiting” their children), told the AP he “Agreed with the general goal but the law is far too harsh.”
"Society should actively discourage all sex outside of marriage and that includes homosexuality ... The family is under threat,” added Lively, author of “The Pink Swastika.” Gay people “should not be parading around the streets.”
(see MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow’s take on the conference participants in the video below)
Activist David Cato – who believes some form of the bill will be passed into law - told the AP that foreign influences have indeed driven the anti-gay sentiment.
“In the beginning, when the missionaries brought religion, they said they were bringing love," he said. "Instead they brought hate, through homophobia."
And while many observers opine this anti-homosexuality bill is mere political theater – an opportunity for the government to create the perception they are protecting morality – keep in mind that seven countries (Iran, Mauritania, Saudi-Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and the 12 Sharia law provinces of northern Nigeria) still put gay, lesbian and bisexual people to death for same-sex relations.
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Comments
There is no morality in Africa or for that matter in most places in the world. Everyone sleeps around with everybody!
This is appalling! How much more proof do we need for the evil of religion? This law was encouraged by the hatred of the Evilgelicals and Catholic Church. How much longer must we live with these immoral people who care nothing for their neighbors except who they sleep with?
Imprecatory curses against our leaders, discrimination against women and gays, ignoring the poor and sick in Washington for not being able to discriminate, abusing children, car bombs, suicide bombers, flying planes into buildings and other terrorist activities. Now killing gays and their families??? And this is only in the last decade! History has a lot more instances of much worse atrocities from genocide to Witch hunts.
It has to stop somewhere...
as a straight man that opposes gays in all forms I find this disgusting and this is actually making me rethink my stance on gays. maybe I am wrong this is tragic and un Christlike in anyway.
I have lost all respect for Christians and Christianity. I have 1000 times more respect for any atheist than a single Christian. It doesn't matter that they 'all' aren't like those in this article, those who are not, have not courage to stand up to those who stain their image so they deserve no respect.
People with HIV should not sleep with anyone period. That is a moral responsibility issue and a maturaty issue, not a religious one. Funny how those in favor of the homosexual lifestyle can shoot their mouths off but anyone who speaks out against it is attacked. Of course I would never want to see anyone harmed, let alone killed for thier beliefs but this is not a "Christian issue" per say, more of a culteral one.
My gosh are we in 21st Century???? it's like we are still in the prehistoric period.... I am gay so WHAT???
At the end everyone lives their life we still the same just a different sexual orientation that's all!!
We still have 2 arms, 1 heart etc...
Starve that country to death.
And think that if we had dropped a 2000# bomb on the reichstag in 1935, the world would be different. It could be different for Uganda also
And then deal with the American christian evangelical ministers. Ending religious terrorism begins at home. These are the same people of the southern slave/segregation culture for the most part.
Whose brand of Jesus is so corrupt that now they need a new group to hate and denigrate.
"John says:
as a straight man that opposes gays in all forms I find this disgusting and this is actually making me rethink my stance on gays. maybe I am wrong this is tragic and un Christlike in anyway. "
You're beginning to understand John. More tragedies have occurred in the world in the name of God / Jesus (and Mohammed etc) then for any other reason.
Surely the leaders of these monstrosities will go to hell. But we meed a solution her in our time on earth. People like you can help provide it, but you have to find a church that follows Jesus two commandments - Love God, and even more important "love thy neighbor as thyself". So terribly lacking.
BTw, I left my Jewish Temple because thought they are good to gay people, they are not "OUT" and actively supporting gay people in their quest to be treated as just another part of God's creation. I joined the Universalist Unitarian church. You can look at the Episcopal, UCC, UU, Evangelical Lutherans, Presbyterian USA etc Goo
haha - Actually this is very funny (I laugh to avoid crying) because there are much more crimes by the name of religions that anything else, religion has been created by man, spirituality has been created by God. I can't believe we're in the 21th century and how the ONU allows this.
For God's sake when you grow up you may understand the Bible...God made men and women...He did not make homosexuality.. Quit blaming him for the evil men do...Homosexuality, murder, adultery, idolatry, lying, etc came in with Satan's wisdom of the knowledge of good and evil... Any day a person thinks God cannot heal these evils in men they are brain dead..I very much resent homosexuals blaming god for their actions...and inability to resist evil..not only do they not resist evil, they revel in it...
I will say one thing more.. Christians need to understand we do not live by old covenant laws of stoning and killing.....We are supposed to live by grace and forgiveness and love
Perhaps gays would be wise to keep their lifestyle secret instead of forcing people to accept what the Bible deems evil...
One Last word I promise... Obamageddon is sending American troops to defend the same government that is behind these heinious laws against homosexuals......Rachel herself is his biggest fan...Maybe now she will understand how very dangerous Obama really is.....Obamageddon was also behind his realive in Kenya who set up sharia law which definately promises doom for homosexuality....Rachael better investigate the next person she votes for...
For all the people who reject Christianity.. Did not Jesus say, "Because iniquity would abound the love of many will wax cold.."""Some on this site are fulfilling his Words......If their Christianity was founded on Jesus instead of on men they would not reject both Jesus and truth..........
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