'Homosexuals are not ready for CHOGM' (so they say).

In Uganda it seems I could be considered a homo-propagandist. But I'll take the chance. Hell is loose in Uganda.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Ugandans held their first-ever press conference at Speke Hotel yesterday to launch a media campaign to advocate for their rights, the Monitor Online reported on August 17, and then the American journalist who wrote the article suddenly became the target of a demonstration led by Martin Ssempa from the Makerere Community Church and Interfaith Rainbow Coalition Against Homosexuality (A man with such little knowledge about homosexuality that he obviously doesn't know that the rainbow colors make up the international gay flag), who demanded her kicked out of Uganda simply 'for reporting about homosexuality'.

I fail completely to see the logic - writing, not actually performing, about something illegal, qualifies you for deporting?! Jackfruity reports about the incident here, and Glenna Gordon receives lots of comments on her post here. Kelly pays attention to a poster (inserted photo from her blog) and renames the CHOGM to 'Citizens Here Obviously Gone Mad'. The 27th Comrade, apparently being one of them, as he comments all over the Ugandan blogosphere as, well, mad ( I mean take a look to the right...).

We are talking 2007, and we are talking about Kampala, a relatively modern African capital which at present is striving so ridiculously hard for living up to some unclear standards for the CHOGM. Most of these demands, however, are purely focused on the facade of this country; – Appearance! I fail to see any vital change of what binds all this together; The inside. I am a visitor here, and I live with the fact that a lot is done differently. However, I do find it hard to accept the way Uganda is treating its minorities, the people who haven’t chosen as the majority, the man who marries a woman from another tribe because he actually loves her, the few who have the courage to stand up for what they think is right. Someone claims this is a special African trademark, to suppress your individual desires and adapt to the majority, and that Western influence should pack.

In this case a group of people has chosen to declare their sexuality openly. But in this country it is not only illegal to have sexual relations with people from the same sex, by some people it is even considered a disease which they believe can be cured by i.e., praying. How can Christianity be this inhumane? And doesn't this country have more serious criminals than being homosexual? Judging from a poll carried out by the East Africa Social Political Economic And Cultural (SPEC) Barometer 95% of the Ugandan population support the legislation and assumption.

I would still question if those 95% really do know what we actually talk about since we in Uganda are not allowed to report it in the papers, teach about it in school (mainly homosexuality seems condemned when 'taught') - or for that matter - practise it. In the Daily Monitor today I skimmed the page with the letters to the editor, and here one man suggested that 'why the police had not arrested the people behind Sexual Minorities Uganda (Smug) - a coalition of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) organisations - and taken them for medical check-up to see whether they had had anal sex recently'. Hm, I still don't know what to think about that procedure, than how stupid it is to believe that homosexuality is all about analsex.

I think Uganda has got her priorities wrong somewhere. Ugandans claim that homosexuality is of Western origin and influence. But it is here and has been all the time. Uganda can fill its pot holes, tarmac its roundabouts, build shiny new hotels and receive the international community for CHOGM, but homosexuality won't go away. The question is whether Uganda will allow people to express it. All my respect for people like SMUG who dare standing up for a controversial issue, risking everything.

The BBC Africa covers the case here, and has some interesting inputs from people here.

Comments

[P]

To me Ugandans are very different, and if some believe they are homosexual, I believe they should have the right and peace to practice. Raymond mentions the tribal system and the bible; I strongly feel that this is a matter of intrepretation, that any person will use in order to promote his or her standpoints as he or her thinks it will benefit from it. Right now both is being abused for the sake of criminalising homosexuality, which I find first of all stupid, secondly just sad.

So - no - Raymond, I definetely didn't miss the point; Just allow me to disagree with a messed up conception that people are sick just because they are homosexual!

[Raymond]

I guess you missed the whole point on the homosexulity issue. As Ugandans, its against our different tribal cultures. I dont think u will find a single tribe condoning homosexuality. Plus, the Bible is very clear on the criminality of same sex relationships. So, to me, the response was relevant, called for and justified. Homosexuals have no place in our country because what they do is not right, has never been right and will never be right.
Talking about CHOGM, I think its over-hyped, just like u do. Another opportunity for crooked officials to siphon more money.

[P]

We all influence each other, though I must admit that Western style dominates in general, and that i.e., African style too little.

I see your point, but I don't agree. we develop through dialogue and debate and interaction. I believe basic rights of people, esp in this case, must be protected. Don't leave it to ultra-Christian preachers!

Face it 27th! The world has changed to global. You don't live in a village anymore!

FYI - this is my PERSONAL point, not MS Uganda's.

Good day, Pernille

[The 27th Comrade]

You know, what I hate the most is how the West is making this an issue of ...
Okay, lemme put it this way. If homosexuality will be accepted here, let it not be the result of pushing by the West. That would be dangerous, because it will even re-inforce the (wrong) idea that it is a Western influence. When people like you get all bleeding-heart about it, and refuse to see that things don't leap, they evolve, and say MS Uganda makes it part of its job to further homosexuality, that is more-dangerous for the homosexuals.

Blogs like mine that call for an end to homophobia while at the same time facing the fact that this takes a big jump for Uganda are where the real activism is. Not in these Danish/American/Brit NGOs that are only yapping and yapping because they want the whole world to be like their respective countries. I mean, if you people had come here, same situation, only that you are homophobic and we aren't, do you realise the situation would be the opposite? You would be saying these words you say _for homophobia_.

And I really hate it that this has brought a flurry of news. But only _negative_ news. What do I expect from the West, anyway? And the militant stance of the gay activists is angering, and pits me against them.