Believe it or not these simple words, AGGRAVATED HOMOSEXUAL, may be enough to execute someone in Uganda. A law calling for the death penalty is under consideration with the date galloping towards us. There is some faint conversation about reducing the sentence to life in prison but every discussion ends with a firm commitment to seek the preferred penalty; execution.
If you watch Rachel Maddow or are friends with me on Facebook, you know all about this proposed law. I have been harping about it on Facebook for weeks. To my surprise, people have been slow to boil on this. Thankfully there are pieces in both the LA Times and NY Times today, but if you want news as it breaks you can read Box Turtle Bulletin or a blog by a Ugandan gay man who fears for his life.
SOS Clinton spoke to this on December 14 and we have yet to hear from the President.
On Sept. 25, 2009, David Bahati, member of the Ugandan Parliament, introduced the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009 for review and vote by parliament. The most controversial part of the bill calls for the death penalty for people convicted of "aggravated homosexuality." Uganda Minister Martin Ssempa is calling for a nationwide demonstration in support of Uganda #18 on January 19, 2010.
The why? There is no answer, as it is madness. Here are a few things that are being said. They think that it is to protect the family. The US preachers told them that homosexuals are intentionally colonizing Africa. They have paraded a variety of people who claim that homosexuality is not only a preference but the manifestation of evil. They offer prayer camp and, for women, they attempt to rape women out of being lesbian.
This is not about HIV/AIDS. This is not about a penalty for men who believe there is a cure in raping little girls. This is an irrational frenzy, whipped up by US evangelicals and supported by madmen. This is beyond Arthur Miller or William Peter Blatty. This is real and it is SOON and we must resist the instant feeling to reject this because it is so out-rage-ous.
Admittedly, I am baffled as to why I am so drawn to this injustice; there are so many happening world wide. My commitment has always been to American social justice but there is something special going on here and I feel like a mother bear who senses danger looming in the distance.
Another reason I am drawn is that Americans have inspired this genocide, many of them from Southern California and, of course, my personal favorite faux Christian, Rick Warren who just summoned up 2.4 million in three days from his OC congregation. (I just can’t believe the residents of Lake Forest know where their money is going.) African men and women are facing hell itself with the masquerade that there is a queer agenda of destroying the “opposite sex” family unit. Maybe the preachers, along with Carrie Prejean, could just not get enough traction on the subject here in the US.
Zoe, you're right. This issue has to be constantly put front and center in the press and among groups. This beyond crazy. If Americans are helping to fuel this belief that homosexuality is a sin, then we also need to do something to ensure that this anti-homosexuality bill doesn't pass.
Posted by: Linda Perkins | January 11, 2010 at 04:15 PM