The things fear can do to people...

Sometimes there are moments when you read something and it just hits you, right in the face, leaving you entirely shocked. This is one of those moments.

The President of Uganda has just signed the recently rewritten ‘Anti-Homosexuality Bill’, which (among other things) increases the penalty for homosexual acts in Uganda from 14 years in jail to life.

Firstly, this in itself seriously breaches Human Rights laws. Additionally, amongst this is another serious issue that impacts women and children in a very serious way.

In Stephen Fry’s interview for the first episode of his show ‘Out There’, he interviewed Ugandan Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Simon Lokodo, on the government’s stance on homosexuality in Uganda.

While saying that homosexuality is dangerous to children, the Ugandan minister states that heterosexuality is not dangerous in any way. To prove his point, he goes on to say that people should be allowed to rape children, so long as it’s heterosexual, because that is the ‘natural’ or ‘right’ way.

This is a frightening situation where a man high up in politics (who in the interview says he is the law) decrees that it is perfectly fine for men to rape female children, and that they should be allowed to do so as they wish. This was in light of Stephen Fry commenting on the epidemic of child rape in Uganda, something that obviously is not going to be addressed with this level of ignorance.

It’s unbelievable and heartbreaking that this view even exists, let alone that a government official is happy to voice it on a television show that (he knew) would be aired in many countries

In a search for a slight silver lining, it is important to note that there are people in Uganda who oppose this Bill. One example is Ugandan Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who urged President Museveni not to sign this bill. He believes that the Government should be focussing their efforts on ensuring criminal sanctions deal more harshly and appropriately with all acts of rape and sexual violence (including commercial sexual transactions), regardless of gender or sexual orientation. This is the opinion we yearn to hear more of, and it is nice to see, amidst the insanity of Lokodo’s views, that there is a voice of reason. Surely this would make Uganda a safer place for women and children and people as a whole.

All I can think to conclude with is that it’s sad what fear will do to people.

By Jen Taylor

Sources:

Amnesty International. Uganda: Anti-homosexuality bill ‘a grave assault on human rights’, February 7, 2012. Available from: <http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/uganda-anti-homosexuality-bill-2012-02-07>

BBC News, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signs anti-gay bill. February 24, 2014.  Available from: <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26320102>

The Guardian, Desmond Tutu condemns Uganda's proposed new anti-gay law, February 24, 2014. Available from: <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/23/desmond-tutu-condemns-uganda-proposed-anti-gay-law>

Stephen Fry’s Television show ‘Out there’, Episode one.

Being Gay is Being Human

I still remember the shock when I chanced upon a video shared online some months back. It showed a man from a place in Africa being beaten and tortured to death. Why? - because he was gay. He was surrounded by several men no less than twenty. Some were participants to the torture, others spectators and taking a video of what was going on. 

As the victim struggled to run away, people followed him, hurting him every chance they could get. Finally he was too weak to run and fell to the ground. Someone set fire to a tire. Another poured gasoline on the victim. Then someone set him on fire. People watched. Some laughed and jeered and others were unemotional. Some maybe with a little bit sense of guilt for being there and doing nothing…but they could do nothing, maybe out of fear that they too would suffer the same fate if they tried to defend the victim.   
Having a different sexual preference does not make a person a criminal. It is just a different belief and perspective and they should be respected for their beliefs, as I expect them to respect mine. I do not have to agree with their beliefs or way of life as they do not have to agree with mine. And as long as they do not pose a danger to society like violent criminals do, then they are certainly entitled to their own space as I am. They are as human as I am. 

It’s so tragic that people can be so discriminated upon for their sexual preferences. And it is even worse that some African nations like Uganda have laws that prosecute people for being gay. The revision of the law is now up for debate in Uganda and if passed, it would still send every gay, lesbian or transgender person in Africa to jail – for life.  

How a government can tolerate and even support such a law is abominable.  But many are unaware that it exists. It is our role to create awareness that such an inhuman law exists so that others can be the voice of the many voiceless people who stand to suffer from such a law. It can cause a negative effect among other African nations if people do not come together to make a stand so the lawmakers would listen.
Together people can make a difference…and the African citizens can and have done so in the past. TOGETHER with the rest of the world, WE CAN….     


By Lylin Aguas