Uganda is Better than the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009

The questions about Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009 run far deeper than a debate about homosexuality in Africa:

• Will Uganda build a society based on democratic values and institutions or will religious theocracy encroach?
• Will Uganda be clear about the separation of church and state?
• Will Uganda understand the faith-based hate behind this Bill?
• Will Uganda further criminalize sexual minorities and alienate them from prevention and treatment services increasing the spread of HIV/AIDS?
• Will Uganda base decisions about sexual orientation on scientific knowledge or on junk theology?
• Will Uganda risk loosing foreign aid by pandering to theocratic agendas, unscientific ideologies and junk theology?

According to Rev. Patricia Ackerman, United Nations Human Rights Officer for the Unitarian Universalist Church, the prognosis does not look good.

Ssempa has poisoned the hearts of Ugandans toward their LGBTI community...His network of support reaches far into the parliament. A representative at the US Embassy here claims that 75% of the parliament will vote for the bill. We have heard as much as 90%.

In this Sunday's edition of The Observer, a member of Ssempa's network wrote, "We need to fight the unnatural gay vice." Here is what Member of Parliament Obua Denis Hamson had to say on the "MPs Forum":

Will Uganda build a society based on democratic values and institutions or will religious theocracy encroach?

As a Ugandan legislator, I support the criminalization of homosexuality because it is unnatural, non-christian [or non-Islamic] and a moral and social evil.

Will Uganda be clear about the separation of church and state?

In Uganda, and the world over, there have been many contentious deliberations on the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill currently under scrutiny in the Parliament of Uganda...Genesis 2:24 says that a man will leave his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and in that way, two people become one...

Currently in Uganda, homosexuality is outlawed by Section 145 of the Penal Code Act, Cap.120 under ‘Unnatural Offences’. This section provides that “Any person who has carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature; has carnal knowledge of an animal; or permits a male person to have carnal knowledge of him or her against the order of nature, commits an offense and is liable to imprisonment for life”.

Will Uganda understand the faith-based hate behind this Bill?

I applaud the authorities in Malawi for arresting two men recently on charges of public indecency after becoming the first gay couple to marry in a country where homosexuality is illegal...

It will also be recalled that Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh, said his country is made up of believers and that such sinful and immoral practices as homosexuality will not be tolerated.

President Jammeh vowed to “cut off the head” of any homosexual found in his country and said that a legislation will be introduced, which will be “stiffer than those in Iran”, concerning such acts.

These are examples that should be emulated by all African countries to forthwith stop the moral vice that is invading our society. I cannot imagine how a man can kiss and sleep with a fellow man! This is extremely satanic!

Will Uganda further criminalize sexual minorities and alienate them from prevention and treatment services increasing the spread of HIV/AIDS?

The proposed Anti-Gay Bill is meant to strengthen and widen the framework for implementing the already existing legislation. This is a defining bill for our country, for our generation and for enhancing moral integrity in our communities.

Will Uganda base decisions about sexual orientation on scientific knowledge or on junk theology?

As a Parliament, we may consider revising the proposed bill to limit the maximum penalty for offenders to life imprisonment rather than execution because it gives room for offenders to be rehabilitated.

In Genesis 19:4-11 the Bible clearly outlaws any carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature. In these verses, men who had sex with other men were made blind by God [Even conservative Christian interpretations of this passage view the events as a hospitality violation, not about homosexuality].

Uganda is better than the theocratic agendas, unscientific ideologies and junk theology of the extremist preachers that threaten to undermine her democratic foundations and tarnish her good name in the International Community.

See Also:
Why Ssempa should be opposed, The Independent