Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni: Don’t kill gay people, but don’t promote homosexuality
“If there are some homosexuals, we shall not kill or persecute them but there should be no promotion of homosexuality. We cannot accept promotion of homosexuality as if it is a good thing.”
Uganda’s “Kill The Gays” Bill reintroduced without death penalty
Uganda’s highly controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill has been reintroduced by its author, David Bahati, according to the BBC.
The original bill was introduced in 2009 and resulted in international media cry before being shelved in 2011.
Homosexual acts are already illegal in Uganda, but the bill aims to increase the penalty to life in prison.
Originally, the legislation proposed the death penalty for those who engage in gay sex where one participant is under the age of 18, disabled, or HIV-positive. The death penalty has been removed from the revised version of this bill.
Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill is not only a threat to gays, but to anyone who is aware of individuals participating in homosexual acts and doesn’t report them to authorities.
Ever since the bill was introduced, gay people in Uganda are increasingly facing harassment and threats.
(Photo: AP)
Today is World AIDS Day.
Show your support for World AIDS Day. Visit these organizations to see how you can get involved and make donations: World AIDS Day, UNAIDS, (RED), World AIDS Campaign and The Global Fund.
Arrest gays, Kenyan PM orders
At a public rally on Sunday, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga ordered police to arrest anyone engaging in homosexual activities and to take appropriate legal action upon them.
According to the report by Capital News, the rally was held at Kamukunji grounds in his Langata Constituency. Raila Odinga expressed that “such behaviors” will not be tolerated:
“The constitution is very clear on this issue and men or women found engaging in homosexuality will not be spared. Any man found engaging in sexual activities with another man should be arrested. Even women found engaging in sexual activities will be arrested”
He questioned why people should engage in homosexual activity, citing the equal ration of men and women, according to the most recent census results.
According to a 2007 Pew Research study, 96% of Kenyans said that homosexuality “should be rejected by society,” making it one of the highest rejection of homosexuality in the 44 countries surveyed.
(Photo: Stephen Mudiari)
Ugandan newspaper outs the country’s 100 “top homosexuals”
The names, addresses, and photos of 100 “top homosexuals” in Uganda were published in a front page story of a Ugandan tabloid, alongside a banner that read “Hang Them.”
AP reports:
In the days since it was published, at least four gay Ugandans on the list have been attacked and many others are in hiding, according to rights activist Julian Onziema. One person named in the story had stones thrown at his house by neighbors.
The report states that the paper’s managing editor claims that the article was “in the public interest.”
The international media attention around Uganda has spiked since the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill was introduced over a year ago. Gays in Uganda have been subject to increased harassment in the past year.
“Before the introduction of the bill in parliament most people did not mind about our activities. But since then, we are harassed by many people who hate homosexuality,” said Patrick Ndede, 27. “The publicity the bill got made many people come to know about us and they started mistreating us.”
Nelly Kabali, 31, describes his experience: “One time I was in a night club with a friend when someone who knew me pointed at me shouting ‘There is a gay!’ People wanted to beat me up but I was saved by a bouncer who led me out.”
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(Photo: AP)
Anti-gay Ugandan pastor describes “what homosexuals do in the privacy of their bedroom”
(WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised.)
Ugandan pastor Martin Ssempa explains “what homosexuals do in the privacy of their bedroom,” in an attempt to gain support for Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
He describes some sexual practices such as anal–oral sex, anal fisting, eating feces and having sex with feces. He asks children to be removed from the room and then shows some explicit photos to the group.
“As Africans, we want to ask Barack Obama to explain to us, is this what he wants to bring to Africa, as a human right to eat the poo poo?”
The pastor appears to be trying to persuade people that all homosexuals engage in these types of activities.
Malawi president pardons gay couple after UN pressure
President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi has pardoned a homosexual couple who had been jailed for 14 years, reports The Telegraph.
Mr wa Mutharika had been under international pressure to reconsider the convictions of Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20. They were arrested in December after they were united in a traditional wedding ceremony in the conservative southern African country, where homosexuality is illegal.
Mr wa Mutharika said: “These boys committed a crime against our culture, our religion and our laws .. however, as the head of state I hereby pardon them and therefore ask for their immediate release with no conditions.”
His decision will be seen as a victory by campaigners who had challenged the conviction and length of the sentence.
Protest to be held in London over imprisonment of Malawi couple
A protest is to be held this Saturday 29 May in solidarity with Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, the gay couple recently sentenced to 14 years in prison with hard labour in Malawi.
There have been calls for the United Kingdom to cease giving aid to Malawi until the couple are released. However, international development minister Alan Duncan MP stated: “We must be wary of calls to use aid money as a political weapon.” He added: “Our aid programme is worth almost £80 million this year and is aimed directly at helping those most in need. We cannot make them victims along with Mr Chimbalanga and Mr Monjeza.”
The protest begins at 1pm outside the Malawi High Commission, 70 Winnington Raod, London N2 0TX.
Malawi judge finds gay couple guilty of unnatural acts, gross indecency, and face 14 year imprisonment
A court in Malawi has convicted a gay couple of gross indecency and unnatural acts, reports The Associated Press.
Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, were arrested in December 2009 after celebrating their engagement ahead of a wedding planned for 2010. They have been in jail ever since and could now face 14 years in prison.
Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa convicted both men of engaging in gay sex which he said was “against the order of nature”.
Homosexuality is illegal in at least 37 countries in Africa. In Uganda, lawmakers are considering a bill that would sentence homosexuals to life in prison and include capital punishment for “repeat offenders.” Even in South Africa, the only African country that recognizes gay rights, gangs have carried out so-called “corrective” rapes on lesbians.
Ugandan MP to be banned from UK if his gay death penalty bill succeeds
The British government will ban a Ugandan MP from travelling to the UK if he is successful in passing a law that would impose the death penalty in Uganda for being gay, reports The Guardian.
Civil servants in the Foreign Office, the Department for International Development and the Borders Agency are drawing up plans to block the visa of born-again Christian MP David Bahati if he does not drop legislation that would see consenting adults who have gay sex imprisoned for life and impose the death penalty on those with HIV – which will be called “aggravated homosexuality”.
The bill also proposes the death penalty for those having gay sex with anyone under the age of 18, with someone disabled or what the legislation describes as “serial offenders”.
Gay sex is already illegal in Uganda but backbenchers there are pushing for more draconian punishment by preying on fears that homosexuals are “recruiting” children at schools.
