Red Pepper Fingers MP

In an interesting twist to the media witch hunt of homosexuals in Uganda, Red Pepper may inadvertently have given a boost to the Anti-Bahati Bill campaign. They've posted a story about an MP offering sex for financial help out of his debts. This led to speculation...

David Bahati?

Unlikely... :)

Interesting ... and this kind of scandalmongering should give some MPs pause for thought before voting for Bahati. If the Bill goes through, there could be a lot more of this kind of thing being used to settle political scores.

Indeed.

Gospel of Intolerance

Excellent mini documentary from The New York Times, exploring yet more links between American Evangelists and the Bahati Bill.

'Eat da Poo Poo' Ssempa Sends Warning

Martin 'eat da poo poo' Ssempa

We highlighted this lunatic a few weeks back, cosying up to yet more Evangelical nut-jobs.

Now: Anti-gay Ugandan pastor Martin Ssempa tweets PinkNews to warn of ‘sodomy’

A notorious homophobic Ugandan pastor responded to news of a new HIV prevention campaign in England by tweeting “stop sodomy” at PinkNews’ Twitter account...

Martin Ssempa is well known for his lectures against homosexuality. He went on Uganda television last December and demonstrated with fruit and vegetables how he believes gay men and women have sex.

Ssempa explained that gay sex is wrong because the “anus is for exit only”, demonstrating his opinion with a banana.

In January 2010, Ssempa stunned reporters at a press conference by showing them hardcore gay porn...

He also claimed that gay people eat “poo poo”.

Hmm... we think he protests too much: Homophobic Men Most Aroused by Gay Male Porn

Remembering Noxolo

Murdered South African Campaigner,
Noxolo Nogwasa

Earlier this year we paused to remember two years since David Kato's brutal murder. Today marks two years since Noxolo Nogwasa was murdered:

Exactly two years ago, on 24th-04-2011, Noxolo Nogwasa, a South African lesbian and LGBTI activist was brutally raped, stabbed and beaten to death and her body dumped in a drainage ditch as she went home from a party, in the Kwathane townships, in the outskirts of Johannesburg...

Two years later, the murders have since not been arrested and no progress has been made towards a comprehensive investigation into the murder and the perpetrators,; alleged to be eight of them still remain at large.

More info on the case here: And still no justice for lesbian Noxolo Nogwaza | let the world remember with a call for action

There is a Twitter hashtag you can join to show your support: #Noxolo

You can also write to, and fax, the South African Police Service, urging them to step up efforts to investigate this crime:

Thibault Main Entrance
Private Bag x 94
PRETORIA
0001

Fax : 012 393 2819 / +27 12 393 2819

Eight Year Old Girls Suspended

 

We're surprised Red Pepper hasn't published a front cover exposé telling the public to 'hang them'.

Gayaza Suspends Pupils Over Lesbianism

Gayaza Junior School last week dismissed six Primary Three pupils, all aged eight years for allegedly engaging in sexual acts with fellow students. it [sic] was the third time the school was dismissing students over the same issue.

“We discovered the vice three years ago and four students in Primary Five were dismissed,” Margaret Kibuuka, the headmistress of the all-girls school said.the school in March expelled two other P.2 pupils over the vice.

The expulsion has sent parents up in arms against the school’s administrators, with some threatening legal action. one [sic] parent complained that if the children were involved in any immoral behavour, [sic] they were learning it from their colleagues at the school.

Another parent said the way in which the school summoned them to collect their children after they were expelled, left them traumatised...

Top class journalism there, if not spelling or grammar.

Looks like 'lesbian' is the new 'witch'. Easy for parents to say that children should be expelled until it happens to one of their own. 

[UPDATE: Assuming that these accusations are true, and not just a way of children, or other adults, getting rid of kids they don't like, here's an interesting article: Children are sexual beings like any normal adult]

America Gives Green Light to Rights Abuses

American Hate Preacher, Lou Engle

I think we all knew when SMUG decided to take the repugnant hate preacher Scott Lively to court that they were going to face staunch opposition from a system which seems to breed Christian fundamentalism. Well, hope has faded even further with the following announcement:

Supreme Court Limits US Courts’ Ability to Use Human Rights Law to Address Human Rights Abuses Committed Abroad

In short, it means that American courts are washing their hands of breaches of human rights committed by Americans in other countries. The moral equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears and going 'lalalalala...'

As though the developing world hasn't suffered enough!

Appeal to the African Commission

 

At the 27th African Human Rights Book Fair this year in Banjul, The Gambia, the following statement was issued concerning the rights of LGBT people:

We, the participants at the NGO Forum preceding the 53rd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the 27th African Human Rights Book Fair held from 6th-8th April 2013 in Banjul, The Gambia

Call on the African Commission to:

1. Condemn the increased incidence of discrimination and violence targeting individuals on the basis of their real or imputed sexual orientation and gender identity across Africa;

2. Call on State Parties to respect and fulfil their treaty obligations, including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to protect all individuals from discrimination and violence irrespective of their sexual orientation and gender identity;

3. Call on State Parties to investigate and diligently prosecute cases of violence and other abuses against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity; and

4. Condemn reprisals against human rights defenders, NGOs and CSOs working on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Those familiar with the history of gay rights on the continent may recall another, less constructive, book festival speech back in 1995.

Transgender Uganda Evicted

 

Reports are coming in that Transgender Equality Uganda have been told to leave their offices:

Please Ugandans and others please, why don't you understand that GENDER IDENTITY IS NOT A CRIME. Transgender Equality Uganda has been thrown out of the office, because of being trans women led organisation. This is not fair.

A commenter went on to ask:

Why exactly were you thrown out of office? What is their reason for doing that?

Cos of who we are.

Reading posts on their blog, it's easy to believe this level of prejudice is taking place. One post is titled: Ugandan Transsexual Woman Molested, Hospitalised For“Looking Abnormal”

Uganda Comes to Ireland

Ugandan Campaigner, Kasha Nabagesera

Ugandan LGBT activist in Dublin to speak out for those who can’t

“[Speaking out] drives the point at home that we are not alone,” she said, “and that the world is watching.”

Despite having to constantly move from house to house when home to avoid being identified, she is never tempted to stay in one of the many countries she travels to:

"I still love my country. There are some people who are very very evil, but there are people who love us, who keep us strong, and together I believe that we can bring about change."

The recipient of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders in 2011, she is set to be awarded the Seán MacBride Award for Human Rights this weekend.

“I hope to share my experience and I’m hoping to learn a lot too,” she said of her Irish trip. “I’m going to have a lot of meetings with government officials when I’m here.”

“The people I speak for need moral support, technical support, and financial support,” she said.

Another article, which also appeared yesterday, leads with the headline:

Gay-bashing, gay marriage, and how the media needs to get a grip

And asserts:

It’s no surprise gay-bashing happens in Ireland when our legislation enshrines discrimination and our media is only happy to stoke the flames...

The topics of gay rights and specifically gay marriage have received more and more coverage over the past decade. It’s a huge movement, and while some societies are affording lesbians and gays equal marriage rights, many aren’t. Many see civil marriage rights as an inevitability, but there’s a real problem with how the debate has been and continues to be framed here. I’m sick of it. It’s time to stop positioning gay people as punching bags – both figuratively and literally – in the context of this debate.

Seems like Uganda and Ireland have a lot in common on this issue.

African Gay Wedding

A break from the hate.

"Being gay is as African as being black."

Breaking ground in South Africa with a traditional Zulu gay wedding

Violent Instability

 

Report says Uganda likely to have violent instablity 2014

Uganda is “at risk of violent instability” come next year (2014), a US Intelligence threat assessment report has stated. This report is released every four years after the US President is elected, by the National Intelligence Council, and it names Uganda among 14 other countries that risk becoming a failed state, given their potential for conflict and environmental evils, which in Uganda includes poor governance, corruption and poverty.

As we know all too well from history, the first thing people tend to do in times of corruption and austerity is look for a scapegoat. Hate is an easy distraction.

Matt Barber

What a vicious individual Liberty University Law School Associate Dean, Matt Barber, is. Not content with claiming that suicide rates are high among gay youths because they are tormented by immorality, he's now praising A-grade crackpot Pastor 'eat da poo poo' Ssempa!

Let's just put this in context for a moment.

Matt Barber, Attorney at law, thinks this guy is worth looking up to...

Simon Lokodo Case, Part III

(Image from Florida Agenda article)

After Part I and Part II, this is fast turning into the never ending trial of the century.

• In June 2012 the case was postponed until 6th July 
• In July it was postponed until 24th September
• In September it was postponed until 11th January
• In January it was postponed until 11th March
• In March it was postponed until 8th April

Today...

The case against the Atourney General and Father Lokodo has yet been adjourned to the 27th May @ 2:30 pm, sorry for the inconveniences this may have caused. The reason for the adjournment was that the Judge is on leave.

Wonder how much Judge Mwangushya is being paid not to turn up?

Interview with Victor Mukasa

Ugandan Campaigner, Victor Mukasa

Victor 'Thick Skin' Mukasa is a well known Ugandan LGBT campaigner who has taken asylum in the US. In Equality Frontlines he talks about his work with SMUG, seeking asylum, the desire to return home, and the rise of the LGBTI movement in Uganda.

According to many here in the US, I am not trans enough! According to many I have interacted with, I will be once I have hormonal therapy. It is different in Uganda. I am trans because it is the inner sense of who I am and many around me respect that when I come out to them.

US Delegation Leaves Uganda

Report from the only voice of comparative sanity in Uganda's media, The Observer:

US pro-gay delegation leaves empty-handed

No. Broken hearted, incredulous and disbelieving, possibly, but not empty handed, seeing as they were carrying away the last shreds of human dignity left in Uganda's government.

A US gay rights lobby that sought to pressure politicians here to be more accepting to same-sex relationships left a disappointed lot last week after a string of meetings yielded no guarantees that the Anti-homosexuality bill would be dropped or even amended.

This was the delegation from the Robert F. Kennedy Centre for Justice and Human Rights, who were talking to President Museveni last month.

The feedback went something like this:

"We already have enough laws that meet international standards and some of them penalise same-sex marriage and when we go by the Bible which I glorify, sodomy is punishable. So, we don't want to go against African culture and at the same time act contrary to God's commandments because whites want it," Alice Alaso [Serere Woman] told the group.

She added: "You (Westerners) have imposed on us enough of your bad practices, right from guns, and we shall not allow homosexuality in Uganda because the Bible forbids it."

There's obviously no reasoning with that level of intelligence.

Evangelism Rears its Ugly Head

Hate Preachers:
Pastor Solomon Male & Reverend Thomas Musoke

In the aftermath of the Easter hate speech and terror campaign against David Kato's mother, the above pictures of the event have been released by Advocate.com:

On Easter Sunday, antigay activists and religious leaders in Uganda held a rally to launch the "Say No to Homosexuality" campaign, led by Pastor Solomon Male and the Reverend Thomas Musoke. The rally was held in Namataba Village, just outside the gravesite of slain gay activist David Kato. Kato's mother was reportedly inside the home and saw the entire rally...

The organizers also praised Uganda's Red Pepper tabloid for its ongoing coverage dedicated to outing LGBTI people in Uganda, often along with personal information, including home addresses and phone numbers. Shortly before activist Kato was found murdered, another tabloid called Rolling Stone (no relation to the U.S. magazine of the same name) published Kato's picture on its front page announcing "Uganda's Top 100 Homos," under a banner reading "Hang Them."

We have long highlighted the role of American Evangelism in fanning the flames of LGBT hate attacks. Though Canada, the UK and Catholicism have had their crosses to bear, too. It's not all one big happy Family.

Well, not much changes...

Uganda clerics hold gay hate Easter march:  Ugandan religious figures, backed by US evangelical groups, held gay hate march next to the home of grieving elderly mother of slain gay rights activist

Thankfully:

Some of the crowds still questioned Male, saying: ‘You say homosexuals are given money to recruit people, but are you also given money to come here?’

Speaking with Gay Star News, Richard Lusimbo, SMUG’s research manager said: ‘I believe that Male is being pushed and funded by US evangelical groups to preach anti-gay hate – he made allegations to incite fear and hatred, saying that homosexuals are recruiting children, scaring local parents...

Lusimbo criticized the clerics: ‘It is imported homophobia from US evangelicals which is unAfrican, not homosexuality.

Brace yourselves for further bigotry.

Closed Door Policy

In the Ugandan Observer yesterday, MPs were lobbying parliament to hold the Kill the Gays bill discussion in private:

Gay bill: Why MPs fear open vote

"This subject is very sensitive and some of us fear that if it is discussed in public view, we will be persecuted for holding particular views," Amoding said. Not surprisingly, she refused to state whether she supports the bill.

Another MP, who requested anonymity, explained that supporting the bill publicly could lead to being blacklisted. He cited David Bahati, the main promoter of the bill, saying the MP has been ostracised by some elements in the West because of his views.

"We have some projects that are funded by donors and at the same time we don't want to be misunderstood by voters. So, it is better to remain silent to avoid being blacklisted," he said.

So, those who support slaughtering LGBT people get to do so with impunity from outside observation, meanwhile those who oppose the bill fear for their jobs (and probably safety) if they do so in public.

Shocking state of affairs all round.

The article presents a full list of MPs known to support the bill:

Surveyed MPs who back the bill

Yahaya Gudoi (Bungokho North,NRM)

Isabirye Idi (Bunya South,NRM)

Lyndah Timbigamba (Kyenjojo Woman, NRM)

Jovah Kamateka (Mitooma Woman,NRM)

Cyrus Amodoi (Toroma, Indep)

Barnabas Tinkasiimire (Buyaga West, NRM)

Chris Baryomusi (Kinkizi East, NRM),

Arinaitwe Rwakajara (Workers, NRM)

Hellen Asamo (PWD Eastern, NRM)

Martin Drito (Madi Okollo, NRM)

Amos Mandera ( Kooki, NRM)

George Ekuma (Bukedea, NRM)

Rose Akol (Bukedea Woman, NRM),

Michael Ayepa (Labwor, NRM),

Remigio Achia (Pian, NRM)

Elizabeth Karungi (Kalungu, NRM),

Hatwib Katoto (Katerera, NRM)

Hanifah Kawooya (Sembabule Woman, NRM)

Twa Twa Mutwalante (Iki Iki,NRM)

Geofrey Ekanya (Tororo,FDC)

Olivia Kabala Kwagala (Iganga, NRM)

Benard Atiku (Ayivu,FDC)

Bakaluba Mukasa (Mukono North, NRM)

Stephen Birahwa (Buliisa, NRM)

James Kakooza (Kabula, NRM)

Kaps Fungaroo (Ubongi, FDC)

Tophace Kaahwa (Hoima Woman, NRM)

Mary Turyahikayo (Rubabo, NRM)

Abdu Katuntu (Bugweri, FDC)

Mathias Mpuuga (Masaka Municipality, Indep)

Joseph Ssewungu (Kalungu West, DP)

Vincent Ssempija (Kalungu East, Indep)

Mariam Nalubega (Butambala Woman, Indep)

Muwanga Kivumbi (Butambala, DP)

Jesca Ababiku (Adjumani Woman, Indep).