Excellent US Coverage of Uganda

Fantastic and entertaining coverage of the UN's support for Sam Kutesa.

Paul Shinners Hate Video

This is Paul Shinners, a UK preacher and head of a charity (No.1131321) that the Charity Commission of England & Wales pointedly refused to investigate.

He is making a hate speech in favour of the Kill the Gays Bill back in 2012, having claimed that he had never been to Uganda. He is most probably using publicly donated funds from his charity to pay for this trip, headlining alongside lead Kill the Gays supporter (the death penalty clause had not been removed by this point) David Kiganda.

When alerted to Paul Shinners' actions, the Charity Commission took over one year to respond to an enquiry, and only then to say:

Following your concerns raised with the Commission in January 2013 about the charity’s trustee, Mr Shinners, the Charity Commission contacted him requesting an explanation of how his attendance at the event in Uganda to which you refer was in pursuit of charitable purposes. Mr Shinners explained why his attendance at the event was appropriate charitable activity, vigorously denied making any homophobic statements and took steps to make this publicly known.

Well, that's alright then Charity Commission... 

We renew our calls for Paul Shinners to be struck off as a Charity Trustee in the United Kingdom, and for the Charity Commission of England & Wales to start an immediate investigation into Passion for Souls Ministries, explaining how this is a charitable use of money: @ChtyCommission

TAKE ACTION

Stay up-to-date on Shinners via Facebook and this blog. If you're still not too sure who he is, you can search this blog for a back catalogue of his abuses.

American Cultural Warriors in Africa

A radical new book on the market that might be of interest to readers of this blog:

New book links U.S. conservatives and African ‘Kill the Gays’ laws

One of the original researchers to expose the ties between U.S. right-wing evangelicals and anti-LGBTQ laws in Uganda and other parts of Africa has released a new book that shows U.S. activists how to stop Americans like Scott Lively and Rick Warren from exporting anti-gay animus abroad.

“American Culture Warriors in Africa: A Guide to the Exporters of Homophobia and Sexism is penned by Rev. Dr. Kapya Kaoma and Political Research Associates, the outfit that filmed the explosive undercover footage of Lively in Uganda telling lawmakers and faith leaders that gays from the West were “infiltrating” Ugandan schools to “recruit” and “molest” children...

American Culture Warriors in Africa, Kaoma says, is a first-of-its-kind guide for activists who want to get involved and stop this globalization of homophobia.

Worth getting your hands on a copy. If you live in an African country with a national library, consider purchasing a copy and donating it so that it is available to the public.

America to Send Gay Experts

John Kerry To Send Homosexuality 'Experts' To Tackle Uganda Anti-Gay Law

Secretary of State John Kerry announced on Tuesday U.S. plans to send homosexuality "experts" to Uganda to discuss the country’s new Anti-Homosexuality Act with President Yoweri Museveni, according to Buzzfeed.

Maybe after that they could send a couple of anti-corruption experts?

Museveni the Murderer

President Museveni opens his mouth on CNN and proves to the world what an ignorant tit he is. You'd get more sense talking to a brick wall, and certainly greater kindness. A 'modern leader' who stepped straight out of the Dark Ages.

Meanwhile, videos reporting to show 29-year old gay Ugandan Ssekasi John being beaten to death in the street continue to circulate. 

$90m Loan Postponed

The World Bank, who last year staged a screening of Call Me Kuchu, has joined the ranks of those suspending or redirecting aid to Uganda.

World Bank postpones $90m Uganda loan over anti-gay law

World Bank officials said they wanted to guarantee the projects the loan was destined to support were not going to be adversely affected by the law.

The loan was intended to boost Uganda's health services.

Sweden has also announced that it is stopping aid.

Although certain campaigners and campaign groups have called on the international community not to cut aid, we feel there may be some confusion between 'stopping direct aid' and 'stopping aid work'.

Direct payment of aid means taking tax payers' money from one country, and directly paying it to the government of another country. The UK long ago ceased doing a lot of this with Uganda, because the Ugandan government stole the money and put it in the pockets of rich politicians.

The money wasn't being spent on what it was supposed to be spent on in the first place. So the World Bank is absolutely within its remit to stop or suspend direct payments until it is certain how the money will be spent, and that it will benefit people at grassroots level, rather than pay for dingbat politician to dine out on caviar and champagne - or purchase rope to hang LGBT people in a local constituency vote-winner.

Major development agencies such as DFID, CIDA, DANIDA etc. have a duty not only to support world development, but to protect the hard earned finances raised through taxpayers. You cannot justify in any sense taking money from a country with human rights legislation, and using it to support a regime that directly quashes it.

Meanwhile, that money can be safely redirected to support human rights groups and aid organisation working on the ground in Uganda. Just think what $1mil could achieve if it went directly to aid projects at grassroots level, cutting out the middle wo/men.

Perhaps something that should have been done a long time ago?

Wrong Side of History - Whoopi Goldberg

Lokodo 'We Don't Slaughter Gays' - That's 'Tolerance'

Simon Lokodo, the Minister for Ethics, Gay Bashing, Child Rape, Fashion Policy and School Closures has now decided ‘We don’t care’ if we lose international aid over anti-gay and miniskirt laws

Ugandans would rather “die poor”, than give up a law which will increase punishments for homosexuality, a Government spokesman has said.

Uganda Cracks Down Further on Gays, Women

Uganda's Minister for Ethics and Integrity, Simon Lokodo, robustly defended the country's anti-LGBT crackdown in an interview released today... 

Speaking with Agence France-Presse, Lokodo compared homosexuality to drug addiction and said that Uganda is a country that "tolerates" gays - because they don't slaughter them.

There are no levels to which this creepy goon won't sink.

Bill Doesn't Need to Pass to be Imposed

Excellent interview from LGBT Weekly.

It brings to light the problem that has been building since the bill was introduced in 2009, that the Anti-Gay Bill does not need to pass for people to use it as an excuse to attack LGBTI people.

As we already know, it leads to people living in fear, being attacked in the street, and being denied health care. Yet there is a sense that so long as Museveni doesn't assent the bill, LGBTI people are safe. This is not the case. The fact that the bill is even on the table gives the green light to all manner of human rights violations, as highlighted in the above video.

Against the Order of Nature

Against the Order of Nature Funding from Lee Price on Vimeo.

We saw this in The Huffington Post: 'Against The Order Of Nature,' Lee Price Project, To Document LGBT Uganda and though it was an interesting and worthwhile project. 

Though there may be problems with crowd-sourcing an idea like this, as it could jeopardise his chances of getting a visa. Having advertised his intention to enter the country as an openly gay man, it could even lead to his arrest now that the bill has been adopted by parliament and is awaiting assent. Might find himself sharing a cell with Bernard Randall. Also, being caught with video footage of gay people you've interviewed not only compromises your own freedom, but also theirs.

This is the problem once human rights start to get shut down, the ability to document abuses becomes more difficult. Often why reporting goes undercover.

Malcolm's Story

CNN have issued an article and accompanying video telling the story of Malcolm, a Transgender Ugandan. Kasha also makes an appearance: LGBT in Uganda: Seeking acceptance from family, homeland

Aftermath of the Bahati Bill - Stay and Fight

The video above documents the moment the Bahati Bill was passed in Uganda. The death penalty has been amended to life imprisonment, but makes it an offence not to report someone for being gay, and mimics the repealed British Section 28 which makes it illegal to 'promote' being gay, which in reality means banning support to LGBT people through sexual education or service provision.

It becomes law once President Museveni signs it. 

You can e-mail the Office of the President to urge him not to: secretary@op.go.ug

Responses on the SMUG page included:

Chilling video. Are these Ugandan MPs just ignorant or immoral ? Kudos to those MPs who stood out against this attack against the constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms of Ugandan citizens. Uganda is a beautiful country and it is sad to think how already it must be suffering economic consequences.

-

There is need to have varied dissenting voices. That way support will be garnered. Encourage other voices from within the LGBT IQQ Community and not one voice or person please. Let this be a universal cry of pain, freedom and dignity. Thanks

SMUG's own statement was issued:

Sexual Minorities Uganda: Outrage at the Passing of the Anti Homosexuality Bill 2009

For Immediate Release

[Kampala, Uganda December 20, 2013]- Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) has learnt with deep regret that the ninth Parliament of Uganda has passed the Anti Homosexuality Bill 2009.

SMUG has learnt that the Bill as passed by Parliament maintains the prohibition of consensual same sex acts between adults and prescribes a penalty of life imprisonment for so-called repeat offenders. It also requires "persons in authority, including persons exercising religious or social authority to report offences under the Act within twenty four hours or else face imprisonment for three years or a fine.” Furthermore, the Bill maintains the offence of "Promotion of Homosexuality" against anyone who acts as an accomplice or in any way abets homosexuality and "related practices".

“I’m outraged and disappointed that the Uganda parliament has acted in a very ignorant and irrational way” said Frank Mugisha the Executive Director, SMUG. “We shall fight this legislation TO THE END.” he asserts.

While the Bill is yet to be signed into law by the President, SMUG condemns in the strongest terms the haphazard manner in which Members of Parliament passed it with little if any regard to procedure and to whether it complies with the 1995 Constitution as the Supreme law of Uganda. SMUG has received reliable information that the Bill was passed without the requisite quorum despite protests from some Members of Parliament. There is also no evidence that the Bill was subjected to the Human Rights Checklist which the Speaker of Parliament launched late this year.

“Today will go down in history as the worst day for LGBTI identifying persons and human rights in general. The passing of the bill has caused significant panic even before its assented” Mr. Mawadri, SMUG Legal/Human Rights Officer.

Should the President assent to the Bill, it would greatly undermine the fundamental Constitutional Rights of equality and non-discrimination of Ugandan citizens who identify as Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual (LGB). The Act would also have dire implications for the rights to privacy, assembly, association and speech in addition to other basics rights of members of the LGBTI community in Uganda. If assented to, the law would as well spell a major setback for the freedoms of association of human rights organisations engaged in the promotion of these rights. The law would also curtail Uganda's gains against HIV/AIDS as it may compromise doctor-patient confidentiality, which could push LGB affect persons further underground for fear of prosecution.

SMUG reiterates that the Anti Homosexuality Bill undermines rather than upholds the family as it seeks to create fear and suspicion within families and societies and entrenches state sponsored homophobia.

The Act also undermines Uganda's obligations under international and regional human rights instruments, which uphold the basic human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination.

SMUG calls upon; the President of the Republic of Uganda H.E Gen. Yoweri K. Museveni not to sign this bill into law so as to prevent its dire effects on human rights work and HIV/AIDS progress in Uganda.

We also call upon the entire international community to remind Uganda of its international treaty obligations and to join hands against the Anti Homosexuality Bill.

SMUG remains committed to pursue all possible lawful means to challenge the existence of such an intrusive law on Uganda's Statute books, and to defend the fundamental human rights of sexual and gender minorities in Uganda.

Press Contact

Frank Mugisha
Tel: +256 772 616 062
Email: frankmugisha@gmail.com

Pepe Julian Onziema
Tel: +256 772 370 674
Email: onziema@gmail.com

And an article appeared on Advocate.com: Ugandan LGBT Activists: 'We Have to Stay and Fight' 

It is highly critical of Rebecca Kadaga, Uganda's Speaker of Parliament, who has worked tirelessly to usher through the bill, and who the Commonwealth have promoted to Chairperson of Women Parliamentarians for her efforts.

Out There Documentary

Stephen Fry's round the world look at how gay communities live is now available online. It's a two parter, and well worth watching. Part one includes a large section on Uganda, whereas part two looks at India, before today's ground-breaking news that the country is moving to re-criminalise homosexuality.

Uganda Gay on Move Video

We mentioned our meme moment last week. Here's the documentary Uganda Gay on Move made, from which the still was taken. It talks to key members of Uganda Gay on Move about their experience of leaving Uganda and starting their organisation.

Coca-Cola Refuse to Stand Up to LGBT Hate

Wildly conflicting viewpoints.

Backing up the evidence that gay bashing harms economies, it was suggested yesterday:

Corporate world getting ready to boycott gay hate countries: Leading professional services boss says his clients will soon refuse to operate in some markets when they abuse LGBTI rights

Companies may soon refuse to operate in countries with homophobic laws, a managing partner at leading global professional services firm EY has said.

And Deutsche Bank has revealed they already intervene on LGBTI issues by speaking to governments behind the scenes and telling them abusing gay and trans people damages business.

Meanwhile, today AllOut issued a statement that Coca-Cola (being demonstrated against last August in the video above) "refused to speak out against Russia's anti-gay laws."

Sochi Olympics: Responses from Corporate Sponsors have been posted online, including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Samsung.

If you would like to get more involved, AllOut have put out a request:

If you have a creative talent – video production, photography, graphic design, illustration – and want to help create an incredible advert, poster, image or video, please click this link and fill in your information so we can contact you.

Let's get creative in campaigning.

Human Rights Campaign Foundation Grants

The Human Righs Campaign Foundation (TM) is offering funding for international LGBT Rights campaigns:

HRC Foundation launches program to fight homophobia and transphobia internationally

In keeping with HRC’s mission to end discrimination against LGBT people, the grants will help fund efforts to educate Americans on the human rights of LGBT people around the world; provide fellowships at HRC for foreign LGBT advocates; expose the work of prominent anti-gay American organizations that have pushed anti-gay laws and legislation overseas; and leverage its relationships with American policymakers, faith communities, corporations and other change agents to help protect the human rights of LGBT people abroad.

All good stuff, but the article doesn't mention anything about how much they're putting forward, who exactly can apply, or how.

Their website is even quieter on the subject, with nothing at all mentioned under their Coming Out section, although there is a shiny feel-good video of lots of Americans outing themselves on national television. 

Looking forward to bringing you more news on that, if there is any.

Stories of Escape

Nice article on BuzzFeed:

LGBT Refugees Now Living In The United States Share Their Stories

Immigration Equality released a short film sharing success stories from their LGBT Asylum Program, which represents over 400 individuals from all over the world.

It covers stories from Russia, Nicaragua, and also Victor Mukasa's story from Uganda.

Ear-Bashing Bishop

The Bishop of Namirembe, Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira, maintains the Church's view that gay Ugandans are 'copying foreign lifestyles' whilst preaching to a group of school children and their parents.

Lively: Hero, Demon, Joke

Continuing his global campaign of venom, bile, and self-denial, everyone's favourite hate preacher, Scott Lively, is shown above suggesting that the only tragedy about someone punching a gay man in the face was that he later died, leaving the innocent puncher accused of murder.

'The rainbow belongs to God': Anti-gay US pastor sets sights on Sochi Olympics

When President Vladimir Putin recently banned “homosexual propaganda” in Russia, he joined sides in a new global culture war: a struggle to stop the march of gay rights abroad even as advocates wave rainbow flags in America. Now, as the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics approach, both sides are bracing for unrest — and an American pastor is taking credit for the law that started it all.

Scott Lively is a hero to some, a demon to others and a joke to still more...

Last month a federal judge allowed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit to proceed against Lively that alleges the pastor persecuted gays in Uganda and committed a potential “crime against humanity” — one that contributed to a bill that would have made homosexuality an act punishable by death. And yet the grey-haired 57-year-old has refused to quiet down.

Meanwhile, news today from SMUG, who are bringing that case:

Once again, Another victory in SMUG vs Scott Lively case today: Judge denied Pastor Scott Lively's effort to prevent case from moving to collection of evidence. Thanks Centre for Constitutional Rights CCR.

What a shame they don't revoke his passport whilst he's waiting to stand trial.

Pillay Calls for LGBTI Rights

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has called for a systematic response to homophobic violence and discrimination. This message was screened during a conference on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Oslo, Norway - held on 15 - 16 April 2013.