Uganda: Rights not Repression
Uganda’s parliament is preparing to pass a brutal new law that would punish gay people with prison — even death.
Posted by: Francis Sealey, 21st C/N Organiser, Source: Avaaz.org
Initial international criticism drove the president to call for a review. But after a well-funded and vicious lobbying effort by extremists, the bill looks set to be passed — threatening widespread persecution and bloodshed.
Opposition to the bill is rising, including from the Anglican church. Ugandan gay rights advocate Frank Mugisha writes:
“This law will put us in serious danger. Please, sign the petition and tell others to stand with us – if there’s a huge global response, our government will see that Uganda will be internationally isolated by the proposed law, and strike it down.”
With the decision expected in days, only an irresistible wave of worldwide pressure will be enough to save Frank’s life and many others. Let’s build a huge petition to stop the gay death law — click here to take action, then forward this article as an e-mail: http://www.avaaz.org/en/uganda_rights/?vl
The petition will be delivered to President Museveni, members of the review committee and Ugandan embassies worldwide this week before it’s too late, as well as to key donor governments.
The bill proposes life imprisonment for anyone convicted of having same-sex relations and imposes the death penalty for “serial offenders”. NGOs working to prevent the spread of HIV could be imprisoned for up to 7 years for “promoting homosexuality”. Even members of the public face up to three years in jail if they fail to report homosexual activity to the police within 24 hours!
The bill’s advocates claim that it defends national culture, but its strongest critics come from within Uganda. The Reverend Canon Gideon Byamugisha is one of many who’s written about it:
It is violating our cultures, traditions and religious values that teach against intolerance, injustice, hatred and violence. We need laws to protect people — not ones that will humiliate, ridicule, persecute and kill them en masse.
By rejecting this dangerous bill and supporting the breadth of opposition to it, you can help set a crucial precedent. Let’s build massive support for Uganda’s human rights defenders, and save lives by stopping this bill — sign now here, then tell friends and family: http://www.avaaz.org/en/uganda_rights/?vl
Unfortunately, I missed hearing Ugandan Anglican Canon Gideon Byamugisha speaking at the 5th Parliament of the World’s Religions, which was held in my hometown of Melbourne, Australia last December, but I have now come across him again and his work opposing the discriminatory legislation which is currently before Parliament in Uganda.
About one year ago, I joined the online communities of “africanloft.com” and “NigeriaVillageSquare.com” as a “One World Citizen” as “piper02” and “a piper too” respectively, to highlight the issue that “There is no hate in Love: All people are born equal members of the one human family”.
I was born and raised half a world away in Melbourne, Australia to Anglo-Celtic parents, and am “white” as far as I know. During this time, I have “blogged” about social justice issues. These are the same the world over. More recently, I have also had three articles published as a “Guest Author” under my own name in NVS.
I hope that my contributions to public education will shed new light on these matters in Uganda and elsewhere, and may delay/block the passage of this discriminatory legislation (and ultimately cause it to be thrown out), by showing it up for what it undoubtedly is – a ploy to gain additional powers for the “ruling elite in waiting (already corrupted)” which will soon escalate to other areas, once a minority is cowed, and families divided.
I did attend and speak myself at the Parliament, and have now written about what I learned there, and of some of the exceptional people of all backgrounds that I met.
I think I have two articles published in “AfricanLoft”, and three in “Nigerian Village Square” to date. You may read my NVS articles at http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/guest-articles/ugandan-anti-gay-discriminatory-legislation.html , http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/guest-articles/5th-parliament-of-the-worlds-religions-good-news.html and http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/guest-articles/phobic-views-are-counter-productive-to-sustainable-futures.html .
My very best wishes to all, and expecially those who “fight the good fight” for equal rights – for all. Even where we cannot love, we must (at the very least) respect others, and do no harm.
Yours sincerely
Donald Chalmers, aka “piper02” and “a piper too” etc.
President Museveni, as a Born Again Christian please stop this bill.
As Jesus would say:
“Do unto others as you would have them do to you”.
Outsiders must not interfere with the internal affairs of other cultures but where a universal right – to life is in danger then even if you or a particular groups culture disagree with homosexuality then we must remind you that Jesus said:
“Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, that you do to Me.”
Listen to Jesus.
Leave a comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
BlogZone »
How Universal Credit Will Create A Latchkey Generation of Hungry Children
The Tory Government’s war on women is to escalate even further when Iain Duncan Smith’s brutal new welfare regime begins in 2014.
Article by: the void
The new Universal Credit scheme will replace Child Tax Credits …
InfoZone »
Urgent call for final Crisis at Christmas centre
Crisis has lost one of its 9 Christmas centre venues and are looking for another that can house 150 homeless people. Lets spread the word!!
Homelessness charity Crisis urgently needs to find a building …
PicZone »
Fighting Faces of Asia: Photojournalism project by Kalle Larsson.
About the project:
Behind every successful and male dominated social movement, union and political party there are the women. Often doing more than their share of organizing social change, and still bearing way more than …
PodZone »
What Is Wrong With Our Justice System?
Neena Samota, research consultant on criminal justice, mental health and social policy issues, talks to Francis Sealey at the House of Commons during the GlobalNet21 event on community justice.
She discusses the lack of awarness …
GlobalNet21 & Citizen Journalism
Meta
21st Century Network Sites
Blogroll
Archive
Blogroll
Technorati Profile
Click here to check out
GlobalNet21 (21st Century Network)
Tag Cloud
child labou child labour children choice Citizen Journalism Climate Change CSR debate development disability Diversity Diversity news education Empowerment Engagement equality Fair Trade freedom HangoutZone human rights inclusion information leadership leadership skills LinkedIn markets migration networking online seminars personal development Photojournalism PICS politics public awareness public engagement religion social business social enterprise social inclusion social leadership social media sustainability Trade Justice trafficking X LinkedIn