Joel McDurmon: "It Is Perfectly Normal [That] Homosexuality Should Receive The Death Penalty"

From Right Wing Watch's Blog

In this video, Joel McDurmon of American Vision praises a Uganda law that imposed the death penalty for homosexuality, but faults it for not going far enough. Next week, McDurmon is scheduled to appear at a right-wing event in Iowa along side Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz, and Bobby Jindal.

Uganda may see another Anti-Gay Bill

Not again...

The Ugandan government may introduce another anti-gay law by the end of the year. If this happens, gay folks could be in jail for seven years for “promoting homosexuality”.

Here's more:

The move comes nearly a year after Ugandan politicians passed legislation that could have imposed life sentences on gays. The bill was struck down by the constitutional court on a technicality. According to a leaked copy of the new draft law, MPs have instead focused on outlawing the “promotion” of homosexuality – a potentially far more repressive and wide-reaching measure. Frank Mugisha, a gay-rights activist, said: “People don’t realise that the ‘promotion’ part of it will affect everybody. If newspapers report about homosexuality it could be seen as promotion. My Twitter account could be seen as promotion. All human rights groups that include LGBT rights defence in their activities could be accused of promotion.” According to the draft, anyone convicted of “promoting” homosexuality would be liable to seven years in prison. “We have confirmed that the draft comes from the cabinet. Their plan is to present it to parliament as soon as possible, before the end of the year,” Mugisha said.

I hope this doesn't happen.

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Ugandan Tourism Board Welcomes Gay people to visit the Country

The Ugandan Tourism Board (UTB) and the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) wants gay tourists to come and visit the country.

Their goals is to restore the country's reputation and move the focus away from the anti-gay climate.

Here's more:

John Tanzella, president and CEO of IGLTA, told the SoSoGay website that the board felt Western media had portrayed Uganda in a particularly negative light since the country passed a law that would punish gay sex with life imprisonment in December last year.

Tanzella said, ‘The delegation said that gay people are welcome.' They were very concerned about the perception of Uganda in Western Europe and North America, and claimed that the backlash caught them by surprise.

'No-one thought it would pass. The delegates all pointed out that they have friends and family who are gay.’

He said Uganda was a long way off from joining IGLTA and first would have to go through a ‘process of education.’

In a statement released in March the UTB said, 'The controversy currently surrounding the Anti Homosexuality Act 2014 is exaggerated.

'No gay person will be killed in Uganda.

'The law was based on the majority support for it in the Parliament of Uganda and the majority ordinary Ugandans whose cultural and religious beliefs are not agreeable to some habits such as homosexuality.

'However, Uganda is a very hospitable, friendly, warm and loving country of diverse culture, religion and beliefs which welcomes all visitors of all backgrounds regardless of their sexual orientation, beliefs and skin color.'

Okay, I see that they're trying to rewrite the hateful wrongs, but it's going to take some time before I visit that place.

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Sore Losers: Ugandan Parliament to reintroduce Anti-Gay Law

When will they learn?

Uganda’s parliament are not happy with the banished anti-gay law. So, they want to bring it back. These haters are meeting to figure out a way to put the hateful law back in books.

Here's more:

It was not immediately clear whether Museveni would support the bill a second time, if passed by parliament again.

“We’re mobilizing members to pledge their support for reintroduction of this bill when the House comes back from recess [in about two weeks’ time],” Abdu Latif Ssebaggala, told Reuters.

Ssebaggala said he had started collecting signatures on Tuesday of members of parliament in favour of reintroducing the bill and that he expected to have over 200 – in a house of 383 members – by the end of Wednesday.

Just let it go. Just let it go.

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Rejoice! Uganda's Anti-Gay Law has been declared Null and Void

Oh Snap!

The hateful Anti-Gay law in Uganda was banished! It ruled that this hate bill was passed by MPs in December without the requisite quorum and was therefore illegal.

Say again... Illegal.


Congrats to the activists who fought to make this happen. These fools may try again, but at least they know a fight will be waiting for them.

READ the Fact Sheet of Advancing The Human Rights Of LGBT Persons Globally

From the White House:

Yesterday, the White House hosted the first Global Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Human Rights Forum, bringing together the faith community, private sector, philanthropy, HIV and other health advocates, LGBT activists from around the world, and the broader human rights community to discuss how to work together with the U.S. government and others to promote respect for the human rights of LGBT individuals around the world.  

The group discussed how to counter legislation that attacks the rights of LGBT folks (UGANDA) and how to support them as well.

Another piece included The Forum, which is the U.S. government’s ongoing efforts to use diplomacy and assistance to promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons around the world. There is a longer and more detailed description of this after the jump

Ugandan Government says they won't be "Blackmailed" by the US

After the President and the US Government gave out harsh measures to Uganda over their anti-gay foolishness, they responded... In a not so good way.

Uganda's spokesman Ofwono Opondo told Reuters, that basically, "Whatever"

"Uganda is a sovereign country and can never bow to anybody or be blackmailed by anybody on a decision it took in its interests, even if it involves threats to cut off all financial assistance."

Okay, they say that now, but I bet you they will change their tone in years to come

The Obama Administration Comes for Uganda over their Anti-Gay Law

It just got real, folks.

The US Government are taking steps to combat Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act, or AHA. Earlier in the year, President Obama voiced his disappointment of Uganda's choice to be assholes about the LGBT community.

Now, folks got together and unleashed some fury on Uganda.

Get into the steps after the jump (via White House Press Release)

Uganda's Anti-Gay law causes an Increase in attacks on the LGBT community

A new report from the Sexual Minorities Uganda tells us that attacks against the gay and lesbian community has dangerously increased.

There has been acts of blackmail, fights, firings, attempted lynchings, mob violence, evictions and suicides. The reports also show that 25 people were have fled Uganda, seeking asylum in Kenya and Rwanda.

Here's more:

"The passing of AHA has given permission to a culture of extreme and violent homophobia whereby both state and non-state actors are free to persecute Uganda's LGBTI people with impunity," the report stated.

The survey recorded 162 incidents since the legislation was passed by parliament. By comparison, Sexual Minorities Uganda recorded only eight incidents in the rest of 2013 and 19 in the whole of 2012.

"[This] represents an increase of between 750% and 1,900% on previous years," the report noted, "an increase which can only be explained by the passage of the AHA and the virulently homophobic atmosphere this has engendered."

In four cases, men accused of being gay were reported to have been kidnapped and tortured. There were 29 incidents where the media "outed" individuals who were later subjected to further persecution.

Our people in Uganda are really going through it, y'all.

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Ugandan Gay Rights Activist John Abadallah Wambere seeks Asylum in the U.S.

Ugandan gay-rights activist John Abdallah Wambere fears for his life!

During his speaking tour, John hopes he can get asylum here in the U.S. He wants to escape the new and terrifying anti-gay law in his country. Right now, John lives in Cambridge, Mass., but he will have to return to Uganda very soon. He doesn't want to leave his community behind, but it has become too dangerous there.

John will be able to stay here as his request for asylum is pending, but according to the process, he won't be able to work. The process generally takes about than 60 days.

I wish him luck.

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Interesting Quote: Rev. Christopher Senyonjo

"They said I should condemn the homosexuals. I can't do that, because I was called to serve all people, including the marginalized. But they say I am inhibited until I recant. I am still a member of the Anglican church."

Rev. Christopher Senyonjo is an Ugandan Cleric who ministers to the gay community.

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Interesting Quote: Frank Mugisha

Today's Uganda is a different story. As the director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, the country's leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights organisation, I have been on an advocacy trip in Europe and the US, encouraging the international community to speak out against the recently passed anti-homosexuality act, which myself and a core group of Ugandans who support human rights are now challenging in the constitutional court. As I prepare to return home, I know a law has been passed that will tyrannise my life and that of many Ugandans I know. The outlook is bleak. As a gay Ugandan, I know I am one of thousands. But as someone who has chosen to be "out" and is still living in Uganda, I am in a minority of fewer than 20 people.

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Secretary Kerry will Send Scientists to challenge the Anti-Gay Law in Uganda

Secretary of State John Kerry will send scientists to Uganda to discuss the Anti-Gay law with President Yoweri Museveni.

This came about after Museveni's scientists claimed that no one's born gay. Because of that notion, the Anti-Gay law was signed. However, Secretary Kerry wants to challenge that idea:

"I talked personally to President Museveni just a few weeks ago, and he committed to meet with some of our experts so that we could engage him in a dialogue as to why what he did could not be based on any kind of science or fact, which is what he was alleging. He welcomed that and said that he was happy to receive them and we can engage in that kind of conversation… maybe we can reach a point of reconsideration."

Secretary Kerry's convo with Museveni is noted as the "tailored approach" to the State Department’s developing strategy on international anti-LGBT legislation.

Kerry said:

"There’s been already a review taking place to figure out what the options are as to how we can begin to change minds, move leaders, reach the public, the same kind of education that took place frankly here in our country."

I'm interested to see the outcome of this

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The U.S. restricts Some Aid to Uganda over Anti-Gay Law

Uganda is feeling the heat from America over their Anti-gay law. The US has suspended just some aid to Uganda's ministry of health. This is possibly the first step in our response to Uganda's foolishness.

U.S. government official said, "As a result of this review process, a portion of the U.S. Centre for Disease Control's (CDC) cooperative agreement with the Ministry of Health has been put on hold pending this review." 

No amount has been revealed, but it could be a substantial sum of money.

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Human Rights Activists challenge Uganda's Anti-Gay Law

Frank Mugisha

Human rights activists are not having it with Uganda's Anti-Gay law. They have filed a lawsuit against the law, claiming that it violates the right to privacy, the freedom of be, and the right to associate.

The activists involved are Frank Mugisha from Sexual Minorities Uganda and trans activist Julian Pepe Onziema. There are straight politicians involved as well, so it shows proof that the distaste for this law goes beyond LGBT people.

I wish them luck in this quest and hope their safety is intact. To read their petition, please go here


via Buzzfeed

Interesting Quote: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe

"They (the West) want to tell us... that it's a violation of human rights, that is what they are doing to Museveni right now. The human right you have as a man is to marry another woman not to get another man to marry, we refuse that. It's a terrible world we are in, a terrible world where people want to do things that they feel will enhance their own interests.I understand we have a group of homosexuals in this country. I didn't know until I was told the day before yesterday. So we want to check on who is in that group."

He's a fan of Uganda's Anti-Gay law

World Bank halts Loan to Uganda over Anti-Gay Law

Oh snap! The World Bank put a stop on a $90m loan to Uganda's health system. Not because they're mean, it's all over Uganda's broke ass Anti-gay law.

World Bank spokesman David Theis said:

"We have postponed the project for further review to ensure that the development objectives would not be adversely affected by the enactment of this new law."

The World Bank president Jim Yong Kim chimed in and wrote in an email:

"In the coming months, we will have a broad discussion about discrimination with staff, management, and our board on these issues. Now is the right moment for this conversation."

The US is concerning a similar thing. I am glad the world is watching and start to act on it.

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Ugandan President signs Anti-Gay Bill, White House Responds

Mess!

President Museveni signed the Anti-gay bill into law today, making it legal to imprison the LGBT community for being themselves. This act has already caused a firestorm in other nations who have warned them not to sign in this bill.

As soon as this happened, the White House responded:

Instead of standing on the side of freedom, justice, and equal rights for its people, today, regrettably, Ugandan President Museveni took Uganda a step backward by signing into law legislation criminalizing homosexuality. As President Obama has said, this law is more than an affront and a danger to the gay community in Uganda, it reflects poorly on the country's commitment to protecting the human rights of its people and will undermine public health, including efforts to fight HIV/AIDS. We will continue to urge the Ugandan government to repeal this abhorrent law and to advocate for the protection of the universal human rights of LGBT persons in Uganda and around the world.

This is a horrifying law and very dangerous for our fam in Uganda.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni pauses on Signing the Anti-Gay Bill Again

President Yoweri Museveni has paused on signing the Anti-gay bill in Uganda. Mostly because of President Obama's concerns and others speaking out about the bill.

Museveni wrote in the Ugandan Observer:

After my statement to that effect which was quoted widely around the World, I got reactions from some friends from outside Africa. Statements like: “it is a matter of choice” or “whom they love” which President Obama repeated in his statement would be most furiously rejected by almost the entirety of our people.

It cannot be a matter of choice for a man to behave like a woman or vice-versa. The argument I had pushed was that there could be people who are born like that or “who they are”, according to President Obama’s statement.

I, therefore, encourage the US government to help us by working with our Scientists to study whether, indeed, there are people who are born homosexual. When that is proved, we can review this legislation.

I would be among those who will spearhead that effort. That is why I had refused to sign the Bill until my premise was knocked down by the position of our Scientists.

I would like to discourage the USA government from taking the line that passing this law will “complicate our valued relationship” with the USA as President Obama said. Countries and Societies should relate with each other on the basis of mutual respect and independence in decision making.

Could more outreach eventually change his mind?

Uganda doesn't Slaughter Gays so that makes them 'Tolerant'

This is getting ridic!

Uganda's Minister for Ethics thinks he's slick. He says that they are being "tolerant" of gays because "we are not slaughtering them".

Really? That makes you all good people? Please, that's hate, pure and simple.