Government oppression of freedom of conscience and expression is unconscionable. View this statement from four Nobel Peace Laureates expressing support for such freedom with special application to LGBT people. Uganda’s Frank Mugisha is quoted in the statement as well.
The statement begins:
(Washington – June 21, 2012) In an unprecedented statement, four esteemed Nobel Laureates, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Muhammad Yunus, have expressed solidarity with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people worldwide. Together, they call on the global community to recognize that traditional cultural values compel them to respect the inherent dignity and human rights of all individuals.
Go read the rest here.
These differing views are well-known amongst the ‘intelligentsia’, I think.
Specifically on statements like this: they go ‘viral’, and people discuss them. In somewhere like Uganda, this really does happen among the educated ‘opinion shapers’ of that society (and parts of the press are relatively ‘free’ – and most journalists would like it at least to stay that way).
@Richard Willmer
“I actually think that many sub-Saharan Africans are now asking themselves “with whom do I wish to identify: Mugabe-Taylor-Bahati, or Tutu-Mandela-Annan?”
Do sub-Saharan Africans know about the statements by Tutu, etc? Have they been reported in sub-Sahran Africa apart from South Africa?
I actually think that many sub-Saharan Africans are now asking themselves “with whom do I wish to identify: Mugabe-Taylor-Bahati, or Tutu-Mandela-Annan?” They understand the choice here. I know some of those who set up themselves as ‘spokespersons for all Africans’ (a regular visitor here with a pseudonym springs to mind!) make their claims, but I also know, including from from my own experience, that Africans are as capable as anyone else as following their own consciences with regard to these profoundly important socio-politico-moral issues. Thus this is a very welcome intervention by good old Archbishop Desmond and others.
These differing views are well-known amongst the ‘intelligentsia’, I think.
Specifically on statements like this: they go ‘viral’, and people discuss them. In somewhere like Uganda, this really does happen among the educated ‘opinion shapers’ of that society (and parts of the press are relatively ‘free’ – and most journalists would like it at least to stay that way).
@Richard Willmer
“I actually think that many sub-Saharan Africans are now asking themselves “with whom do I wish to identify: Mugabe-Taylor-Bahati, or Tutu-Mandela-Annan?”
Do sub-Saharan Africans know about the statements by Tutu, etc? Have they been reported in sub-Sahran Africa apart from South Africa?
I actually think that many sub-Saharan Africans are now asking themselves “with whom do I wish to identify: Mugabe-Taylor-Bahati, or Tutu-Mandela-Annan?” They understand the choice here. I know some of those who set up themselves as ‘spokespersons for all Africans’ (a regular visitor here with a pseudonym springs to mind!) make their claims, but I also know, including from from my own experience, that Africans are as capable as anyone else as following their own consciences with regard to these profoundly important socio-politico-moral issues. Thus this is a very welcome intervention by good old Archbishop Desmond and others.