Comments on: Uganda Watch: MPs Want to Debate Anti-Gay in Private

By: Richard Willmer

Richard Willmer — Wed, 30 May 2018 21:04:42 +0000

@ Ted
What have I said that seeks to ‘destroy the traditional family model’? I’m merely saying that the Bahati Bill is nasty and hypocritical, and IMO bad for Uganda. There are many Ugandans who agree with me, but many of their voices are not being heard above the homophobic din
And on the subject of ‘the traditional family’: you might wish to take a look at the private lives of some of these anti-gay agitators! They might not be as ‘traditional’ as you suppose.
As for issues like poverty and starvation: well, I take an interest in those too, but I’m not going to ‘blow my trumpet’ about that.
Perhaps you could give me a cogent argument for ‘harshly punishing’ two honest citizens who happen to be in a same-sex relationship with each other? And please don’t abandon logic and personality responsibility and simply quote out of context fragments of Holy Scripture.

By: Richard Willmer

Richard Willmer — Wed, 30 May 2018 19:51:34 +0000

I was wondering if, now that the Public Order Management Bill has passed, Bahati would be back on the Order Paper. He isn’t, as of now.

By: Richard Willmer

Richard Willmer — Wed, 30 May 2018 19:50:34 +0000

Back to Langa, and his conference last month: apparently he said this of ‘homosexuality’:
“Providing literature, writing books about it, standing up and saying it is OK — you should be arrested. Even if you are not in the act, you should be arrested. Anybody who tries to promote it should be arrested. That’s why we need a stronger law.”
One can see why the Public Order Management Bill is relevant to this whole situation; both it and Bahati Bill are really about attacks on freedom of speech and conscience.

By: Richard Willmer

Richard Willmer — Wed, 30 May 2018 19:49:08 +0000

Order papers are still ‘Bahati-free’. Much less talk at the moment about the Bill in the political circles with whom I’m in contact. Obviously, the UG Government is focusing on getting its budget through, and I imagine that most parliamentary time is being being spent on that. The Public Order Management Bill 2011 has also yet to complete its passage.

By: Richard Willmer

Richard Willmer — Wed, 30 May 2018 19:49:08 +0000

An interesting ‘though piece’: http://76crimes.com/2012/05/08/traditional-african-homosexuality-has-learned-from-west/
Much of it ‘rings true’ IMO, and maybe African human rights activists would do well to ‘repackage’ some of their approaches?
“Post-colonial tensions” is surely a very important factor. Places like Uganda want to be seen as ‘different’ from the former colonial power, and attitudes to LGBT is an easy way to express ‘difference’.
In other news: Bahati does not feature on this week’s order papers … so far.

By: Richard Willmer

Richard Willmer — Wed, 30 May 2018 19:49:08 +0000

An interesting article from a Kenyan author: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Fixation-with-sexuality-is-unhealthy/-/440808/1906988/-/159wqb2z/-/index.html
(The author effectively makes the point that the label ‘unAfrican’ is really just a bit of nonsense.)

By: Richard Willmer

Richard Willmer — Wed, 30 May 2018 19:49:06 +0000

I have just received information about another newspaper ‘outing’, but that image sent to me is very blurred. I’ve asked for another, more readable, copy.

By: Richard Willmer

Richard Willmer — Wed, 30 May 2018 19:49:06 +0000

WHOOPS! The attached report relates to the February ‘outing session’. (I think that one I’ve heard about has not [yet] broken cover.)

By: Richard Willmer

Richard Willmer — Wed, 30 May 2018 19:49:06 +0000

Looks like the Red Pepper (that renowned advocate of truthfulness and clean living**) has indeed done another round of ‘outing’: http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/breaking-uganda-tabloid-publishes-names-and-photos-of-gays-top-gay-recruiters-busted/politics/2013/02/24/61146
** Apologies for the mordant sarcasm!
(I ‘trailed’ this – after a ‘tip off’ – a couple of weeks back … see comments above.)

By: Richard Willmer

Richard Willmer — Wed, 30 May 2018 19:49:06 +0000

Reports today that the Kampala offices of the Refugee Law Project were attacked by police and (other?) thugs. Reason for the attack not clear, but there could conceivably be a homophobic connection, given that the Project opposes bahatism.