Gay Foes Protest Queen At Commonwealth Summit In Uganda

I find it ironic that countries in Africa that have hellish living conditions, inadequate education, high disease rates and a host of other extremely serious problems are among the countries most obsessed with anti-gay legislation. Just like the Christianists in this country, they waste much needed time, money, effort and resources oppressing the LGBT community instead of addressing far more dire problems. I just do not get the mentality. Part of me - the mean spirited part perhaps - wants to respond by urging western countries to leave these backward homophobic countries to their own fates. Note that the delusional Chimperator has been helping to fund anti-gay groups. He is truly an embarassment to this country. Here are some highlights from 365gay.com's coverage (http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/11/112407queen.htm):

(Kampala) Dozens of anti-gay activists from churches and mosques throughout Uganda staged a noisy demonstration as the Queen opened the summit of the Commonwealth heads of government in Kampala. The protestors accused Western countries of spreading homosexuality throughout Africa.

Earlier an international pro-gay group called Commonwealth People’s Forum on LGBT Rights, released a list of recommendations to the Commonwealth leaders. The recommendations included abolition of sodomy laws in countries such as Uganda and India, ending state sanctioned brutality against sexual minorities, and the recognition of same-sex relationships. The manifesto was denounced by Ugandan cabinet minister Nsaba Buturo. “Homosexuality has no room in this country,” he said.

Uganda outlaws male homosexuality, under laws originally imposed by the British colonizers in the nineteenth century. Offenders can face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Last month Uganda's leading Muslim cleric proposed to President Yoweri Museveni that gays be rounded up and marooned on an island in Lake Victoria until they die. Sheikh Ramathan Shaban Mubajje told reporters of his plan following the much publicized meeting with Museveni. "I asked President Museveni to get us an island on Lake Victoria and we take these homosexuals and they die out there," Mubajje told reporters.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission said last month that it had uncovered evidence that the Bush administration has funded groups in Uganda that actively promote violence and discrimination against lesbians and gay men. (story) Among those receiving money, according to US government records, is Uganda Muslim Tabliqh, and the Makerere University Community Church.