It what has to be a case of lions lying down with lambs, gay rights activists like Jim Burroway of Box Turtle Bulletin and former high priest of the ex-gay "cure myth," Warren Throckmorton (who attacked me by name in a Townhall.com piece some years back) are in agreement that Uganda's horrific proposed anti-gay legislation needs to be defeated. Via a Facebook group, I have received e-mails from both Burroway and Throckmorton both urging individuals to speak out and target the defeat of the proposed legislation that not only calls for a life sentence for anyone convicted of homosexuality, but also threatens a death sentence for anyone who is convicted with HIV/AIDS." *
Sadly, this proposed bill is the logical extension of the anti-gay hate and intolerance that have been widely disseminated by far right Christian extremists for years when embraced by a backwards third world nation where the uneducated populace is easy prey to religious demagogues. Even domestic gay-haters such as Rick Warren seem to be concerned about the possible fruits of their anti-gay screeds and the message it will send about self-righteous "godly Christians." The Warrens have issued this statement:
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STATEMENT OF PASTOR RICK & KAY WARREN REGARDING ACTIVITIES OF MARTIN SSEMPA IN UGANDA
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STATEMENT OF PASTOR RICK & KAY WARREN REGARDING ACTIVITIES OF MARTIN SSEMPA IN UGANDA
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Martin Ssempa does not represent me, my wife Kay, Saddleback Church, nor the Global PEACE Plan strategy. In 2007, we completely severed contact with Mr. Ssempa when we learned that his views and actions were in serious conflict with our own. Our role, and the role of the PEACE Plan, whether in Uganda or any other country, is always pastoral and never political. We vigorously oppose anything that hinders the goals of the PEACE Plan: Promoting reconciliation, Equipping ethical leaders, Assisting the poor, Caring for the sick, and Educating the next generation.
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Actions and words DO have consequences and it is revealing that suddenly a few Christianists are belatedly worried about what will potentially come back to their doorsteps. One needs to ask where are the leaders of Western based denominations that have church operations in Uganda in demanding that this legislation be killed? All of us need to voice out outrage and make it clear to Uganda officials that the nation will become an outcast if this bill passes.
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Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin is an example of taking action. In a letter (pdf) to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin told the Secretary that she is looking for “swift action” to stop the “Anti-Homosexual Bill” introduced earlier this month in Uganda. Here are highlights from Congresswoman Baldwin's statement:
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This egregious bill represents one of the most extreme anti-equality measures ever proposed in any country and would create a legal pretext for depriving lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Ugandans of their liberty, and even their lives,” Baldwin wrote [to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton], joined by Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Howard Berman (D-CA), Vice Chair, Gary Ackerman (D-NY), and Ranking Member, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). “Particularly given the United States’ substantial contribution to Uganda through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), we believe swift action is necessary to ensure Ugandan leaders understand this bill is wholly unacceptable and antithetical to democratic values,” they wrote.
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This egregious bill represents one of the most extreme anti-equality measures ever proposed in any country and would create a legal pretext for depriving lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Ugandans of their liberty, and even their lives,” Baldwin wrote [to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton], joined by Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Howard Berman (D-CA), Vice Chair, Gary Ackerman (D-NY), and Ranking Member, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). “Particularly given the United States’ substantial contribution to Uganda through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), we believe swift action is necessary to ensure Ugandan leaders understand this bill is wholly unacceptable and antithetical to democratic values,” they wrote.
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Here is more information on how to voice your condemnation:
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We call on the Facebook community to join in opposition to this bill and to contact the various stakeholders named below to express your views.Contacts to express one's views about Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009:
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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
State House Nakasero
email: info@statehouse.go.ug
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Prime Minister Apollo Nsibambi
email: ps@opm.go.ug
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Speaker of the Parliament
Edward Ssekandi Kiwanuka
email: speaker@parliament.go.ug
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Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Affairs Honorable Opio Gabriel
email: ps@mglsd.go.ug
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Chair of the Uganda Human Rights Commission
Med Kaggwa
email: uhrc@uhrc.ug
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Directorate for Ethics and Integrity
email: info@dei.go.ug
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Chair of the Uganda Diplomatic Human Rights Working Groups
Mathisen Gørild
email: gorild.mathisen@mfa.no
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Please also send a copy to:
Ambassador to the Republic of Uganda Embassy of the United States of America
Jerry P. Lanier
email: kampalawebcontact@state.gov
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Christian pastors in Uganda:
Martin Ssempa
ssempam@gmail.com
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Stephen Langa
stephenlanga@yahoo.com
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You may contact Watato Church (formerly Kampala Pentecostal Church and closely associated with both Ssempa and Langa) at connect@watotochurch.com.
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We call on the Facebook community to join in opposition to this bill and to contact the various stakeholders named below to express your views.Contacts to express one's views about Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009:
*
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
State House Nakasero
email: info@statehouse.go.ug
*
Prime Minister Apollo Nsibambi
email: ps@opm.go.ug
*
Speaker of the Parliament
Edward Ssekandi Kiwanuka
email: speaker@parliament.go.ug
*
Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Affairs Honorable Opio Gabriel
email: ps@mglsd.go.ug
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Chair of the Uganda Human Rights Commission
Med Kaggwa
email: uhrc@uhrc.ug
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Directorate for Ethics and Integrity
email: info@dei.go.ug
*
Chair of the Uganda Diplomatic Human Rights Working Groups
Mathisen Gørild
email: gorild.mathisen@mfa.no
*
Please also send a copy to:
Ambassador to the Republic of Uganda Embassy of the United States of America
Jerry P. Lanier
email: kampalawebcontact@state.gov
*
Christian pastors in Uganda:
Martin Ssempa
ssempam@gmail.com
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Stephen Langa
stephenlanga@yahoo.com
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You may contact Watato Church (formerly Kampala Pentecostal Church and closely associated with both Ssempa and Langa) at connect@watotochurch.com.
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This legislation is yet another example of religion being a force for evil in the world instead of a power for good.
1 comment:
Esa es la razón Michael por la que soy tan escéptico de la ayuda que las organizaciones religiosas Americanas dan al tercer mundo, lo cual obedece obedece a varios motivos:
*la derecha religiosa Americana odia a Europa porque sabe que este es un continente muy secular, y muy liberal en las costumbres, y como sus campañas de evangelización siempre fracasan por aquí,solo se dedican a ladrar contra la malvada Europa, mientras reunen esfuerzos en el tercer mundo, porque saben que alli si que pueden tener éxito (en una población analfabeta, pobre, desesperada).
También me cuesta aceptar que los Americanos donen dinero a los países del tercer mundo solo por caridad cristiana y buenas intenciones, lo siento Michael, pero yo no me lo creo, y no quiero parecer anti-americano, pero es que no me lo creo, y muchos menos cuando algunos Americanos de forma arrogante afirman que ellos son muy buenos y el resto del mundo malos muy malos.
Y tu dirás: pero este chico por qué siempre esta criticando a mi país?, yo no critico a tu país, critico la repugante intolerancia de los llamados "cristianos de bien" de tu país.
Pero como me voy a creer que gente como Cuccinilli, Tom Tancredo, Pat Buchanan, Pat Robertson, Mick Huckabee, puedan tener buenas intenciones con el tercer mundo?
Pero si estos siempre clamando y ladrando odio contra su propia gente, solo porque algunos Americanos son gays!!!
Tu eres un buen Americano, has nacido allí, y aún así muchos de los proclamados "cristianos renacidos de nuevo" están haciendo todo lo posible para marginar a sus propios hermanos de nacionalidad!!!, pero como me voy a fiar!!!
Lo que la derecha cristiana Americana esta haciendo en AFrica es trasladar la "culture wars" a ese continente, pues en tu país está perdiendo la batalla. Pero al mismo tiempo la neurosis infantil (la religión según Freud)de la sociedad Americana está causando sufrimiento, intolerancia, fanatismo, superstición, y violencia.
Yo admiro el idealismo de tu pueblo Michael, hay Americanos valientes como Scott Hall y su gayamericanheroes foundation, otros que luchan contra el cáncer, Tú mismo que has fundado y formas parte de numerosas organizaciones que velan y protegen los derechos de los gays....
Todo eso es admirable, valiente y digno de justicia, pero hay límites en algunas cosas...
El idealismo, es una idea platónica que pertene a un mágico mundo de las ideas, y no es algo malo, pero si es malo cuando algunos idealistas se convierten en fanático megalómanos-platónicos, en este caso, la desesperada religious right Americana, que se encuentra acorralada tal rata en su madriguera.
Y otro tema que me gustaría que supieras: el racismo anti-blanco de algunos dictadores Africanos, yo he visto demasiados documentales en internet y TV, en donde estos sátrapas afirman que la homosexualidad es algo exclusivo de blancos Europeos y Ameericanos, una autentica barbaridad, pues yo no soy blanco (soy mestizo) y creo que al considerar solo gays a los blancos, me siento deshumanizado y ultrajado, yo no fui criado en un ambiente racista, y creo que un blanco gay Americano puede sufrir y sentir lo mismo que yo siento, ya que comparto el mismo sentimiento de humanidad y fraternidad con cualquier gay de cualquier raza.
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