Gays in Africa Face Growing Persecution

Religion continues to show its face as a perverse evil in Africa where gays and lesbians are under increased persecution which is fueled by fundamentalist Christians - often with the assistance and bankrolling of American based religious extremists. And just as in the USA, politicians prove themselves to more or less be shameless whores only too ready to pander to the Christian hate merchants. And right be hind the Christianists peddling hatred are Islamic gay haters. It's a phenomenon that makes be once again believe that a world without religion would be a marked improvement from the present situation. If nothing else, the situation underscores what religion needs to remain utterly separate from the civil laws and that more needs to be done to expose the work of American based groups who are exporting religious based discrimination abroad. With all of the economic, social and health problems in Africa, gays are sadly being cynically scapegoated. Here are highlights from the Washington Post:
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KAMPALA, UGANDA - Persecution of gays is intensifying across Africa, fueled by fundamentalist preachers, intolerant governments and homophobic politicians. Gay people have been denied access to health care, detained, tortured and even killed, human rights activists and witnesses say.
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The growing tide of homophobia comes at a time when gays in Africa are expressing themselves more openly, prompting greater media attention and debates about homosexuality. The rapid growth of Islam and evangelical forms of Christianity, both espousing conservative views on family values and marriage, have persuaded many Africans that homosexuality should not be tolerated in their societies.
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Local newspapers are outing gays, potentially inciting the public to attack them, activists say. A day after a newspaper article said that gays should be hanged, Sheila Hope Mugisha became a target. As the prominent gay rights activist neared her home, she said, boys from the neighborhood threw stones at the gate and chanted, "You are a homo." Mugisha ran inside and locked the door. She didn't leave for several days.
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"In Uganda, we look at homosexuality as an abomination. It is not normal," said Nsaba Butoro, Uganda's minister on ethics and integrity and a vocal supporter of the bill. "You are talking about a clash of cultures. The question is: Which culture is superior, the African one or the Western one?" More than two-thirds of African countries have laws criminalizing homosexuality.
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One exception is South Africa, whose constitution was the first in the world to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation and is among a few countries in the world that have legalized same-sex marriages. Still, even there, negative attitudes toward gays persist in many rural areas and townships.
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In recent years, conservative American evangelical churches have had a profound influence on society in Uganda and other African nations. They send missions and help fund local churches that share their brand of Christianity. Sermons and seminars by American evangelist preachers are staples on local television and radio networks across the continent.
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"The religious fundamentalists want to rule everyone. They want everyone to follow their religious agenda," said Pepe Julien Onziema, a gay rights activist here.
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The article goes on with more sickening details. There are certainly ironies reported in the story: the fact that utterly corrupt Uganda purports to have a minister of ethics and integrity and that Africans have been duped into believing they are protecting African values when its American fundamentalist Christian beliefs that are fueling the anti-gay jihad. The situation again proves why an ignorant and uneducated population are so necessary for Christianist to be successful.