In a move that I hope will see follow through action - and which needs to be emulated by the USA and other western/developed nations, Britain has warned homophobic African nations that their persecution of LGBT individuals will carry a financial price. No doubt we will hear fuming and rants from the corrupt, vile, and often dictatorial African governments about the west meddling into their foul nations, but money talks and I hope Britain follows through with the threat. No one should be underwriting bigotry (or tyranny either) especially when the bigotry stems from a foul and perverted form of Christianity that ignores the Gospel message and focuses instead on hatred and bigotry. The irony, of course, is that it is a conservative British government that is taking these enlightened moves. What a difference between real conservatives in the UK compared to the sectarian extremists who now dictate policy for the GOP. The
Daily Mail looks at this development. Here are some excerpts:
Poor African countries which persecute homosexuals will have their aid slashed by the Government in a bid by David Cameron to take his gay rights crusade to the Third World. International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell has already cut aid to Malawi by £19 million after two gay men were sentenced to 14 years hard labour. And he has warned the country's leaders to scrap plans to introduce draconian new anti-lesbian laws.
Mr Mitchell, one of Mr Cameron's closest allies, is also threatening to impose further aid 'fines' against Uganda and Ghana for hardline anti-gay and lesbian measures. The policy was disclosed after Mr Cameron defended his decision to legalise gay weddings when he addressed last week's Conservative Party conference. Now he wants to persuade those countries where homosexuality is still taboo to follow his lead – and he is ready to reduce aid to some of the world's poorest people to do so.
Three weeks ago, Mr Mitchell protested to Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, who has claimed 'European homosexuals are recruiting in Africa' and who believes gay relationships are 'against God's will'. Uganda is due to receive £70 million from British taxpayers in 2011.
During a visit to Ghana earlier this year, Stephen O'Brien – Mr Mitchell's deputy – told President John Evans Atta Mills that Britain would cut its aid unless he stopped persecuting gays.
A spokesman for Mr Mitchell said: 'The Government is committed to combating violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in all circumstances, in this country and abroad. We take action where we have concerns. "We now allocate funds every three months, rather than every year, so that we can review a country's performance, . . "
In a move that I hope will see follow through action - and which needs to be emulated by the USA and other western/developed nations, Britain has warned homophobic African nations that their persecution of LGBT individuals will carry a financial price. No doubt we will hear fuming and rants from the corrupt, vile, and often dictatorial African governments about the west meddling into their foul nations, but money talks and I hope Britain follows through with the threat. No one should be underwriting bigotry (or tyranny either) especially when the bigotry stems from a foul and perverted form of Christianity that ignores the Gospel message and focuses instead on hatred and bigotry. The irony, of course, is that it is a conservative British government that is taking these enlightened moves. What a difference between real conservatives in the UK compared to the sectarian extremists who now dictate policy for the GOP. The Daily Mail looks at this development. Here are some excerpts:
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