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‘Hang them’: Uganda Tabloid Publishes Photos & Adds of Top 100 Gays

Melanie Nathan 10-19-10 -

American Evangelical Missionaries Must be held accountable for Crimes Committed Abroad

According to AP in Kampala, as published today in the Washington Post, a Uganda newspaper, known as Rolling Stone (not the American one)   featured a front page list of Uganda’s 100 “top” homosexuals, with a bright yellow banner across it that read: “Hang Them.” Alongside their photos were the men’s names and addresses. At least four gay Ugandans on the list have been attacked since and many others are in hiding, according to rights activist Julian Onziema. One person named in the story had stones thrown at his house by neighbors.

A lawmaker  introduced a controversial anti-gay-hate bill a year ago that would have imposed the death penalty for some homosexual acts and life in prison for others. An international uproar ensued, with Sec. Hilary Clinton and the UN weighing in against it and the bill was quietly shelved.

Nonetheless Gays and Lesbians in Uganda say they have faced a year of harassment and attacks since the bill’s introduction and the spread of assaults on gays have doubled according to statistics.

The legislation introduced att the behest of and  following a visit by leaders of U.S. conservative Christian ministries that promote  gay repair(ex-gay) therapy, asserting gays can reform and become heterosexual.  Rachel Maddow presented video evidence of Evangelicals inciting gay violence in seminars  conducted in Uganda. Now they will have blood on their hands, and we at Lezgetreal are urging the State Department and the Justice Department to investigate these missions abroad.  There is enough evidence to indict Evangelical preachers who have been direct contributors to these crimes against humanity.

The Ap report asserts that “Before the introduction of the bill in parliament most people did not mind about our activities. But since then, we are harassed by many people who hate homosexuality,” said Patrick Ndede, 27. The Bill, it is alleged was also introduced at the behest of the evangelical missionaries.

Many Christian leaders denounced the Bill, but those who incited it have barely been taken to task by mainstream media!  While the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signaled to legislators that they should not take it up,  the damage is done and only strong action against the American Evangelicals in question would make some dent in undoing the harm.  We in America must now rectify this harm by alerting Ugandans, Africa  and the world to our belief that the real crime – the incitement, the assaults and murder of gay people anywhere is not taken lightly by American authorities.  The only way we can do that is to show that we do not endorse the actions of the Evangelicals who in essence show up as Americans (in the yes of the hosts) is to investigate and prosecute such people here at home.

Four members of parliament contacted by The Associated Press for the article declined to comment, and instead referred queries to David Bahati, the parliamentarian who introduced the bill. Bahati did not answer repeated calls Tuesday, according to the AP.

Homophobia is rife in many African countries. Homosexuality is punishable by death or imprisonment in Nigeria. In South Africa, the only African nation to recognize gay marriage, gangs carry out so-called “corrective” rapes on lesbians as we have reported extensively here on LGR. http://lezgetreal.com/?s=corrective+rape

After the newspaper hit the streets, the government Media Council ordered the newspaper to cease publishing – not because of the newspaper’s content, but rather that the newspaper had not registered with the government. After it completes the paperwork, the offending Newspaper also known as Rolling Stone  continue to publish said the secretary of the Ugandan Media Council.

The paper’s managing editor, Giles Muhame, said the article was “in the public interest” and has fostered the spread of rumors that gays are recruiting millions of children.

We express our outrage at the audacity of the Rolling Stone Uganda to publicize this hate and demand Uganda Media Council do something about it.  Its almost time American LGBT and allies to stop drinking UGANDAN Coffee!

NOTE UPDATE AND CORRECTION thanks to Jim at Box turtle

The AHB has not been “shelved.” It is still in committee in Parliament. If the committee reports the bill back out, it then goes to a second and third reading and debate before a final vote.

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda

Related articles

• Ugandan Tabloid Publishes List of 100 ‘Top Homos’, Calls for Their Hanging [Disasters] (gawker.com)
• ‘Hang them’: Uganda paper publishes photos of gays (miamiherald.typepad.com)
• ‘Hang Them’: Uganda Paper Publishes Photos of Gays (nytimes.com)