Post by Melanie Nathan, May 09, 2011   Press Statement by CSCHRCL

The Ugandan “Anti-homosexuality Bill” is the subject of hearings which began last Friday and the speaker of the Parliament has announced the bill will come to a vote in the next three days. The Parliament closes on Friday so if the bill is not passed it will die with this parliament.  However, according  Bahati says he will pursue the Bill into the next Parliament.  I have released this as a Press Draft Statement to help other Bloggers and Organizations formulate their own Press releases and Statements. Please spread the word and use freely.

Here  is an unofficial draft of the statement the Civil Society Coalition in Uganda is working on. It is being provided so that if   a organization wishes to issue its own statement you can use this draft statement as a guide.

Adrian Jjuuko Coordinator  of Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional law Uganda,  (CSCHRCL)  issued this draft Press statement is to be released by the Coalition tomorrow on May 09, 2011. (Africa Time)  It contains their position on the Bill and the process.   “It is still a draft because we must have the input and assent of all our member organizations, and also because it is scheduled to be issued soon after the submission of our memorandum to the committee,” notes Mr. Jjuuko.  ” However, it may be used to guide other statements that may be issued by our partners and to guide on any other urgent action in regard to the ongoing process. The final statement will be distributed tomorrow just after the submissions.”

Yet when al is said and done – trying to assert why the Anti- homosexuality bill is coming into play now is a diversion in itself.  It matters not, except to say that the Bill is a scapegoating tool which ever way you look at the timing.  Bahati, its author, was determined to bring it to the Parliament for a vote, regardless of the current oppressive chaos in Uganda.  and here it is….. a week away from likely passage.

Angel Mason, blogger,  in his passionate open letter on the subject notes :  “we charge you David Bahati, member of Uganda Parliament, with the crimes of political and moral treason. You have betrayed your vow to protect the nation of Uganda and the will of its people, and in its place you have substituted and inserted your own hatreds and personal demons into one of the most appalling pieces of legislation ever to be crafted in any country, appropriately nicknamed the “KILL THE GAYS BILL!” That you would stubbornly advocate and legislate such a human rights monstrosity is beyond belief! What is puzzling and even more frightening, is that you hold a position of power within the Ugandan Parliament. You foolishly assert that because the country of Uganda does not hold the genocide of same sex people as a human right violation, that it is not one. You foolishly advocate that any Ugandan gay person OUTSIDE of Uganda having consensual sex in any other part of the world should be extradited back to Uganda to be imprisoned. You foolishly rail against and denounce other compassionate nations who have taken an appropriate stand against your policies by refusing to fund your country or grant you monetary aid. Subsequently, you have made Uganda a Pariah in the world community. You, David Bahati, have sown the storm of moral cruelty, intolerance and oppression with your acts of ignorance and gross insensitivity and you are now deservingly reaping the whirlwind of world censure. “

Bahati told me he did not care about World Censure – he also said “homosexuality must be bad otherwise why does the USA discriminate against homosexuals,” – referring to the Defense of Marriage Act.

Bahati believes that the right to sovereignty is basis for his endeavor, using harm against children who he says and has yet to prove have  been recruited into homosexuality – his reasoning for the Bill’s necessity.

It is imperative that all LGBTI organizations and Clergy in the USA speak out urgently against this Bill.  Much more information can be attained from my own work on the topic and my numerous discussions with the author of the Bill David Bahati – all articles are located at :-  http://lezgetreal.com/?s=Uganda%2C+Bahati.

MAY 07, 2011 Broadcast

LISTEN TO MY INTERVIEW WITH BAHATI

Michelle Meow and Melanie Nathan spoke to David Bahati on Swirl Radio, aired  yesterday – and here the podcast can be found by clicking here: First the News, then Bahati- http://swirlradio.com/

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11 05 08 Draft Press Statement on Submissions to the LPAC of Parliament

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
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