02/06/2010 by JR Russell

I’ve written a piece over on Forth.ie that disusses the direction Uganda is taking with regards transparency, freedom of the press and the much discussed oil deals.

Forth.ie

The lack of transparency carries over as well into the lies that are being spread about the gay rights movement. Gay rights opponents have spread the word that rights groups are using foreign money to recruit Ugandan children, that homosexuality and paedophilia are linked and that homosexuality can be “cured”.

These lies have spawned what we now know as the Kill-the-gays bill or the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009 which makes the already criminal act of homosexuality punishable by life in prison, or for repeat offenders, death.

Please head on over and comment too. Forth magazine has some great reads, and I was really chuffed to be able to contribute.

ON TUESDAY February 2, the Ugandan blogger known only as Gay Uganda, sent a Twitter message to reassure his followers that no harm had come to him. His silence had been caused by an all-too-common-in-Uganda power cut.

In Uganda, only five per cent of the population is connected to the national grid. Prohibitively expensive, electricity in resource-rich Uganda heavily relies on costly imported fuel, despite natural oil seepage, and the first oil well that was dug in 1938. World War II intervened and only in the 1990s did interest turn again to Uganda’s vast natural resources. This might have been the luckiest thing that ever happened to Uganda.

February 2, 2010- by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Representative Howard L. Berman (D-CA) has introduced a resolution condemning Uganda’s anti-homosexual bill. The bill dubbed “Kill the Gays” bill would execute people for being gay if they have HIV/AIDS or were convicted of aggravated homosexuality. The bill has drawn a great deal of condemnation from a variety of world governments and threatened to derail an oil deal which has only just been approved by Uganda’s government. It is likely that the bill was intended to scapegoat gays and lesbians in Uganda while the country set up the oil field and displaced some thirty thousand people.

The resolution is intended to, according to the wording on it, “[express] the sense of the House of Representatives that the ‘‘Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2009’’ under consideration by the Parliament of Uganda, that would impose long term imprisonment and the death penalty for certain acts, threatens the protection of fundamental human rights, and for other purposes.”

H. Res. 1064, or House Resolution 1064, has more than three dozen sponsors including Representatives Barney Frank, Tammy Baldwin, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and Barbara Lee. The resolution brings up several points regarding this legislation including the fact that it would make it nearly impossible for Uganda to effectively combat HIV/AIDS by further marginalizing gay men, and that it would nullify a variety of treaties that Uganda has already entered into regarding the treatment of gays and lesbians. This bill would also violate the current jurisdictional notions of what is considered to be an extraditable offense. Currently, only crimes such as terrorism and treason are considered to fall into extra-territorial jurisdiction.

Further underlying just how much of a problem this particular legislation would be to curbing HIV/AIDS in Uganda, the resolution notes that “countries whose laws do not criminalize homosexuality are generally regarded as better able to curb the transmission of the virus, and the ability to more effectively address HIV was a pivotal factor in the recent decision of the High Court of New Delhi to repeal section 337 of the Indian penal code outlawing sodomy” HIV/AIDS is one of the leading killers in Africa, and is considered to be responsible for much of the economic problems that Uganda faces currently.

The resolution also points out that many American and non-American politicians have called on Uganda’s government to kill this bill.

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The Ugandan government has trumpeted that the new oil deal with Tullow oil will net them 80% of the total revenue. A new analysis done by a group who managed to get a leaked copy of the closely guarded draft Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) shows that not only is 80% slightly better than the very best case scenario, the best case scenario is 79.5% provided the government options the 15% stake it has a right to, does not build the pipeline it is intending to and that oil remains at over $122/barrel throughout production. At the moment, it is about $75/barrel. The best-case scenario is utterly unrealistic.

The report (pdf)  published by Platform also explains how the deal is markedly worse for Uganda than for the Iraqi Kurdistan deal with Heritage Oil, which is far riskier and therefore should have profits leaning more towards the private company than in Uganda, where things are more stable and less risky for Tullow.

In the Uganda PSA, the state actually shoulders the heft of the risk if things don’t go as planned, and Tullow stand to gain the most should things go well. In one scenario, Tullow loses $700 million, and Uganda $2.1 billion.

By comparing a low cost scenario of $1,735 million invested with a high cost scenario of $4,545 million, we discover that as the costs increase, the government will loses a greater sum of money. The stateʼs discounted revenues (net present value) fall by $500 million, while Tullowʼs fall by only $300 million. If non-discounted, Tullowʼs total cashflow fall by $700 million, but the state loses $2.1 billion.

If things go well,

… it is Tullow, not Uganda, which captures the ʻupsideʼ – the chance of ever-higher profits. At $70 Tullow makes a rate of return of 26.5%, at $120 it is 36.3% and at $180 the company makes 44.4% The companyʼs profits rise at a steady gradient with increased prices. Meanwhile, Uganda – which carried the risk of downside – fails to increase its proportion of total revenues. Instead, as prices rise, the stateʼs take plateaus at just over 75%. In other words, Tullow can continue to take one quarter of oil revenues, whether the oil price is $100 or $250 – raking in enormous profits.

In short, whoever negotiated this deal for the Ugandan government should be sacked, or should at least have to explain himself. Whoever negotiated for Tullow, well, they are good at what they do, obviously. Ripping off developing countries to walk away with a profit of up to 35% in the business world is something to be commended I guess. I never was much of a business person.

The deal is being partially financied by 75% taxpayer owned, Royal Bank of Scotland. Environmental group PLATFORM, who published the leaked PSAs and had them analysed, are taking legal action to force the RBS, which traditionally invests heavily in oil interests, to evaluate environmental and human rights impacts of investments.

Taimour Lay writes in The Guardian:

Our appeal for judicial review, filed on 9 December, argues that the Treasury, majority shareholder in RBS through UK Financial Investments (UKFI), has unlawfully failed to assess the environmental and human rights impact of RBS investments, including its role as Tullow Oil’s lead backer in Uganda.

1/28/10-by Paula Brooks
The Roman Catholic primate of Belgium has equated homosexuality to an eating disorder…

According to Radio Netherlands Worldwide… Monsignor André-Joseph Léonard, the archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, told a Belgian television station,”Homosexuality is not the same as normal sex in the same way that anorexia is not a normal appetite,” but Léonard did add that he would “never call anorexia patients abnormal.”

A few years ago, when Léonard was serving as Bishop of Namen, he caused a storm of controversy when he said that homosexuality was abnormal and nearly got himself prosecuted under Belgium’s Anti-Discrimination Act for slander.

That notwithstanding… or maybe because of it…Last week Pope Benedict XVI named Léonard as the successor to the the Roman Catholic Church’s top spot in Belgium.

Archbishop Léonard is also a well-known critic of abortion and stem cell research.

Hell I know this can’t be right…. because I am as lez as they come… and if Archbishop Léonard were right… my ass would not be nearly as big as it is…. Right?

via Radio Netherlands Worldwide.

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  Melanie Nathan Reporting: January 25 , 2010 – by Melanie Nathan. The people in Uganda to cntact and target is the UEPB, a public trade promotion organization which operates under the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry in Uganda was established by Parliamentary Statute. The Board  consists of the very politicians who will be deciding that being gay or lesbian in Uganda is a crime; which will carry a 20 year sentence.  UEPB has a 12-member Board of Directors half of who including the Chairman are from the private sector. The Board is constituted as follows: - 
 
Picture : Hon. Henry Bagiire, the State Minister for Agriculture

a)Chairman-Private Sector
b) one representative of Uganda Manufacturers Association-Private Sector
c) one representative from Uganda National Chamber of Commerce-Private Sector
d) one representative of Uganda National Farmers’ Association- Private Sector
e/f) two representatives of Exporters Associations- Private Sector
g) one representative of Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry- Public Sector
h) one representative of Ministry of Finance.- Public Sector
i) one representative of Ministry of Foreign Affairs- Public Sector
j) one representative of Ministry of Agriculture- Public Sector
e) one representative of Uganda Investment Authority- Public Sector
f) the Executive Director, Uganda Export Promotion Board – Public Sector

UEPB carries out its mandate “to facilitate the development, diversification, promotion and co-ordination of all export related activities that lead to export growth on a sustainable basis, ” be sure to inform Ugandans  that we will isolate them from the rest of the World if they fail to completely withdraw the Gay Kill Bill. You can see  their government is intricately connected to their trade, and so we must hit where it counts.

    UEPB: Exporters First Stop Center

“While Arabica was introduced at the beginning of the 1900’s, Robusta coffee is indigenous to the country, and has been a part of Ugandan life for centuries. The variety of wild Robustacoffee still growing today in Uganda’s rain forests are thought to be some of the rarest examples of naturally occurring coffee trees anywhere in the world. The coffee trees are inter cropped with traditional food crops and grown in the shade of banana trees and other shade trees. In these self-sustaining conditions, coffee is left to grow naturally, flowering on average twice a year.

Uganda has the unfortunate circumstance of being landlocked, and needing good relations with its neighbors to move its coffee crop to a port city. Transportation bottlenecks can result in containers of full of steaming coffee beans stuck on the back of a truck or a dock somewhere …not good for quality! But in recent years the problems of unstable East African politics and weak infrastructure seem to be improving, judging from the excellent quality coffee coming from the Northern Bugisu region along the Kenya border. Good marks are the Mbale Bugisu Coffee Factory and the Budadiri Coffee Factory -names of the mills where the coffee are prepared. Good Ugandan coffees are both unique among East African coffees and of intense character. Germany has been a strong buyer of Ugandas arabica crop but two years ago the outrageous Java prices resulted in numerous containers appearing in the US as a Java substitute.

Coffees from politically unstable regions, especially East Africa and the 10-year civil war in Uganda, bring up ethical issues. But the plain fact is this: coffee is a cash crop. It is grown by 300,000 small-holder farmers in Uganda. It is 95% of the Ugandan exports and 2,800,000 people rely on it for a living! Most production is Robusta, and the prices they get are low. Arabica farming is more work, but the rewards are greater! Quality in coffee is a way to break pay farmers better. Here you have the opportunity to buy the best of Ugandan coffee… “

 Dear Ugandan Exporter ,  

We treat all Ugandans as one!  Until you work as a community to rid yourselves of the pre-genocide attacks on the LGBT community in your country of 32 Million people, we plan to boycott your trade. we will not do any of the following: 

Attend your buyer seller meets   regardless of where; attend in-bound and out-bound trade missions; participate in contact promotion programmes; support you in participation of Ugandan exporters in relevant local, regional and international trade fairs and exhibitions; utilize your expert industry counselling;  and forget those presentations at international export promotion workshops, seminars and conferences cause we wont be there! and most of all WE WILL NOT BUY YOUR COFFEE -

We at Lezgetreal support the gays and homosexuals and lesbians in Uganda; it is not a crime to be a homosexual or lesbian in our world, but we are not welcome to yours.  (LGBTQI) Your attempts to criminalize homosexualitydefies all understanding, as it is clear that it emanates from nowhere other than biblical teaching of the likes of sickos like Scott Livelly, et al.  If you choose to be a Church State, then make that announcement openly and give people who do not believe in what your State stands for, an opportunity to leave Uganda, before you criminalize them. 

That said, without much ado, we will not tolerate this kind of persecution from any country.  We are going to boycott your country.  You economy has grown and you are improving your poverty. I hope you do not choose to force your Country into poverty yet again.  You must get rid of the hate Gay Bill.  Completely.  Regardless we are starting the boycotts immediately. 

If you enact this law, then many people from foreign countries dare not come to Ugandan, for example what if a political trade envoy is gay?   If he comes to your land, he is a criminal.  Why would any corporation want to support your country.  You are asking to be kicked out of the World economy and we are ready to oblige. So here goes America…. Write to the following Companies and tell them what we plan to do. This will go viral and millions of people will see this as well as the US Congress.

In Solidarity,

So  my dear queer community lets start the ball rolling. The Ugandan people need letters from you – here is a start – be polite please do not put yourself in a bad light and tell them why its not okay to criminalize gays. Tell then your story and about your life.  Lets see if with a nice letter and a big fat boycott if we can change the hearts and minds of Ugandans . remember they have been told we are the devil.

Also another Article written by Melanie Nathan on the impending http://lezgetreal.com/?p=25370  Million Person March In Uganda scheduled for Feb 17th, 2010;

1 . Kawacom (U) Ltd
    m284 Ntinda
    P. O. Box 22623 Kampala, Uganda
    Tel: + 256 31 260201
    Email: rlugone@ecomtrading.com

2  Olam Uganda Ltd
    7/9/ Mapera Rd Nalukolongo, Kampala
    P.O. Box 23436 Kampala, Uganda
    Tel: + 256 41 271440/271418
    Email: niraj@olamnet.com

3. Ibero (U) Ltd
    44/50 7th Street, Kampala
    P.O. Box 23139 Kampala, Uganda
    Tel: +256 41 342621/31 261464
    Email: traffic@ibero.co.ug

4. Kyagalanyi Coffee Ltd
    1/2/3 5th Street, Kampala
    P.O.Box 3181 Kampala, Uganda
    Tel: + 256 41 344021/251447
    Email: kcl@kyagalanyi.com  

5. Mbale Importers and Exporters Ltd
    27/29 Pamba Rd, Mbale
    P.O Box 264 Mbale, Uganda
    Tel: +256 75 725400
    Email: mbaleimpex@utlonline.co.ug  

6. Pan Afric Impex (U) Ltd
    62 Bombo Rd, Kawempe, Kampala
    P. O. Box 7257 Kampala
    Tel:  + 256 41 567847
    Email: panafricimpex@utlonline.co.ug  

7. Kamapala Domestic store Ltd
    9 3rd Street, Kampala
    P.O. Box 30532 Kampala, Uganda
    Tel: +256 41 235597
    Email: kds@infocom.co.ug

8. Great Lakes Coffee Company Ltd
    M289 Ntinda, Kampala
    P.O.Box 27198 Kampala, Uganda
    Tel: +256 41 286961
    Email: glc@imul.com

9. Ugacof Ltd
    246 Bweyogerere, Kampala  
    P.O Box 7355 Kampala, Uganda
    Tel: + 256 41 286290/286288
    Email: fbe@ugacof.com

10. Sitanida Agencies Ltd
      14 william street, Kirumira Towers, Kampala
       P.O. Box 27544 Kampala, Uganda
       Tel: + 256 41 255913  
        Email: sitanida@africaonline.co.ug  

11.Wabulungu Mult-purpose Estates
    508 Bombo Rd, Kawempe, Kampala
    P.O. Box 27544 Kampala, Uganda
    Tel: +256 41 254485

12. MTL Main Traders Ltd
      46 Palisa Rd, Mbale
      P.O. Box 6217 Mbale
      Tel: +256 45 36377/41 256426
      Emal: lawrence.mwaka@mtluganda.com

13. Job Coffee Ltd
     103 3rd Street, Kampala
      P.O. Box 4152 Kampala Uganda
      Tel: + 256 41 255914
      Email: jobcoffee@infocom.co.ug

14. Union Export Services Ltd
      103 3rd Street Kampala
      P.O. Box 7455 Kampala, Uganda
      Tel: + 256 41 258778
      Email: unex@starcom.co.ug

15. Bakwanye Trading Co. Ltd
      13/15 3rd Street, Kasese
      P.O. Box 240 Kasese, Uganda
      Tel: 256 483 44068/44007
        Email: cobwa@yahoo.com

16. Gumutindo Coffee Coop Enterprise Ltd
      46 Palisa Rd, Mbale
      P.O. Box 283 Mbale, Uganda
     Tel: +256 45 34415/772 927942
     Email: mutindo@Infocom.co.ug

17. Simba Cafe East African Ltd
      M466 Ntinda, Kampala
      P.O. Box 26926 Kampala, Uganda
      Tel: +41 285866
      Email: branton@wananchi.com

18. Lakeland Holdings Ltd
      9 3rd Street, Kamapala
      P.O. Box 29129 Kamapala, Uganda
      Tel: 256 41 345120
      Email: lakelandholdingsltd@yahoo.com

By Melanie Nathan, custody2008@gmail.com

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By – Melanie Nathan – UGANDA – 24 January, 2010: Is Uganda the New “Old South Africa?” Anti-gay Pastor Martin Ssempa will be spearheading a million-man march on 17 February, in support of the proposed Anti Homosexuality Bill, an event he says will give Ugandans a chance to show how they feel about homosexuality. Edward Ssekandi, Uganda’s parliamentary speaker reportedly stated that there is no way Ugandans can be intimidated by remarks from the Ugandan President to go slow on this KILL GAY BILL bill.

Uganda’s National Pastors Task Force Against Homosexuality*, chaired by Ssempa has resolved to support the Bill with amendments that include reduction of the sentence from death penalty to 20 years for aggravated homosexuality and the inclusion of a provision of “counseling and rehabilitation [by the church] to persons experiencing homosexual temptations.”

Ssempa maintains that homosexuality is illegal, breaks the laws of God and that it breaks the laws of nature which stipulate that a male goes with a female. According to him it is a Taboo for same-sex people to be in relationship and he basis his assertion on African culture, tradition and Religion.

When I worked as an attorney in Africa, I often came across the conflict between customary vs. civil Law. What I find interesting is the presumption that the tribal and law of God, are fused when it comes to homosexuality. So the rationale is to make the civil law impose the tribal and Law of God. Fascinating; that means that the Gay KILL Bill that Uganda is seeking to enact fails in the global sense, because it pertains to a belief system of a particular tribal existence.

This, in my opinion provides legitimate reason to remove Uganda from its global citizenry, and to isolate it to its own world of tribalism. To function in the internationally today and to expect trade with World and other International privileges, such as Ambassadors, diplomatic relations etc. the Country must at the very least comply with the most succinct aspects of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Mr. Pillay has already urged Uganda to withdraw the Bill in question, that seeks to make criminals of LGBTQI people in Uganda.

This is a far reaching legislation. What if my US government or a US corporation asked me, a lesbian, to go to Uganda for a conference or on a trade mission? Does that mean all foreign countries will have to screen who it can and cannot send to Uganda. If a member of the US Congress is openly Gay and meets with a Ugandan President or Diplomat- is the Ugandan talking to a common criminal?

Is the crime they are intending an act, an omission or a lifestyle. He you are short one arm, so you are committing a crime. What next?

That said, I believe the World needs to take a much stronger stand, perhaps to coincide with the March. This is what in my foreign affair naivety.

I suggest:

1. All African Countries Take a role in condemning the Bill

2. The WAC pass a resolution condemning

3. The UN pass a resolution condemning the Bil

4. The USA and other Western Countries open their embassies to provide shelter for all LGBT people on or before the 17^th of February with an option for Political asylum.

5. The USA and other Western Countries cease all trade with Uganda until it discards the Legislation and alters this course. This would have to include reparative education for the people of Uganda. Embargos and Sanctions.

6. The South African Government takes a leading role in urging Uganda to discard the Bill.

7. The South African President Zuma, immediately withdraws Jon Qwelane from as an ambassador for Uganda. (mmm- Zuma sending an openly Gay Ambassador.)

On the 17th of February, all the LGBT communities around the World must come out onto the streets in Rallies to be counted, to show Uganda that in the rest of the World we are out and open, albeit difficult in some instances and although we do not have equality we are not criminals. We need large numbers to show that their 1 million means absolutely nothing to the World at large. We will isolate them and help all the gays get out of that country. We will never help Uganda again when the next Idi rears his ugly head.

Prepare America for the 17^th Of February 2010. We also are telling Zuma that unless he withdraws his ambassador, threatens sanctions and takes an influential role in the demose of this hate legislation, we the WORLD shall boycott the 2010 World Cup Soccer.

*The taskforce represents The National Fellowship of Born again Churches, The Seventh Adventists Church, The Uganda Joint Christian Council which also represents the Orthodox Church in Uganda and The Roman Catholic Church in Uganda.

By melanie nathan; Picture Nitikwana Original,
Private Collection; Melanie Nathan
binationals@privatecourts.com
www.oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com

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Posted by Melanie Nathan  -    African Anti-Gay Hate is spreading rapidly-  When South Africa – “the new South Africa” starts spewing at its own all inclusive Constitution – purporting return to Africanism – and whose head is on the chopping block Mr. and Mr. Gay and Mrs. and Mrs. Lesbian – not to forget the rest -BTQI -!

Read this Press release below and then my prior piece about the SA appointee to UGANDA of an openly gay-Hating Ambassador - by President Zuma of South Africa. 

So while South Africa is touting an all inclusive constitution – they are barely behaving accordingly.  South Africa is a sports crazy country and this 2010 World Cup means everything to ALL of the people and politicians there.

“I am calling all my fellow Bloggers and Mainstream Press to Publish a Call for a BOYCOTT of the World Cup in SA until such time as Zuma withdraws his appointment of Ambassador Jon Qwelane; and rebukes comments made by PAC Youth League.  Stand up for the Gays Mr. Zuma or we will boycott South Africa for the World Cup……… Melanie Nathan.

Press release: SA GLAAD Condemns PAC Youth League and Leader for Homophobic hate speech and attack on the SA Constitution

SA GLAAD condemns in the strongest terms possible the statements made by Pan Africanist Youth Congress of Azania (Payco) leader Pitso Mphasha, in which the league said the SABC1 soapie Generations has “declared war with African cultures and practices” and that “Africa is not the home of gays and lesbians”.

We take very seriously the accusation that South African people have no right to call the land of their birth “home” simply because of the intolerance of a few malcontented individuals.

Mphasha’s statement implies that being gay or lesbian is “unnatural” and somehow alien to Africa and African people, which we believe is intended to isolate and target the pink community and incite hatred against us.

We take issue with the reference to people’s natural inborn characteristics and behavior as “practices”, which implies that gays and lesbians have any choice in being gays and lesbians, that there is anything wrong or unnatural in being gay or lesbian – and that these statements reduce our dignity and worthiness as people to nothing more than “promoting evil”.

This statement by Mphasha is a vicious attack on the SA Constitution which also grants these homophobic individuals equal rights to those of gays and lesbians.

This sort of blatant hate speech incites hatred and encourages violent acts against the pink community, particularly in the townships of South Africa, where victimization, murder and so-called “corrective rape” are daily features of the lives of Black gays and lesbians living there.

This sort of publicly expressed hatred is reckless and irresponsible and endangers the lives of innocent people for no reason other than the poorly thought out bigotry and prejudice of the sort which was responsible for Apartheid.

SA GLAAD would like to point out to Mr Mphasha and the PAC Youth the hypocrisy in wanting to have freedoms and rights for themselves, while wanting to deny the same equalities to others.

SA GLAAD expresses the sincere hope that the pink community will answer the call by SA Human Rights Commission spokesperson Vincent Moagato to lodge complaints against this group and its leader in order to facilitate action.

We thank the SA Human Rights Commission for their defence of the Constitution and urge them to take this matter further and to pursue justice for this outrage to the full extent of the law.

UPDATE ; SOUTH AFRICAN PRESS PICK UP LEZGETREAL CALL FOR BOYCOTT OF 2010 WORLD CUP SOCCER IN USA.
Well Known South African Journalist, Michael Trapido of the widely read  Richmark Sentinel reported that he had been approached by us to Announce the Boycott of the 2010 Games.      Here is his report: I especially like his opening line – that here in theUSA we are watching South Africa’s failure to take a leadership role in the HATE GAY KILL BILL debacle.

The South African governments previous and ongoing insensitivity in matters of foreign policy reaches audiences far wider than they believe or perhaps anticipate.

As a result acts such as supporting President Robert Mugabe, suggesting Jon Qwelane for the post of Ugandan ambassador and refusing the Dalai Lama entry until after the World Cup occasion a backlash against this country and calls to boycott the World Cup.

The Richmark Sentinel was approached by gay activists who are calling for a boycott of the football tournament pursuant to a renowned homophobe being suggested as our representative to Uganda.

The fact that it is a crime to be gay or lesbian in 38 African countries does not sit well with the international community but giving tacit endorsement to Uganda’s lethal policies by sending them Qwelane is proving to be a step too far .

Upon further investigation it soon emerged that this is by no means the only area in respect of which our policies are attracting resentment.

The government’s decision to bar the Dalai Lama from entering South Africa in order to attend a peace conference, with further confirmation that he would not be allowed to visit until the 2010 World Cup was over drew no less criticizm than that of David Wallechinsky of the Huffington Post.

“I would never call for an athletes’ boycott of the World Cup; but for spectators, that’s another story.

If the president of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe, wants to grovel at the feet of Hu Jintao and the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party, that’s his choice. But if the Dalai Lama has to wait until the World Cup is over before he visits South Africa, I guess I can wait until then too.”

There are even some like Australian journalist Peter Roebuck who go a step further and suggest that South Africa has no right to host the World Cup as a result of their policies on Zimbabwe.

“South Africa has forfeited the right to stage the 2010 football World Cup. By supporting and sustaining the holocaust unfolding in Zimbabwe, the Government has aligned itself with the ranks of evil. It is one thing to refuse to intervene when cruelty is rife in a neighbouring country, quite another to fuel it with sympathetic words, pathetic policies and required resources.”

The Richmark Sentinel is proudly South African and stands 100% behind our bid to host the world’s biggest sporting event.

It would however serve the government well to factor in the resentment and bitterness they are causing when they make these sometimes startling decisions.

South African foreign policy occasions calls for World Cup boycott

Saturday, January 23, 2010 [ Reads:528 / Comments:10 / 3741 ] 

Melanie Nathan LGBT ADvocate /Activist

By Melanie Nathan,    Wits Alumni (B.A. LLB)  - Activist and Personal Advocate , USA.
Inactive Member of  Gauteng Bar. (TVL)

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Janaury 18, 1.56 pm PST: By Melanie Nathan;   As an ex-pat just when I was thinking I would send a letter to  South Africa’s President Zuma to ask if would kindly intervene and take a leadership role in assuring the full withdrawal in the Ugandan Hate Legislation, I received word that he has in fact appointed the most homophobic appointee possible to an ambassadorship in Uganda. What is he thinking that this Ambassador would be a good fit because he hates LGBTQI too?

In A press release ,  South Africa GLAAD Protests the appointment of Jon Qwelane as SA Ambassador to Uganda:

SA GLAAD condemns in the strongest terms possible the appointment of disgraced Sunday Sun journalist Jon Qwelane as South African Ambassador to Uganda.

SA GLAAD believes that Qwelane is in no way suitable for such an appointment because of his record of making homophobic and sexist remarks in his journalism, which in our view disqualifies him.

Uganda is at present a hot-spot for homophobic and transphobic activity on the part of social organizations, churches and the Ugandan government – which is under pressure from the UN and numerous countries to rescind existing laws and to not pass proposed laws which make life impossible for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in Uganda. The proposed law would legalize the death penalty for people, purely based on their sexuality!

We believe that Qwelane, who is still facing charges in the SA Equality Court brought against him by the SA Human Rights Commission for matters arising from an article he wrote in the Sunday Sun in 2008 “Call me names but gay is not ok” would simply make matters worse. This matter has still not yet been resolved and is still outstanding after nearly 2 years.

SA GLAAD believes that this appointment by the President is in extremely bad taste, and a slap in the face to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex South Africans AND Ugandans.

What kind of message does it send to the world and a country like Uganda which is tearing itself apart on the issue of the human rights of GLBTI people when South Africa appoints a blatant unrepentant homophobe, who is still facing charges on hate speech against the pink community – as an ambassador to another country? It says, “We support you, Uganda – and your policies of discrimination!”

How can Jacob Zuma or the ANC in all good conscience appoint such a person – who is known for his hatred of gay people – to the post of Ambassador in a country which is boiling over with homophobic intimidation and violence and is currently STILL being slated for both existing and proposed draconian laws that rob GLBTIQ people of their equality and human rights – and even their lives?

SA GLAAD once again calls on Mr Zuma and the South African government to reconsider and to denounce and condemn beyond any doubt the Ugandan Genocide Bill currently being debated by the Ugandan Parliament, to sign the UN Declaration to Decriminalize Homosexuality it refused to sign in December 2008 on the grounds of “having principles”, and to NOT appoint a homophobic person to the post of SA Ambassador to Uganda.

In addition I wonder if Zuma realizes that the Americans are watching this one with huge interest and are condemning the legislation introduced by the Ugandans.  Not only is the UN Chief Pillay asking for the withdrawal of the legislation, but Gay rights activists are calling for boycotts and sanctions against Uganda unless the Bill is withdrawn. 

Secretary of State Hilary Clinton succeeded in getting the death sentence withdrawn from the Bill, but now we here in the USA expect the Obama Administration to respond vigorously and effectively.

We at Lez Get Real, fully support the work of SA GLAAD and urge them to continue their efforts to enlighten the South African public.                                                                               http://wp.me/pqRPa-Bj

    

 

      

   

 

 

Melanie Nathan LGBT ADvocate /Activist

 

By Melanie Nathan, Reporting from California. nathan@privatecourts.com

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  Melanie Nathan- I just read the report of AFP out of Geneva. More than 60  years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,  UN rights chief Navi Pillay, on Friday urged the Ugandan government to scrap an anti-homosexuality bill which is to be put before parliament, saying that it was “blatantly discriminatory.”  “The bill clearly breaches international human rights standards, as it is blatantly discriminatory,” said Pillay in a statement.  (Reported by AFP). “The bill proposes draconian punishments for people alleged to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered,” the High Commissioner for Human Rights said.

I hope that all Countries including USA will threaten boycotts, sanctions and end to Tourism if the Bill is not scraped, rather than waiting for it to be implemented. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton was able to impact the removal of the Death Penalty portion, but I believe with the failure of Uganda to remove this from their roster, coupled with the Pillay’s comments, now is the time to assert and prevent!

By Melanie Nathan

By Melanie Nathan – I have an awful and selfish confession to make; my emotions are taxed. Truthfully and ashamedly, I cannot take the visuals coming out of Haiti. It has tapped into my highest sense of helplessness.  While the Asia Tsunami impacted me tremendously, I am just unable to cope with seeing these children under rubble alive, only to be rescued and then die.   Unable to look at the trauma ridden faces on the parents and the children.  They have not had any food, they are in severe physical and emotional pain. They have experienced the end of the world. 

One such example can be seen in a CNN report where even seasoned anchors and reporters are having a difficult time reporting this catastrophe.  What could be worse right now than this?  I am posting this because I want to help and I do not know how.  We appealed for money on day one and continue to do so.  

But it is not about the reporter or journalists – nor me- for that matter- and even though I must turn my television set off (something I have never done before – because I have wanted to feel close and in pain albeit in this inane way) I must ask that we keep praying for this small land and these good people and we send whatever we can that can help.  Nurses, doctors, supplies, food , water, money, helicopters – whatever we are doing is not enough and will never be enough.

When things get better and there is less confusion, I am sure that American progressives, individuals, congregations will rally in the same way as they did for Katrina.  We will go there and help them re-build; maybe we will bring some orphans home with us and open our country to ostracized gays and lesbians.   Whatever it is I am not going to allow my own inadequate emotional response to impact my usefulness, if only I can truly find it.

News Anchor Campbell Brown was hit hard by the images and stories and here is a very moving tape which can be found at Amricablog from yesterday:
http://www.americablog.com/2010/01/cnn-anchor-breaks-down-after-hearing.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+modurban_media+%28modurban_media%29

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Posted by Melanie Nathan. See me on Twitter. @oblogdeeoblogda

Melanie Nathan Posting :- In beijing AP’s Anita Chang reports that  police shut down what would have been China’s first gay pageant today, an hour before it was set to begin, highlighting the enduring sensitivity surrounding homosexuality and the struggle by gays to find mainstream acceptance in that Country. The organizers said they were not surprised when police officers turned up at the chic club in central Beijing where the pageant, featuring a fashion show and a host in drag, was set to take place.

The Police did not blame it on homosexuality inferring it would not have been a problem, but rather accused the organizers of failing to follow the proper  procedure which would have included obtaining permission for the event, because it included a performance, in this case a stage show.

Chinese officials are notorious for blocking gatherings often citing procedural irregularity.  Historically however, it seems ‘par for the course’ on politically sensitive issues. One is led to question what is political about a Pageant. Overtly nothing, hence it is indeed all about homosexuality.  Most people in China do not accept lesbians and gays and the LGBT community is slowly starting to emerge, even though they are aware of the pitfalls. This is indeed how movements start.  So from LGR we take our hats off to our brothers and sisters in China.   

AP reports that Organizer, Zhang had said he hoped the pageant would raise awareness of homosexuals in a country where gays are frequently discriminated against and ostracized. Eight men were competing for the title and a spot in the Worldwide Mr. Gay pageant, to be held next month in Oslo, Norway.  Interesting, it is reported that that they apparently sent 8 cops.  Wonder what they were thinking?

The Mr. Gay China pageant had attracted a great deal of press attention and even the normally staid state-run media reported on the event this week. The guests and fifty plus journalists left the location in disappointment with one contestant wearing a sign: “The revolution has not succeeded, comrades need to work harder.” ‘Comrade’ being the slang term for gays in China. Organizers still plan to find a way to send a contestant  to Oslo .

Gay rights in China have come a long way since the years just after the 1949 communist revolution when homosexuality was considered a disease from the decadent West and feudal societies, and gay people were persecuted. Sodomy was decriminalized in 1997, and homosexuality was finally removed from the official list of mental disorders in 2001.

But tellingly, most of the contestants interviewed asked The Associated Press to use their English names instead of Chinese names, to better protect their identities at home. While treatment of gays has improved in recent years, many are still reticent to draw attention to their homosexuality, particularly in the workplace.

China has one advantage (if I may be so bold) over gay rights in the USA.  They may well catch us up and even overtake us at the rate we are going because China is officially atheistic. There are no religious zealots to stand in the way and hence the attitudes may change once people become more visible and vocal; they will probably become indifferent to gays and lesbians in the foreseeable future. Gays living in said their biggest challenge is dealing with parents and deeply ingrained expectations for them to get married and have children. But we all know how to get around that one.

Perhaps that is all true yet some say it would be 10 years before anyone can successfully organize a gay pageant in China. That is probably 30 years quicker than what we have been able to accomplish since our movement, here in the US, started in earnest.

By; Melanie Nathan, Nathan@privatecourts.com / Thanks to  ANITA CHANG, Associated Press Writer Anita Chang, Associated Press Writer.

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Posted by Melanie Nathan; A major earthquake (7.3) hit Haiti earlier today. Reports indicate that damage is widespread. Hospitals are crushed. Houses are demolished. Hotels are crumbled. The National Palace is severely damaged. And the UN’s Mission in Haiti is in shambles. A radio station reporting on the crisis has even alleged that the entire village of Carrefour has perished. Un workers are missing. The death and casualty toll is unknown but thought to be in the many thousands at this point. People are still trapped and it is too early to quantify.

There is a call for financial help to this the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. A few immediate places to turn include the following: (Source www.change.org)

• Oxfam America, which has launched an immediate appeal seeking donations, as they prepare to rush teams from around the region to help provide clean water, emergency shelter, and sanitation;
• AmeriCares is taking donations to help get emergency medical supplies down to Haiti, and has agreed to pledge upwards of $5 million in order to help with the chaos;
• CARE is mobilizing donors to help send immediate supplies and aid down to the country;
• Haitian musical artist Wyclef Jean also has an immediate appeal, allowing folks to text the word “YELE” to 501501. (A $5.00 donation will be charged to your phone bill in support of emergency crisis relief in Haiti.)

Haiti was still reeling from recovery efforts after four major hurricanes pummeled the country in 2008. I am sure other organizations will join in the appeals.

Many LGBT Haitians are much poorer and live in rural communities or urban slums and LGBT Haitians of every class are generally in the closet, for fear of being targeted for discrimination or harassment. The major social exception is Voodoo which, as a spirituality, possesses little discrimination against gays.

Haitian Lesbian Group: HGLA, Haitian Gays and Lesbians Alliance Inc. is the first leading community based organization which empowers the Haitian, born or identified, LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transsexual) by providing educational, social, supportive, cultural services and resources to the community. We support the Haitian LGBT in the various stages of the coming out process, in the creation and affirmation of positive self-identities, and the promotion of human and civil rights. On their website they posted this at the time of tropical storms. I am sure they will reach out to the LGBT community to help in the instance of this catastrophic tragedy.

IMPORTANTTropical Storms have wreaked havoc in parts of Haiti. HGLA is reaching out to the LGBT community for any help. Many items are desperately needed: baby items such as formulas, bottles, diapers, flashlights and batteries, toothpaste, female items such as pads, deodorants, creams, lotions, soaps. If you are bringing second hand clothes from your closet, make sure that they are washed. Any monetary donations should be made using paypal. Go to our donation page for more info and click on the paypal button to make your donations. Anything is appreciated. If you live in the brooklyn area or in the vicinity, bring any donated items to :

J & M Paper Supply
2608 Clarendon RD
Brooklyn, NY
For more information, call 718-810-4604

Additional List:
Organization: American Jewish World Service
Press contact: Josh Berkman
Phone: +1 212 792 2893
Josh Berkman – Associate Director of Media and Marketing Email: jberkman@ajws.org
Donation: https://donate.ajws.org/03/general_1

Full List from Rueters for donations:-http://www.alertnet.org/db/crisisprofiles/HA_UNR.htm?v=whowhatwhere

Posted by Melanie Nathan. nathan@privatecourts.com

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01/12/10- by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Pope Benedict once again linked the environment and marriage equality. “To carry our reflection further, we must remember that the problem of the environment is complex; one might compare it to a multifaceted prism. Creatures differ from one another and can be protected, or endangered, in different ways, as we know from daily experience. One such attack comes from laws or proposals which, in the name of fighting discrimination, strike at the biological basis of the difference between the sexes. I am thinking, for example, of certain countries in Europe or North and South America,” Benedict said in a recent speech. He went on to say “Yet freedom cannot be absolute, since man is not God, but the image of God, God’s creation. For man, the path to be taken cannot be determined by caprice or willfulness, but must rather correspond to the structure willed by the Creator.”

Further on in the speech, he lamented the lack of a firm treaty regarding the environment, and global resignation to the conflicts in Darfur, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia, and that little is being done to end those.

This is hardly the first time that Pope Benedict has made this kind of statement. In December of 2008, he made similar statements without referencing that many species known to man engage in homosexual behaviors, some of whom mate for life with their same-sex partner. Of course, his recent statements come on the heels of Portugal and Mexico City both passing marriage equality laws. Both Portugal and Mexico City have heavy Catholic majorities. In 2009, Vermont, a heavilyCatholic state in the United States, passed a marriage equality law via the legislature.

The Catholic Church has been at the center of the push back against marriage equality legislation. The issue has also caused a great deal of controversy within the Catholic Church. In Maine, a group of people split from the Church over its involvement in the funding of the “Yes on 1″ vote to veto the law passed by the Maine legislature.

Pope Benedict made his remarks before a host of 170 world diplomats. Many governments in Europe, North America, and South America have strict ideas about maintaining a secular government. Spain, for instance, suffered for half a century under a Catholic Church backed Fascist government lead by Fransisco Franco. The United States established a strong tradition of separating Church and State after the ravages of the Wars of Religion in Europe. This separation maintained that the government had to base its laws on philosophical natural law and not on religious law, or any attempt to pass religious law off as natural law. This has meant that, while the Catholic Church and others have tried to stop marriage equality from happening, often times they are finding the only way is to use scare tactics on the population during a popular vote.

Pope says gay marriage threat to creation
Humanity is Like The Rainforest- Pope Benedict XVI Wants to Save Humanity From Homosexuality

This really is the story that keeps on giving.

Today, the Irish Independent reports that Iris Robinson’s young lover had to fake cancer in order to end the affair.

It emerged last night that her former boyfriend, Mr McCambley, who had a teenage girlfriend while he was involved with Mrs Robinson, panicked when his lover 40 years his senior wanted constant attention.

Mrs Robinson harassed her then-teenage lover with texts, phone calls, emails and love letters, according to a source.

Mr McCambley broke off his relationship with Mrs Robinson by telling her that he had testicular cancer, the source added.

After their relationship finished Mrs Robinson turned hostile to her former lover and put him under enormous pressure to return money she had procured for him.

Given that it’s been reported as well that Mrs Robinson was involved with Billy McCambley, Kirk’s father, who passed away from cancer shortly before she began her affair with his teenaged son, I’m surprised she hasn’t taken up fighting cancer as her cause du jour.

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The state government of Sydney, Australia had been considering legislation that would make it possible for the LGBT community to adopt children. There was a parliamential inquiry into the matter that suggested allowing gay adoption would benefit the Australian State of New South Wales, of which Sydney is a part of. Unfortunately the legislation was shot down.

The Minister of Community Services, Linda Burney, has said that the reason the ban was upheld is because, “”There are very deeply held, divergent views on this issue and that is why a decision on this matter will not be taken at this stage.” [The Sydney Morning Herald]

Advocacy groups for same sex marriage in Australia are said to be outraged. Given the flimsy excuse for rejecting the measure, this is not surprising. There are always strongly held beliefs on both sides of any civil rights argument and the reason given by Burney does not address the discrimination faced by Australia’s same-sex couples.  

Portugal has joined Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands in permitting same-sex couples to marry. The bill passed the Portuguese Parliament with all Center Left and Left parties supporting it, and all Right and Center Right parties opposing it. Portugal is a predominantly Catholic nation, and the Vatican is heavily opposed to allowing marriage rights for same-sex couples. Prime Minister Jose Socrates opened the debate with an impassioned plea for people to support the bill citing the fact that it would set right a wrong that had caused pain for gays and lesbians in Portugal. The Parliament rejected a bill that would have allowed same-sex couples to adopt, but it also rejected a proposal which would have put this matter to a popular vote.

The proposal for the popular vote garnered 90,000 signatures, but was voted down. The debate was often heated. Rightist parties tried to propose a bill which would have expanded civil unions, which Portugal already has, but that too was rejected. The popular vote strategy has been one that has had success in the United States, and it is why some states are unwilling to allow those votes to go through.

The final vote on the bill has not occurred, but it is mostly a formality. The bill will go before a committee before coming back for a final vote. It is then up to the conservative President of Portugal, Anibal Cavaco Silva, to ratify or veto the bill. If ratified, it will take effect in April, a month before Pope Benedict visits the country. If it is vetoed, then the Parliament must try to override that veto.

LGBT Rights groups are planning to continue the pressure for adoption and parental rights in Portugal. There are no vote tallies currently available regarding this bill.

Same-sex marriage law backed in Portugal’s parliament

Jim Burroway Blogging on Box Turtle blasted this bombshell which hit all the LGBT BLOGS today. It was picked up by Truth Wins Out (Evan Hurst) and that is where I first saw it; also posted by Anrew Sullivan, and others at the helm of the LGBT BLOG world.

W e all hope that mainstream media such as MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show, who has reported extensively on the Uganda Anti Gay Kill Bill, will show some of the language used to incite. We have included one video here and there is a lot more on the Box Turtle site. If you have the Stomach for more after this, I suggest you read the Box Turtle analysis by Burroway and also see more footage. It is very important that everyone face book this to the less activist amongst us, so they can see what hate we have to overcome, engendered by extremists. When I hear this, for the first time in my life, I feel threatened and terrified for being gay.

“BTB Videos: Scott Lively Delivers His “Nuclear Bomb” To Uganda

“Scott Lively was one of three American activists to speak at an anti-gay conference in Kampala, Uganda on March 5-7, 2009. The other two participants were Exodus International board member Don Schmierer and International Healing Foundation’s Caleb Lee Brundidge. Two weeks after the conference, Lively bragged that he had delivered a “nuclear bomb against the gay agenda in Uganda.” Ex-Gay Watch and Box Turtle Bulletin have obtained some videos of that conference, and for the first time we get to see what that “nuclear bomb” looks like.”

So in case you do not want to visit the Mumsa’s Site – I plan on adding to this post with tidbits that point to his insanity. I wonder how many gay hate crimes can track back to his website and speech.

From the site of the Nimble Minded Scott Lively Defender of Marriage :-
” NAMBLA-gate: The Strange Case of Kevin Jennings, Part One
from the ‘Media and Culture’ topic
It would appear that the purpose of the orchestrated controversy over the proposed law in Uganda is to divert attention from the real scandal involving Obama Education Department official Kevin Jennings and his praise for the founder of the modern gay rights movement, Harry Hay, a supporter of adult-child sex.”

Most of us never visit these sites but now that I have seen this I am aghast: If you are too keep this in mind:-

The only weapon that we could ever have to actually fight this hate is legitimacy in the eyes of our own government – we need Equality as a tool against the hate. Now people like this believe they have license to target us.

Books by Lively and his Gangsters

Expose – Pure lies, distortions and hate promotion

Defeating “Gay” Arguments With Simple Logic
		East-to-use guidelines for winning the homosexual debate by exposing the hidden false assumptions and deceptive rhetoric of “gay” arguments. $5.00
Redeeming the Rainbow: A Christian Response to the “Gay” Agenda
		A comprehensive but easy-to-understand textbook for Christians and other defenders of God’s design for family and society which explains in detail 1) the nature, causes and characteristics of homosexual dysfunction and militancy, 2) the history, philosophy, goals, methods and strategies of the global “gay” movement, 3) the urgent, escalating and imminent danger this movement represents to all aspects of Christian civilization throughout the world, and 4) specific, practical principles for responding to each of the many areas of “gay” aggression — all firmly grounded in and supported by both Scripture and non-religious logical analysis, documentation and terminology. $21.99
Seven Steps To Recruit-Proof Your Child
		A concise, practical guidebook for parents who wish to protect their children from pro-homoesxual indoctrination and the possibility of recruitment into the homosexual lifestyle. $14.95
The Pink Swastika: 4th Edition
		The Pink Swastika is a thoroughly researched, eminently readable, demolition of the “gay” myth, symbolized by the pink triangle, that the Nazis were anti-homosexual. $16.95
The Poisoned Stream
		Traces the “poisoned stream” of homosexual influences throughout history, particularly in Germany between 1890 and 1945. $9.95

Posted by Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

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http://www.truthwinsout.org/tag/uganda/

http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/slouching-toward-kampala

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This evening, the First Minister of Northern Ireland, Peter Robinson, and his wife, MP Iris Robinson, released individual statements to the press. They both tell the story of why, on December 28th 2009, Mrs Robinson said she would not seek re-election as MP. They both told the story of her depression, extra-marital affair and her suicide attempt.

Mr. Robinson’s reads painfully, as one would expect. While it is horrible to find that your marriage vows have been broken, it would be immeasurably worse to know that once this is revealed, it will open up a whole new era of invasion into your private lives. To also have gone through a suicide attempt of a loved one — even one who has betrayed you — is a singularly defining experience, and one that is familiar, unfortunately, to far too many people. Anybody who has not spent the nights awake, worried a loved one would die by their own hand, can understand the life this man has lived while his wife recovered from her depression. He says that his wife has his forgiveness, and God’s. He asks that those who judge her do so with mercy and compassion. For many people, this will be very difficult.

Mrs. Robinson’s statement is more interesting. She describes her experience of “mental illness“. She says,

“… my illness led to severe bouts of depression which altered my mood and personality. I fought with those I love most – my children and friends; saw plots where none existed and conducted myself in a manner which was self-destructive and out of character.
During this period of serious mental illness I lost control of my life…

…Psychiatrists may suggest that my mental illness was a significant factor explaining my irrational behaviour – I do not, in any way, question or doubt their judgement — but in order to master my life I do not want to dilute the blame or resist taking full responsibility for my actions. I am completely ashamed and deeply embarrassed.”

I’m going to over-share a bit and say I know what she means. It’s a pretty good description of how our minds do lose touch a bit from time to time. I know I have said and done things when I have not been in good mental health that I certainly regret — especially mean, nasty things.

Iris Robinson attempted suicide, according to Peter Robinson’s statement around midnight on March 1st, 2009. She does not say when her mental illness started, but I’d like to think it was some time before she said this:

There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality and sodomy, than sexually abusing innocent children.
from Risk Assessment and Management of Sex Offenders June 2008

Around that time, she made a lot of comments on her perception of homosexuality and said some pretty horrific things, but the above quotation is sufficient to give a picture of what she believes. She also claimed that she knew people who had changed from homosexual to heterosexual with the help of a psychiatrist who is linked the discredited American ex-gay Richard Cohen.

There is of course, plenty of speculation that this announcement was tactical and aimed at diffusing some of the focus on the Robinsons. This BBC Newsline update is highlighted on the Slugger O’Toole blog:

During his interview Mr Robinson was also asked if his financial affairs were under investigation. In reply he said he had always acted “in the most professional and ethical way.” He also confirmed he had received a letter from the BBC which he said contained no allegations against him but “asked questions which are easily answered.”

The BBC Spotlight programme has confirmed it has been investigating matters involving Iris Robinson for some time.
In a statement the BBC added that allegations have been put to the Robinsons and their response is awaited.

While I’m eager to hear what the BBC have found and what response they get, what I want to know is if, in retrospect, Iris Robinson regrets saying these nasty and vitriolic things about people who — statistically — are far more likely to attempt suicide than privileged Christian philanderers. I’m wondering if the irrationality and malice of what she has said publicly about homosexuality was a symptom of her mental illness. And if so, is she willing to take it all back?

On December 28th, 2009, MP Iris Robinson said that problems with depression had caused her to be unable to meet her responsibilities as MP.

Today it emerged that she had been having an affair and the guilt lead her to try to kill herself around midnight on March 1, 2008. She says the affair had no emotional meaning to her.

The Robinsons have been ardently anti-gay and Iris’ remarks in particular have made the news on a number of occasions for their brutality and for her belief that homosexuality can be cured.

On UTV News tonight, her husband, Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson — looking very deflated and overwhelmed as he said that every morning he prays for the strength to deal with the situation. He said (admirably, in my view) that he has weighed her indiscretion against a forty year marriage and the pressures he feels she has dealt with throughout the years as a parent and has a supportive partner during his political career.

He asks that others find within themselves the ability to forgive her with mercy and compassion.

I wonder what his reaction would have been had her affair been with a woman?

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1/3/10-by Paula Brooks
A court in South Korea said on Sunday it has ruled in favor of a gay Pakistani man who sought refugee status in that country because he faced persecution in his homeland because of his sexual orientation.

Being Gay or Lesbian in Pakistan is seen as immoral acts in Pakistani society based on traditional Islamic morality. Under the Pakistan Penal Code, homosexuality is deemed a crime that is punishable by life in prison or being stoned to death.

The Seoul Administrative Court said it had overturned a decision by the justice ministry to deny refugee status to the man, citing a “high likelihood that the plaintiff will be subject to persecution” if repatriated to Pakistan.

The unidentified man, who has been living in South Korea since 1996, applied for refugee status last February, citing his sexual orientation. However, The South Korean Justice Ministry rejected his application saying his petition did not meet the criteria of a “well founded fear of being persecuted” as stipulated by the U.N. convention on refugees. The Administrative Courts ruling reverses that decision, saying should the man be repatriated to Pakistan, “there is a high likelihood that the plaintiff will be subject to persecution by the Pakistani government and Muslim society simply because he is gay.”

South Korea signed on to the United Nations’ refugee treaty in 1992.

The administrative court ruling now has to be reviewed by the South Korean Supreme Court before the decision becomes final.

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by CanuckJacq

The quotations published on the website blasphemy.ie are unlikely to inspire prosecution under Ireland’s new Blasphemy Law, according to Dr Fiona de Londras, lecturer in University College Dublin School of Law.

The contraversial new law took effect on January 1st, 2010 and criminalises the publication or utterance of blasphemous material. To qualify under this law, the material must be so “grossly abusive or insulting” that it causes “outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion.” There also must be proof that the person intended to cause the outrage.

Further, if the defendent can “prove that a reasonable person would find genuine literary, artistic, political, scientific, or academic value in the matter to which the offence relates,” then it isn’t blasphemous under the law either. Dr de Londras explains that “the offence is so narrowly constructed that it would be extremely difficult to establish that someone has fulfilled all the requirements.”

The day before the new law took effect, the website blasphemy.ie published 25 quotations from politicians, artists, actors, public figures, scientists and journalists. In Dr de Londras’ opinion, none of these quotations would be likely to bring about a prosecution on the basis of blasphemy because many aren’t actually insulting to any sacred subjects, there has not been any outrage expressed by religious groups and “the reasonable person would find genuine political value in the matter.”

The government introduced the law as part of the Defamation Act 2009 in order to comply with article 41 of the Irish Constitution which limits freedom of expression in cases of blasphemy, sedition or indecency. A law had existed previously but had been deemed to be overly ambiguous by the Supreme Court. While the government had the option of calling a referendum to change the constitution, thereby giving the population the opportunity to remove this restriction on their freedom of expression, they decided against it.

Starting on January 1st, 2010, it will be illegal to offend religious folks in Ireland.

From blasphemy.ie

From [...] 1 January 2010, the new Irish blasphemy law becomes operational, and we begin our campaign to have it repealed. Blasphemy is now a crime punishable by a €25,000 fine. The new law defines blasphemy as publishing or uttering matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby intentionally causing outrage among a substantial number of adherents of that religion, with some defences permitted.

To make their point, the good people at Atheist Ireland have published 25 blasphemous quotes that could be punishable under this new law. The blasphemers quoted include Frank Zappa, Dermot Ahern, Bjork, Salman Rushdie, Ian Paisley, Mohammed and Jesus Christ.

While our ostensibly secular Republic of Ireland has been inundated with clerical sex abuse scandals, our government recenctly saw fit to introduce a law making it illegal to offend the church and its defenders.

“Home Rule is Rome Rule,” indeed.

12/29/09-by Paula Brooks
Despite 2009 being called “year of gay China” by the official China Daily, there are reports coming out of China is has been anything but for about 10 LGBT websites in that country.

“Some of the hosting service providers even told us that gay chatting was illegal,” said Geng Le, the Webmaster of a gay website in Beijing.”

According to Geng, some site owners have been forced to host their websites on foreign servers.

Another Webmaster who goes by the on line name of Chen, said his website in Beijing was closed by his web hosting company, after that company told him gay websites might hold immoral information and pornographic literature.

“I would bet that most gay websites are more ‘clean and healthy’ than websites not closed by the government,” he said.

“As a gay Webmaster, we are more careful about all the information on the website, because we want to remove the prejudice on the gay group. We want to let them know we are healthy.”

According to an article last week in the China Daily, The Chinese Association of HIV/AIDS NGOs, made the statement on Wednesday confirming that gay websites in China have been recently forced to close or had their accounts deleted by their server hosting companies and that it would provide free legal aid to those webmasters …

“More than 20 lawyers in our institute can provide legal aid to those webmasters for free. If the case does not happen in Beijing, we can transfer it to other NGOs,” said Lan Yujiao, an official in Aizhixing Institute, an NGO for protecting the legal rights of special groups in Beijing…. via China Daily.

While the number of gays in China remains unclear, statistics from China’s Ministry of Health in 2004 showed the total number of gay men in China is estimated between 5 and 10 million. However an official statistic, quoted in a news report in the China Daily article, put the figure for the People Republic of China at “approximately 30 million.”

Although the Communist Government repealed the laws against homosexuality or same-sex acts between consenting adults in 1997, there are also no laws in China protecting LGBT’s from discrimination.

It is widely assumed that the official Chinese Government policy towards gay rights issues remains the “Three nos”: no approval, no disapproval, and no promotion and gay in China still undergo prejudice from the justice system and harassment from police, including detention and arrest.

The government in China has also banned many public media items related to gay topics, and denied release of Western films like Brokeback Mountain, considering them to be “going against the healthy way of life in China”.

China is also experiencing a soaring rate of HIV and AIDS infections among all segments of its population, for which many in the government are try to lay the blame on China’s Gay Community. Hao Yang, deputy director of China’s disease prevention and control bureau, said on Wednesday that HIV/AIDS transmission among gay men has been more severe in recent years.

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12/28/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Today was a day long desired for Alex Freyre and José María di Bello, for today was their wedding day. The two married today in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, after a months long battle for the right to marry that is still being played out. The two moved to Ushuaia in order to get married. They had been blocked from marrying after a judge stayed the decision that allowed them to marry. The decision stated that the Civil Code which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman unconstitutional.

Governor Fabiana Ríos held that the original decision to grant the couple marriage rights was to be upheld and overrode the registrar who initially refused to grant them the marriage license. The couple, who are both HIV positive, had initially wanted to marry on 1 December, which is World AIDS Day.

Currently, civil unions are available in some cities in Argentina, but do not grant full equality. Currently, civil unions are available in a few other places such as Uruguay. Mexico City recently adopted full marriage equality.

12/27/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Narain Dutt Tiwari was forced out of his position as governor of Andhra Pradesh after a sex tape surfaced of the eighty-six year old having sexual relations with three women at the same time. Pressure mounted for his resignation after television stations aired the video on Friday. Opposition party leaders and women rights campaigners organized street protests over the video, which Gov. Tiwari claimed was a fabrication. India is a fairly conservative nation with regards to public morals, and even public kissing can be problematic. “The news channel report is fabricated, false and malicious to tarnish the image of the governor,” Tiwari’s aid Aryendra Sharma stated. A petition not to show the video a second time was lodged by Mr. Sharma with the courts citing the degrading effect it could have upon the office. The courts blocked the video from being shown again.

ABN Andhra Jyoti News reported that the three women were provided to Governor Tiwari on promises of a lucrative mining contract in exchange for sexual favors. The contract did not materialize and the woman decided to expose the whole thing to the media.

Governor Tiwari has been in Indian politics since shortly after independence in 1948. He served as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh three times in the 1970’s and 1980’s. He was Chief Minister of Uttarakhand from 2002 to 2007, and was appointed to be governor of Andhra Pradesh, which includes the city of Hyperbad in 2007.

On Sunday, Tiwari tendered his resignation citing health reasons. Perhaps a low supply of viagra was to blame for his departure.

12/27/09 by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
The British government has set up a deal which will give the survivors of Thalidomide some $35m over the next three years to help meet their living and medical needs. This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the first Thalidomide baby born in Great Britain. The money is to be paid out over three years and comes after a lot of fighting with the British government to hold them at least partially responsible for allowing the drug on the market without adequate testing. The money will be dispensed by the Thalidomide Trust to the 466 survivors. There were roughly two thousand Thalidomide babies born in Great Britain, most of whom did not survive passed infancy. In Great Britain, the drugs manufacturer, Distillers Biochemicals, paid out a large settlement after litigation lasting into the 1970’s. An apology will be issued by the British Government early in 2010.

Guy Tweedy, one of the campaigners for greater compensation, is said to have been delighted by this news, as reported in the BBC. “This is a significant day in the long-running battle to get a fair and just settlement for the victims of this wicked drug. Our campaign, which was fought with dignity and determination, has always been about justice and not entitlement.”

“I know that this will be a much-anticipated early Christmas present for all those involved. I would also like to pay tribute to the work of the Thalidomide Trust and its officers, and members of the National Advisory Council who have worked tirelessly to champion the cause of thalidomide survivors, and whose contribution in supporting them and their families cannot be overstated,” Health Minister Mike O’Brien is reported as having stated. The Department of Health is looking at taking this approach for other small groups of people with specialized medical needs.

Thalidomide Trust director Martin Johnson stated “We’re absolutely delighted. The campaigners feel this is a very successful end…2009 is the 50th year of the first thalidomide babies being born in Britain and the thalidomide disaster is the biggest peace time disaster to happen in this country so it is surprising it’s taken so long.”

The malformations which Thalidomide lead to resulted in a greater push for abortion legalization, especially in the United States. Most of the survivors suffer from shortened or missing limbs. The drug also affected nearly every part of the body including internal organs. It is believed that the drug slowed or stopped the formation of blood vessels. It is being investigated with regards to “kill or cure” treatments regarding cancer. The Thalidomide deformities were central to the debate over abortion largely due to the fact that women were unable to have abortions in many places even if the feotus was so malformed that it could not survive long outside the womb. It is something that is often lost in the back and forth over the issue of abortion.

12/25/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
And then there was one. Two more bishops indicated to Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin that they were prepared to resign over the Murphy Report. Auxiliary Bishops of Dublin Eamonn Walsh and Raymond Field tenured their resignations on Christmas Eve. They had been informed by Archbishop Martin that they faced termination if they did not resign. Galway Bishop Martin Drennan is the only one of the five mentioned in the Murphy Report who has not resigned. Since the release of the Murphy Report pressure has been building for the five Bishops named specifically in the report over their conduct regarding reports of pedophile priests.

The bishops mentioned in the report either failed to take reports seriously, or failed to do more follow up with regards to the conduct of priests suspected of molesting children. Bishop of Limerick Donnal Murphy was highly dismissive when cases of child molestation were reported to him. He resigned in early December. Bishop of Kildare James Moriarty did report to the Archbishop of Dublin at the time he was an Auxiliary Bishop reports of one pedophile among the priesthood, but did little more than caution the priest involved.

In resigning, the hope expressed by the two Auxiliary Bishops is that they can bring some peace to those who were molested during their tenure in Dublin. The Vatican has been doing everything that they can in order to protect its power in Ireland and elsewhere with regards to this scandal. They have been reluctant to actively help bring these men to justice and claimed that they were being punished internally. This has included claims of diplomatic immunity. This has lead to the government of Ireland threatening to break off all diplomatic contact with the Vatican over their conduct over this report.

12/24/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
A woman described as being possibly mentally ill knocked Pope Benedict down before Christmas Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. The pontiff was not harmed, apparently, and did continue to celebrate Christmas Mass despite the assault. The woman jumped the barricades to tackle the Pope as he entered the Basilica. The Mass was held two hours earlier than traditional because his aids felt concerned that the late hour of the Mass could result in the pontiff becoming too tired. The woman also knocked down Cardinal Roger Etchegaray who was taken to hospital in order to be checked. He is not reported as being more than a little banged up. (Update: Cardinal Etchergaray’s hip was broken when he fell.)

It is doubtful that the Pope was in any real danger, and the woman was arrested.

Pope Benedict is closing out a year that has seen a variety of controversies embroiling the Church. His recent decision to beatify, a step in the direction of sainthood, Pope Pius XII. Jewish groups have especially been appalled at the move since Pope Pius did little to prevent the atrocities of the Holocaust. Additionally, the Murphy Report recently came out detailing sexual molestation within the Catholic Church in Ireland. The release of the report has caused the resignation of two bishops and three more are under threat to either retire or be removed.

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12/24/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
The Archbishop of York has denounced the proposed Ugandan law which would have made it a capital offense for anyone to be gay if they had HIV/AIDS, and would impose a life sentence on them if they were just found guilty of being gay. Archbishop John Sentamu is the second highest ranking archbishop in the Anglican Communion and was born in Kampala, Uganda. Archbishop Sentamu stated that he felt that the bill being debated was “victimizing” and that it was “a diminishment of the individuals concerned”. He also went on to say that the Anglican Communion remains committed to recognizing that gays and lesbians were valued by God.

The bill that is under consideration also places a penalty of three years in jail for anyone who does not report anyone they know of who is gay. The bill was introduced by Member of Parliament David Bahati. His rationale is that homosexuality is a choice and that it is a sin. Under his reasoning, the aim of this bill is to put an end to the sin by imposing horrific punishments in hopes of getting the sinner to repent. It is a case of “hate the sin and kill the sinner.” Of course, his rationale has been heavily influenced by people outside of Uganda such as Richard Cohen, one of the leaders of the Ex-Gay Movement, and Pastor Rick Warren. Both have rejected the scientific evidence that homosexuality is genetic. Both have also had a great deal of influence on the Ugandan law, as has the rather mafioso sounding Fundamentalist organization called The Family.

Archbishop Sentamu has pointed out that the bill confuses the difference between consensual homosexuality and aggravated sexuality such as rape. Archbishop Sentamu gave a radio interview reposted on the BBC.

Picture of Archbishop Sentamu via Wikipedia

12/22/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Bishop James Moriarty has stepped down from his post over the bishopric of Kildare. He is the second to resign over the Murphy Report which detailed the sexual molestation of children by priests over the last thirty years. Bishop Moriarty came under pressure from his own flock who stated that they would keep their children from anything officiated by Bishop Moriarty. Typically, the Bishop of a local area officiates at First Communion. In so doing, they would deprive Bishop Moriarty of many of his duties and threaten his position as Bishop.

Bishop Moriarty is among five who have been singled out for either resignation or removal over this scandal as they are seen as having done little to nothing to prevent it. In a statement published by the BBC, Bishop Moriarty stated “I feel it is important to state that I fully accept the overall conclusion of the Commission – that the attempts by Church authorities to ‘protect the Church’ and to ‘avoid scandal’ had the most dreadful consequences for children and were deeply wrong.”

“I know that any action now on my part does not take away the suffering that people have endured. I again apologise to all the survivors and their families. I have today offered my resignation as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin to the Holy Father. I hope it honours the truth that the survivors have so bravely uncovered and opens the way to a better future for all concerned,” he went on to say further on in his statement.

In 1993, Bishop Moriarty was contacted over the suspicious behavior of Father Edmondus around children. He passed this information on to the archbishop at the time, and the matter ended there. Bishop Moriarty did not pursue the matter, nor did he follow up on it. While he did not have access to Father Edmondus’ records, Bishop Moriarty did little more than warn Father Emondus about his behavior.

Maeve Lewis, the director of victim services at One in Four, welcomed the resignation. She pointed out that it was immensely painful and insulting for victims of child molesting priests to have to listen to one Church official after another try to justify why they should remain in power when they did nothing to really help those who were the most vulnerable.

The child molestation scandal has spanned two Popes, and uncovered hundreds of victims. Many have sought compensation for the acts that were perpetrated upon them. The bulk of the victims, so far, have been male; however, it should be noted that this does not equate with the priests being homosexuals. Until fairly recently, priests had far less access to girls than they did boys.

Bishop Moriarty’s departure leaves three named within the Murphy Report who have not resigned. The Archbishop of Dublin has already stated his intentions to remove them if they do not quit voluntarily. Bishop Donal Murray of Limerick resigned previously.

Second Irish bishop resigning over abuse scandal report
Bishop James Moriarty statement in full

12/22/09- by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
The Archbishop of Dublin has issued an ultimatum to four bishops over the Murphy Report. Either they step down or he will ask the Vatican to remove them. The Murphy Report was the long awaited report going into the sexual abuses perpetrated by Catholic Priests throughout Ireland and the subsequent cover up regarding them. The decision to ask for the removal of bishops is rare; however, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin may feel that he has little choice in the matter as some members of the clergy, especially at the top of the power structure, are less willing to leave over the scandal than others. The four that Archbishop Martin is targeting have, in essence, refused to accept responsibility for their part in the scandal.

The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland has come under increased fire over the last decade with regards to its practices. An earlier scandal involving the Magdalene Asylums, placed for “fallen women” to be housed to supposedly purge them of sin, caused quite an uproar in Ireland. Many women who went to the Asylums were subjected to harsh physical punishments and were often raped and otherwise molested. The Murphy Report details sexual abuse within the Church inside Ireland, and the Archbishop is taking a collective approach to punishing those responsible.

Bishop of Limerick Donal Murray has already stepped down. The other four, who were once or still are auxiliary Bishops to Dublin have been told that, should they refuse to step down, Archbishop Martin will petition the Congregation of Bishops in Rome for their removal early next year. The remaining four are Bishop Martin Drennan of Galway, Bishop Jim Moriarty of Kildare and Leighlin, and Auxiliary Bishops of Dublin Raymond Field and Eamonn Walsh.

Calls for them to be held accountable for what was mostly their inaction regarding the protection of children have mounted of late. The Irish Primary Principals’ Network, an organization of Irish school principles, has called for these men to be held accountable for failing to discharge their duty to keep children safe. Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen backed Archbishop Martin regarding this decision. “The resignation of Bishop Murray is a welcome indication that those who are in positions of leadership and responsibility in the Church are facing up to their responsibility in the light of the very clear findings of the Murphy Commission.”

However, not all politicians are so willing to back the Archbishop. Galway West Fianna Fail Teacta Dala (Member of Parliament) Frank Fahey stated that there was no reason for Bishop Drennan to resign. Bishop Drennan has stated that his conscience is clear.

Bishop Moriarty also believes that he is not in the wrong regarding his handling of child molesting priests, but he is facing local pressure to resign. Many parents have already begun to pull their children from ceremonies officiated by him. Parents from one of the counties his bishopric covers have threatened to remove their children from any sacraments that he officiates over.

Vatican will be asked to remove four bishops if they don’t quit

12/22/09-by Paula Brooks
China’s first government-backed gay bar finally opened its doors this weekend in the tourist city of Dali in southwestern Yunnan Province, after a nearly three week delay.

Set up by a local anti-AIDS activist, Dr. Zhang Jianboto, with funding from Dali’s Health Bureau, as a way to attract gay men and then use it to distribute information on AIDS/HIV prevention, the bar was originally scheduled to open on December 1,World AIDS Day, however, Zhang had to delay the opening to protect the privacy of the volunteers and customers after the news of the bar opening attracted intensive media coverage throughout China.

More than 60 people, mostly gay men, attended the ceremony Saturday. Customers were given condoms free of charge.

While homosexuality has been documented in China since ancient times, it is still a sensitive subject in China. During the days of Mao’s Cultural Revolution gays were routinely arrested as “hooligans,” and sent off for “re-education.” Up to 1997 gay sex was illegal in China. Additionally, until 2001 the Chinese Governments Classification of Mental Disorders also considered homosexuality a form of mental illnesses.

Although in larger Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, gay clubs, bars, tea houses, saunas, and support centers are becoming more widespread, prejudice from the justice system and harassment from police, including detention and arrest nonetheless still occur, so most Chinese LGBT’s find it difficult to come out publicly.

Chinese LGBT’s also face societal and family pressures caused by the government’s one-child policy, which makes parents, rely on their only child to marry and produce grandchildren. All major religions in China also have some sort of codex, which have traditionally been interpreted as being against exclusive homosexuality when it interferes with continuation of the family lineage. So many marry and stay closeted.

China’s Ministry of Health recently admitted the country has an AIDS problem and estimates that China will have 560,000 to 920,000 living HIV carriers, with 97,000 to 112,000 AIDS patients by the end of 2009. The nations health minister also said sexual transmission has become the major cause of infection, accounting for more than 70 percent of all newly detected HIV/AIDS cases, and sexual transmission among gay men accounted for 32 percent.

According to China’s official newspaper, the China Daily, Dr. Zhang said he hopes that the bar can provide a platform to educate gay men about AIDS and would like to see the bar become a public gathering place for gay men, especially those from rural villages,who used to gather in a patch of woods near Dali.

“Starting from December 20, the bar will open nine hours every day, from 3 pm to 12 pm,” he said.

The minimum charge at the bar is a bottle of Coca Cola at 5 yuan (about .75 cents US), and tea and some snacks are free, he said.

“The charges are just for the need of bar operation, and we are not aiming for profits. Customers need not worry about that,” he added… (via China Daily )

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12/21/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Marriage Equality has arrived in Mexico City. By 39-20 with 5 abstentions, Mexico City became the first Latin American city or nation to legalize marriage between two people of the same sex. Currently, civil unions are permissible in the Mexican state of Coahuila, just south of Texas. Uruguay is the only full nation in Latin America to allow civil unions. Now that it has been passed, it is expected to be signed into law by Mayor Marcelo Ebrard. The next step according to Mexico City spokesperson Oscar Oliver is to take up legislation allowing gays and lesbians to adopt.

The move was widely denounced by the Roman Catholic Church and other conservative groups; however, the Leftist controlled legislature passed the legislation handily. The Democratic Revolutionary Party had already passed abortion rights and civil unions within the city. Marriage will no longer be considered a union of a man and a woman in the law codes, but rather “the free uniting of two people”. Lawmaker David Razu proposed the changes in order to grant the same rights to same-sex couples with regards to social security and other social services that are already held by heterosexuals.

The movement of many Catholic nations upon the issue of marriage equality has signaled the erosion of the Vatican’s power over many predominantly Catholic nations. Some twenty nations perform civil unions, and seven allow for full marriage equality. Currently, six American states offer same-sex marriage and another nine have civil unions or domestic partnerships.

12/21/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Arbeit Macht Frei- or Work Makes You Free is what the sign over Auschwitz’ entrance said until it was stolen by a small group of thieves, cut into three pieces, and was going to be sold, apparently for scrap. The five men who stole the sign do not appear to have been part of any neo-Nazi group, though it is unclear if they stole it for their own gain or were hired to steal it by others. Scrap metal thefts have been a problem through the economic downturn. The sign was recovered, and all five men taken into custody. They were arrested in the north of Poland. The thieves cut through metal bars which closed off a hole in the wall of Auschwitz in order to steal the sign early Friday morning. The gap in the wall was left in order to preserve the poplar tree that grows next to it. The tree dates from the war. “We have arrested five men aged from 20 to 39 in the north of Poland. They were picked up shortly before midnight and the sign was found in a house,” Dariusz Nowak, Krakow Police spokesman, said. No further details are available through the police.

Conservationists are working on how best to repair the sign in order to return it to its place over the entrance. “We are extremely grateful to the police who have done fantastic work. This symbol, probably one of the most important of the past century, can be put back in its place,” Pawel Sawicki, spokesman for the Auschwitz museum told the AFP. The museum is preparing to celebrate the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp by the Soviet Army on 27 January 1945. Next year will be the sixty-fifth anniversary of the liberation.

In the three years that the camp operated, around 1.1 million people were executed or died inside the concentration camp complex. Of those, ninety percent were Jewish. The number was of some controversy given that the Soviets had, originally, estimated the number to be over four million. This may have been done to inflate the importance of liberating the camp for the Soviet Army. The official number was later placed at over one million once researchers were able to go through the records after the fall of the Soviet Union and their satellite nations.

Between five and fifteen thousand gay men were sent to the camps. Many were sent to camps in attempts to cure them of their homosexuality. Many were experimented upon in attempts to find a cure for homosexuality. Under Heinrich Himmel’s Reich Central Office for the Combating of Homosexuality and Abortion, the names of many of Germany’s gays were compiled, and roughly 100,000 were rounded up. Half of those were were sentenced to regular prisons. How many died outside of the concentration camps has proven hard to determine. Lesbians were, typically, not relegated to a separate category from anti-social.

12/20/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Having a child molester in the family is never easy for anyone, and it often has devastating consequences even for those who are never abused or molested. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams Jr. has publically called for his brother to turn himself in on charges that he molested Aine (Ahnya) Tyrell. Ms Tyrell is Gerry Adam’s niece and the daughter of Liam Adams. Ms Tyrell has waved the right of anonymity in this case, a rare and unusual step. An arrest warrant has been issued for Liam Adams. It was issued after he failed to appear in court for a preliminary hearing regarding these charges. The family took the unusual step of coming forward publicly with regards to this case. Gerry Adams has stated that he would turn his younger brother in should he discover where he is or if he knew where he was.

In the wake of this call, Gerry Adams Jr. let it be known that his father, Gerry Adams Sr., had physically, emotionally, and sexually abused certain members of his own family. None of his victims have been willing to come forward regarding the crimes, and Gerry Adams Sr. has since passed away. The family chose to keep these crimes from public knowledge largely due to the fact that they had happened in the past and it did not appear that he had molested anyone outside the family, and it would have been up to his victims to have pressed charges, which they did not want to. The abuse by Gerry Adams Sr. only came to light within the family as a whole in the late 1990’s, about a decade ago.

While child sexual abuse is commonly seen in the media as being perpetrated by a non-family stranger, a large number of child molesters abuse only their own children or relatives. It is uncommon, and even rare, for a family to come forward regarding the abuse perpetrated upon family members by one of their own. A large part of why stranger perpetrated child molestation is seen in the media has to do with the public’s need to know about an offender in case there are other victims; however, many family based child molestation cases are handled every year. Many child molesters target children irregardless of sex, and often target young boys because they believe that they are less likely to tell. This is not the case with child molestation within a family since the molester often has greater control over their victims than a stranger would. Of late, there has been a tendency to publicly push the idea that gay men are child molesters. This especially comes from quarters which typically wish to retain the second class status of the LGBT community.

Gerry Adams Jr. comes from a long line of Irish Republicans who fought for the creation of the Irish Republic and have continued to fight for the return of Northern Ireland to the rest of the island. Roughly a decade ago, Adams realized that, in effect, there was life to be had after the struggle and worked to create a peace which has held fairly well since the end of the active fighting between the Catholics and the Protestants. One major change in policy had to do with the extension of rights to Catholics within Ireland.

Gerry Adams Jr. states that they were devastated to find out that there were members of the family that his father had molested, and that the family was still struggling with it.

Here in is the full statement of the family:

In the late 1990s we discovered that our father had been sexually, emotionally and physically abusing members of our family. This abuse happened over many years. This discovery and the abuse which preceded it have had a devastating impact on our entire family. We are still struggling to come to terms with what happened. We live with the consequences every single day. We have been dealing with this with the support of a number of professionals who have the expertise to deal with these matters. We thank them for their help. Abuse of any kind is horrendous but sexual abuse, particularly of a child, is indescribably wounding and heartbreaking.

Our family have debated for some time whether we should publicise our father’s abusive behaviour. We do so now in the hope that, in time, this will assist the victims and survivors to come to terms with what happened and help them to move on from these dreadful events. All citizens need to be educated and children need to be listened to, empowered and protected. Many people in other families have suffered from abuse. Our family knows how deeply hurtful and traumatic that can be. No-one should have to deal with abuse or its consequences in isolation.

Victims of abuse in our family are still, years later, recovering from the trauma inflicted on us. Our prayer is that everyone will be healed. Most of us have grown in strength with the help of other family members, partners and friends. We know this will continue. Our family are united. We believe that there is a way out of this awfulness. We hope this knowledge can be of some help to other families who are in the same situation.

Anyone effected by these issues should contact the Samaritans or any appropriate agency. We would ask the media to give us some privacy, particularly over this Christmas period.

Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams reveals family abuse history
Adams family statement in full
Gerry Adams tells brother to answer abuse allegation

12/17/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Dr. Maddow last night reported that The Family has come out against the Uganda’s “Kill The Gays” Bill. Dr. Maddow has made this issue something of a staple on her show. In recent weeks, she has gone after many of the architects of this legislation. While it is unclear if an amended version of the bill, which would strip away the harsh punishments, is to be introduced, the pressure has begun to build to just terminate this bill entirely. The Family is the last of the groups with some ties to this to come out and ask that it be stopped. In point of fact, they appear to be putting direct pressure upon their people in Uganda to stop this bill from moving forward. If that is true, then this is the first time that anyone connected to this bill from the United States has done more than provided a token push from within Uganda. Most of the people who helped create the atmosphere within Uganda whereby this legislation could be crafted.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

 Melanie Nathan – Maybe it would help the World if the US stood up domestically for its own  LGBT  Equality. 

(Box Turtle Bulletin reports: )

BTB has just learned that the Rwandan Parliament is scheduled to take up consideration of a change to Rwanda’s penal code which would criminalize homosexuality with a punishment of five to ten years. It would also ban counselling and advocacy that could be interpreted as “encouraging or sensitizing” people to enter into same-sex relationships.

The problematic section in the penal code is article 217 which states that:
“Any person who practices, encourages or sensitizes people of the same sex, to sexual relation or any sexual practice, shall be liable for a term of imprisonment ranging from five (5) to ten (10) years and fine ranging from Two Hundred thousand Rwanda Francs (200.000 RwF) to one million (1,000,000)Rwanda francs.”  The fines range from US$350 to US$1750. The average annual income is just US$370.
One key phrase of the proposed penal code, “encourages or sensitizes,” would have the effect of criminalizing advocacy on behalf of LGBT people. It would also severely impact the ability to deliver health services to LGBT people.

Per Towelroad – “Guess who’s really involved there too? Pastor Rick Warren, who last week was compelled to condemn neighboring Uganda’s “kill the gays” bill, even though he had a hand in helping create it.”

International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission reports: “Article 217 violates Rwandans’ basic human rights and is contradictory to the Rwandan Constitution as well as various regional and international conventions. IGLHRC, the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL), and Rwanda’s Horizon Community Association (HOCA) will shortly issue a call to action to demand that the Rwandan Parliament withdraw this article. We urge the international community to act against this proposed law and support the equality, dignity, and privacy of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Rwanda.”

Source – Towelroad.
Posted byMelanie Nathan.

12/14/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton gave a major policy speech regarding human rights at Georgetown University today. Normally, such a speech would not be of major interest to the LGBT Community overall, though certainly to those who have a strong interest in global human rights, except for one passage within the speech. “And once rights are established, governments should be expected to resist the temptation to restrict freedom of expression when criticism arises, and be vigilant in preventing law from becoming an instrument of oppression, as bills like the one under consideration in Uganda to criminalize homosexuality would do,” she stated deep in the speech. The issue of Uganda’s proposed law which would have executed gays for having HIV and jailed them for life for just being gay has become something of a slowly building issue for several politicians as well as for the LGBT Community and its detractors.

The bill originally would have executed any HIV positive or AIDS diagnosed gay or lesbian, imprisoned gays and lesbians for life if they did not have HIV/AIDS, and imprisoned anyone who did not report a gay or lesbian individual to the authorities for a period of up to three years. The rationale behind it included the usual stereotypes of child molesting gay men. This is, of course, a stereotype which is based upon a false perception rather than a reality given that most child molesters target children directly rather than discriminating based upon the sex of the child. The bill’s origin is in a lot of work done by men such as Richard Cohen, a member of the “ex-gay movement”; Pastor Rick Warren, who had ties to many within Uganda, and to a handful of politicians associated with the Fundamentalist group The Family. Dr. Rachel Maddow has been doing a strong series of reports on this issue, including unmasking Cohen as being more of a fraud than anything else.

Much of the push regarding human rights that Secretary Clinton undertook had to do with the idea that human rights is inseparable from democratization and economic development. “Human rights, democracy, and development are not three separate goals with three separate agendas: that view doesn’t reflect the reality we face. To make a real and long-term difference in people’s lives we have to tackle all three simultaneously with a commitment that is smart, strategic, determined, and long-term. We should measure our success by asking this question: Are more people in more places better able to exercise their universal rights and live up to their potential because of our actions?”This is something of a very real issue. Democracy that lives up to its name tends to be better at human rights and development than dictatorships. Democracies often swing between the diametrically opposing governing and economic philosophies of Communism and Fascism, though they rarely get anywhere near those philosophies fully. To be clear, Communism and Fascism are not forms of government, but rather economic and governmental philosophies. That is, there is no such thing as a Communist country. A government may be a dictatorship which follows a Communistic economic philosophy. Typically, Communism and Fascism end up leaning towards dictatorships since they are next to impossible to implement in any form without dictatorship.

Secretary Clinton went on to discuss a pragmatic view of human rights which, in many ways, showed a far stronger understanding of human history than most politicians discussing this issue. American democracy was far more of an evolution than a revolution. It grew out of the British system of governance of a bicameral legislature while seeking to rectify the various issues that existed with that system. She went on further to explain:

Principled pragmatism informs our approach on human rights with key countries like China and Russia. Cooperation with each is critical to the health of the global economy and the non proliferation agenda, to managing security issues like North Korea and Iran, and to addressing world problems like climate change.

The United States seeks positive relationships with China and Russia. That means candid discussions of divergent views. In China we call for protection of rights of minorities in Tibet and Xinxiang; for the rights to express oneself and worship freely; and for civil society and religious organizations to advocate their positions within a framework of the rule of law. And we believe that those who advocate peacefully for reform within the constitution, such as Charter 2008 signatories, should not be persecuted.With Russia we deplore the murders of journalists and activists and support the courageous individuals who advocate at great peril for democracy.

With China, Russia, and others, we are engaging on issues of mutual interest while also engaging societal actors in these same countries who are working to advance human rights and democracy. The assumption that we must either pursue human rights or our “national interests” is wrong. The assumption that only coercion and isolation are effective tools for advancing democratic change is also wrong.

The decision of Secretary Clinton to single out the issue in Uganda is interesting in and of itself. Under the Bush Administration, the HIV/AIDS program funded by the United States helped to register and identify many people with this terrible disease, and that effort may, in fact, be part of why Uganda is even on the State Department’s radar. If the law had gone through as written, the United States would have been partially responsible for deaths of thousand, and probably millions. Many countries have put pressure upon Uganda with regards to this bill, and its sponsor has stated his intention to introduce an amended bill which would focus more on conversion therapy than upon punishment.

The full speech can be read at Politico.

12/13/09-by Paula Brooks
In an interview with Britain’s Daily Telegraph, The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has condemned (sort of) Uganda’s proposed, “Kill the Gays Bill”.

In the Telegraph interview Williams said…

“Overall, the proposed legislation is of shocking severity and I can’t see how it could be supported by any Anglican who is committed to what the Communion has said in recent decades,” says Dr Williams. “Apart from invoking the death penalty, it makes pastoral care impossible – it seeks to turn pastors into informers.” He adds that the Anglican Church in Uganda opposes the death penalty but, tellingly, he notes that its archbishop, Henry Orombi, who boycotted the Lambeth Conference last year, “has not taken a position on this bill”.

via Dr Rowan Williams: taking a break from Canterbury travails – Telegraph.

Williams came under fire last week from progressive members of the Anglican Church for “failing to exercise moral leadership to protect gays and lesbians in Uganda,” while instead expressing concern over the election of the churches second openly gay bishop, Reverend Mary Glasspool, by the diocese of Los Angeles.

This past Wednesday, a Facebook group was set up by Susan Russell, former president of Anglican gay group Integrity, which called Williams to task about his statement on Glasspool and the fact he has been slow to condemn the proposed anti-gay legislation in Uganda. That Face Book group currently has over 4,000 members.

Last week President Barack Obama, The US State Department, and the Governments of France and the UK all officially expressed concern over the bill that could have sentenced gay Ugandans to execution, or life in prison, and people who ‘aid or abet’ them to 7 years imprisonment, prompting the Ugandan legislature to drop executions and life imprisonment from the anti-homosexuality bill.

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12/11/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
The recently changed potential law in Uganda dubbed “Kill The Gay” bill has been attracting a great deal of prominent protestation and pressure to change it, and while the language of the law has been changed, the new law flies equally in the face of recent psychological research and could make it far easier for Ugandans to gain asylum in other countries. In London, some 100 protesters gathered outside the Ugandan embassy to demand that the Ugandan government drop the law entirely. The protesters included many from across Africa as well as the United Kingdom and Jamaica. The keynote speaker was John Bosco, who was jailed in Uganda for being gay after being forcibly returned to his country from the United Kingdom while seeking asylum. Bosco specifically targeted the part of the law which required individuals to report people they know who are gay or face imprisonment themselves.

Ugandan human rights advocate Michael Senyonjo stated, “In the last five years we have seen Idi Amin return to Uganda and his name is Yoweri Museveni. We cannot allow fascism to return to Uganda. He should leave power and go because he is not taking the country anywhere but to disaster.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Maddow went on the air last night and discussed the recently released video from Pastor Rick Warren noting the several instances where he has attempted to state that he does not have influence in Uganda, though his book The Purpose Driven Life is often seen as being a second Bible within that nation. Dr. Maddow also did something of a round up of the politicians who have come out swinging with regards to this particular bill.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Posted by Melanie Nathan:-   So many people go through years of performing their lives in way that will serve the good of all to the fullest bounds of the globe.    They do this without thinking of awards or recognition.  They do it because they have honed their brilliance and special talents to serve humankind, regardless of whom may benefit.  A remarkable number of such people have come from one tiny country and now it yields its first woman.

Such is the story of Israeli and the scientist Ada Yonath, who now at age 70, was awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry, sharing the prize worth 10 million Swedish crowns ($1.4 million) with Americans Venkatraman Ramakrishnan and Thomas Steitz. She is the first Israeli woman to ever win the most prestigious of awards for intellectual achievement.

“As ribosomes are crucial to life, they are also a major target for new antibiotics,” the Nobel Committee for Chemistry at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said in a statement.

When Yonath  heard rumor that she had won, she thought it an elaborate practical joke, and her doubts remained until received the official phone call notifying her of the award. “When I saw the +46 Swedish country code on my phone screen, I thought, they’re really taking this prank far,” she said.

A renowned scientist, Yonath serves as the director of the Helen and Milton A. Kimmelman Center for Biomolecular Structure and Assembly at the Weizmann Institute of Science.  She was a co-recipient of the 2006 Wolf Prize in Chemistry, along George Feher, and in 2008, became the first Israeli to win a lifetime’s achievement award from L’Oréal and UNESCO for her vital work identifying how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics.

Referring to her ground-breaking study she said, “The topic was such that if a breakthrough could really be achieved, it would have Nobel-winning potential. It was considered difficult to the point of impossible.” She added: “People were skeptical and I myself wasn’t sure we would make it – but indeed we did.”

President Shimon Peres called Yonath and congratulated her on the win. “We are so proud of you, it’s hard to describe just how much. You are extremely deserving of the Nobel and the award is an achievement to the entire country, we are all excited together with you,” Peres said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated her, saying: “I, as all other Israelis, am extremely proud of you. The Nobel Prize is the true Olympics of mankind.”

Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni emphasized the feminine aspect. “I was excited, and I am proud that it’s a woman winning the prestigious prize. I know that when women reach achievements, particularly such an achievement, it gives strength to other women to dare and succeed.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said “Her win helps present Israel’s real image as one of the world’s leading countries of science and technology. Prof. Yonath joins an honorable list of Israelis who have won the most important international recognition.

 The State of Israel, which is a tiny country, has a  respectable representation among Nobel Prize recipients.

 Imperative is the importance of this award; it is a newfound light to Israel’s image; a brief interlude from the focus on Middle East Conflict. This compelling image, may be new for most, but  many of us  have been privy to personally witness the accomplishments of an extraordinary country of people.     Maybe a transformation can be found in the work of this Laureatte – as in the words of Livni to Yonath ” it  strengthens Israel’s image beyond the conflict, Israel as a country which nurtures science and manages to illustrate through women like you its contribution to science and humanity.”   Israel’s contributions to the world and its well being is enormous and can no longer go unnoticed.

Mazeltov Professor and Todah Rabah.

Blogged by Melanie Nathan
Nathan@privatecourts.com

12/10/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
The words and actions of Pastor Rick Warren have come back to haunt him, even if everything that he has stated within his recent video post is accurate. The problem for Pastor Warren is that the words of a high ranking individual can often become a problem for them later on, or even be twisted by both those who oppose and support their beliefs. Indeed, the decision by Ugandan Member of Parliament David Bahati to introduce a law which would execute any gay or lesbian with HIV/AIDS and imprison any gay or lesbian for life has caused a great deal of uproar in the United States given its prominent connection to several American pastors and politicians. Chuck Grassley was hit for his ties to the Family, an organization that MP Bahati also belongs to. Richard Cohen and Pastor Warren both got nailed on the issue due to their connection to the politicians and pastors who have been supporting this particular bill. Until recently both Cohen and Warren, along with others in their movement, have been reluctant to vocally oppose the Ugandan bill. For them, the issue of getting involved in the politics of another country have been their shield.

Recently, Cohen was forced to openly denounce the bill while on the Rachel Maddow Show, and today, Pastor Warren issued a lengthy video regarding this particular issue. In it, however, he takes the time to rebut a number of supposed misstatements within the media and the blogosphere regarding this particular incident. Whether or not he or those making the statements he is rebutting are accurate, the feeling is that this video is less to convince the Ugandan pastors he is addressing and more directed towards the American audience who he knows will also be viewing this particular video. One of the points that has been made is that many of those opposed to this law, but supportive of Uganda’s attempts to ‘convert’ gays and lesbians have done so in a manner directed towards appeasing the American audience and not towards telling the Ugandans who took their cues from Cohen, Warren and others to kill this legislation.

Pastor Warren has had several problems with the LGBT Community and has tried in recent years to distance himself from the Prop 8 fight, which severely damaged his reputation in the United States.

Sweden openly signaled, and other nations may have privately signaled, that should this bill have become law, the international aid that Uganda enjoys, and which is needed to support its nation, would be completely cut off. While the Ugandan government stated that they would not cave to such pressure, they eventually did.

What follows is the transcript for Pastor Warren’s video:

By Dr. Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, Calif.,

Dear fellow pastors in Uganda,

I greet you in the name and love of Jesus Christ as I send this encyclical video (http://www.youtube.com/saddlebackchurch) to the pastors of the churches of Uganda with greetings from your fellow pastors around the world. May grace and peace be with you this Christmas season.

We are all familiar with Edmund Burke’s insight, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” That is why I’m sharing my heart with you today. As an American pastor, it is not my role to interfere with the politics of other nations, but it IS my role to speak out on moral issues. It is my role to shepherd other pastors who look to me for guidance, and it is my role to correct lies, errors and false reports when others associate my name with a law that I had nothing to do with, completely oppose and vigorously condemn. I am referring to the pending law under consideration by the Ugandan Parliament, known as the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

As a pastor, I’ve found the most effective way to build consensus for social change is usually through direct quiet diplomacy and behind-the-scenes dialogue, rather than through media. But because I didn’t rush to make a public statement, some erroneously concluded that I supported this terrible bill, and some even claimed I was a sponsor of the bill. You in Uganda know that is untrue.

I am releasing this video to you and your congregations to correct these untruths and to urge you to make a positive difference at this critical point in your nation.

While we can never deny or water down what God’s Word clearly teaches about sexuality, at the same time the church must stand to protect the dignity of all individuals – as Jesus did and commanded all of us to do.

Let me be clear that God’s Word states that all sex outside of marriage is not what God intends. Jesus reaffirmed what Moses wrote that marriage is intended to be between one man and one woman committed to each other for life. Jesus also taught us that the greatest commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves. Since God created all, and Jesus suffered and died for all, then we are to treat all with respect. The Great Commandment has been the centerpiece of my life and ministry for over 35 years.

Of course, there are thousands of evil laws enacted around the world and I cannot speak to pastors about every one of them, but I am taking the extraordinary step of speaking to you – the pastors of Uganda and spiritual leaders of your nation – for five reasons:

First, the potential law is unjust, extreme and un-Christian toward homosexuals, requiring the death penalty in some cases. If I am reading the proposed bill correctly, this law would also imprison anyone convicted of homosexual practice.

Second, the law would force pastors to report their pastoral conversations with homosexuals to authorities.

Third, it would have a chilling effect on your ministry to the hurting. As you know, in Africa, it is the churches that are bearing the primary burden of providing care for people infected with HIV/AIDS. If this bill passed, homosexuals who are HIV positive will be reluctant to seek or receive care, comfort and compassion from our churches out of fear of being reported. You and I know that the churches of Uganda are the truly caring communities where people receive hope and help, not condemnation.

Fourth, ALL life, no matter how humble or broken, whether unborn or dying, is precious to God. My wife, Kay, and I have devoted our lives and our ministry to saving the lives of people, including homosexuals, who are HIV positive. It would be inconsistent to save some lives and wish death on others. We’re not just pro-life. We are whole life.

Finally, the freedom to make moral choices and our right to free expression are gifts endowed by God. Uganda is a democratic country with remarkable and wise people, and in a democracy everyone has a right to speak up. For these reasons, I urge you, the pastors of Uganda, to speak out against the proposed law.

My role, and the role of the PEACE Plan, whether in Uganda or any other country, is always pastoral, not political. I 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, which includes the protection of children.

Please know that you and the people of Uganda are in my constant prayers. This Christmas season I pray you will experience the three purposes of Christmas as announced by the angel at the birth of Christ. First, the angel said, “I bring you good news of great joy.” Christmas is a time of celebration – Jesus is the Good News for the whole world. God came to earth to be with us! Next, the angel said, “For unto us is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!” Christmas is a time for salvation. If we didn’t need a Savior, God would not have sent one. Finally, the angel said, “Peace on earth, good will toward men.” Christmas is a time for reconciliation. The message of Christmas is good cheer, good news and good will for the whole world.

It is my prayer that the churches and people of Uganda will experience all three of these this season. May God bless you; and may God bless the nation of Uganda.

Key Facts Concerning Recent Media and Blog Reports on Rick Warren’s Position on Uganda

1. Do you support the death penalty for homosexuals?

Absolutely not. ALL life, no matter how humble or broken, whether unborn or dying, is precious to God. My wife, Kay, and I have devoted our lives and our ministry to saving the lives of people, including homosexuals, who are HIV positive. It would be inconsistent to save some lives and wish death on others. We’re not just pro-life. We are whole life.

2. Do you support life imprisonment for homosexuality?

Of course not. I oppose the criminalization of homosexuality. The freedom to make moral choices is endowed by God. Since God gives us that freedom, we must protect it for all, even when we disagree with their choices.

3. Are you a friend of the President of Uganda?

No. I’ve never met him, and never had any kind of communications with him or with any member of the Ugandan Parliament.

4. Didn’t the President of Uganda say he wanted his country to be Purpose Driven?

No, he didn’t. That was said by the President of Rwanda, not Uganda, at a national rally in Rwanda in 2005. Years later, the Anglican Archbishop of Uganda made a similar comment so people are confusing Uganda with Rwanda, the country next to Uganda. While we have just begun to train pastors in Uganda, we are very involved in Rwanda, creating a nationwide PEACE Plan at the invitation of the churches there. Over 1,000 Saddleback members have served on humanitarian projects in Rwanda.

5. What did you do when you heard about the proposed Ugandan law?

I wrote to the most influential leader I knew in that country, the Anglican Archbishop of Uganda, and shared my opposition and concern. He wrote me back, saying that he, too, was opposed to the death penalty for homosexuals. There are thousands of evil laws enacted around the world that kill people (For instance, last year, 146,000 Christians around the world were killed because of their faith.). In this case, I knew the Archbishop in Uganda, so I did what I could, but my influence in that nation has been greatly exaggerated by the media.

6. Is Uganda Pastor Martin Ssempa an associate who represents you?

Not at all. At each of our Global Summits on AIDS (on World AIDS Day) we’ve invited speakers from a wide spectrum of religions, beliefs, political views and health care expertise. We’ve had believers and atheists; liberals and conservatives; gays and straights. Ssempa was just one of over 200 speakers we’ve invited. At each Summit we make it clear that no speaker represents us, and that we don’t control, endorse or agree with all that is said. Our desire is to encourage everyone to work together in ending HIV/AIDS and caring for those infected and affected. Ssempa was one of many speakers in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, when we learned that Ssempa’s beliefs and actions were vastly different than ours, we disassociated ourselves from him.

7. Did you say that homosexuality is not a human right?

Absolutely not. What I said in an interview in Uganda was that there is no civil right to gay marriage guaranteed by the United States Constitution. All Americans, and I believe all people, are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights,” as spoken by the United States Declaration of Independence.

8. Do you know Scott Lively?

No, I do not know Scott Lively and have had no contact with him regarding Uganda or any other issue. I would certainly not associate with anyone who denies the Holocaust, one of the greatest tragedies in human history.

9. Are you and Peter Wagner attempting to rid the world of homosexuals?

Absolutely not. Peter Wagner was a seminary professor of mine, but not my doctoral dissertation advisor. I have not had contact with Peter Wagner for many years and am certainly not conspiring with him for any purpose. Additionally, the event chronicled at Angels Stadium in 2005 has been grossly misrepresented. I was simply arguing that Christians could have a tremendous effect for good in the world if they had the same dedication as the followers of Mao. I would never argue that anyone should emulate or espouse the views of Mao, Hitler or Lenin.

12/5/09-by Paula Brooks
Police in Sao Paulo, Brazil have arrested seven members of an alleged neo-Nazi group, saying they are suspects in the bombing of a gay bar during a gay pride parade that injured 22 people last June.

The four men and three women arrested are, according Brazil law enforcement officials, members of group called the “Hooligan Impact.”

According to the chief of Sao Paulo’s Racial and Hate Crime unit, those arrested are alleged to have set off a homemade bomb inside a bar in the city’s gay district after a gay pride parade. Police say two suspects were arrested 10 days ago and five others were placed into custody yesterday.

In addition to the bombing, police said they are also investigating the group’s possible links to the murder of a 35-year-old gay man during the parade.

Authorities say they tracked down the suspects after a threatening email was sent to the parade’s organizers. The message led to a neo-Nazi website with photographs of its members that were then compared to pictures taken near the bar just before the attack.

All seven suspects are to be charged under Brazils organized crime laws and with the bombing at the bar.

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12/5/09-by Paula Brooks
Already at odds with the Roman Catholic Church over such issues as gay rights and the liberalization of that country’s abortion laws, this week, the Spanish Socialist government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has taken the first step towards banning crucifixes in Spain’s Public schools.

This move comes in the wake of a ruling last month by the European Court of Human Rights judgment against Italy that said displaying the Christian symbol violates children’s right to freedom of religion.

Three years ago, an Italian mother, Soile Lautsi, took her cause to the European Court of Human Rights after failing to get crucifixes removed from the school at which her two children were being taught at a town in north-east Italy by Italy’s Constitutional Court.

Classroom crucifixes were made compulsory in that country by two laws put into place under Italy’s fascist Dictator Benito Mussolini that made Catholicism the official religion of Italy.

Similar laws were also put in place in Spain under Spain’s fascist Dictator Francisco Franco. Under Franco, Catholicism in its most conservative variant was made official religion of the Spanish State. The Spanish Public Education was essentially handed over to the Church, Civil servants had to be Catholic, and some official jobs even required a “good behavior” statement by a priest. Divorce and homosexuality were also forbidden, as were artificial contraception and abortion.

The verdict prompted anger in fiercely Catholic Italy, where an opinion poll showed 84 percent of the public was in favor of crucifixes in schools, and was condemned by the Vatican. The Italian government has also said it would seek to appeal the decision to the Strasbourg court’s 17-member Grand Chamber, however if that petition is rejected, or if an appeal is subsequently thrown out, then Italy would be obliged to comply with the courts order.

The European Court ruling prompted Spain’s ruling Socialists to take action  Wednesday and a Spanish parliamentary commission approved by 20 votes to 16 a motion calling on Madrid to implement November’s ruling by the Strasbourg court.

Some observers however are saying that the Spanish Government actions to remove the crucifixes are part of a larger conflict between Spain’s current government and the Roman Catholic Church.

Last month after the Spanish Parliament passed a bill that will allow abortion until the 14th week of pregnancy and, in cases of extreme fetal deformity, at any time during pregnancy, the Catholic Church announced it will excommunicate Spanish law makers who voted in favor of the bill.

That call prompted several Spanish Socialist politicians and political commentators to push back and call for an end of the Catholic Churches Tax Exempt status.

Many in Spain say the rapidity with which by the Spanish government acted on the issue and its willingness to implement the ECHR’s ruling even before the final outcome of the Italian appeal is known, is a not so subtle warning to the Vatican to stay out of Spanish politics.

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11/28/09-by Paula Brooks
The Catholic Church has announced it will excommunicate any  members of the  Spanish parliament who have voted in favour of a bill that will make abortion more readily available.

“This is a warning to Catholics, that they can’t vote in favor of this and that they won’t be able to receive communion unless they ask forgiveness,” Juan Antonion Martinez Caminohe , spokesman for Spain’s Bishops’ Conference said in a news conference on Friday.

The government-sponsored bill, which passed the first of a series of votes in the Spanish parliament Thursday, will allow abortion until the 14th week of pregnancy and, in cases of extreme foetal deformity, at any time in the pregnancy.

A controversial clause in the bill will also allow girls to obtain abortions from the age of 16 without parental consent.

Abortion are currently allowed in Spain only in cases of rape, a malformed foetus or if the pregnancy endangers the physical or mental health of the mother.

Spain has long had a higher rate of abortion than some countries with more liberal abortion laws, because of the willingness of many Spanish doctors to attest to the danger to the mother’s psychological health. Abortions have doubled in the past decade in the traditionally Roman Catholic country, from nearly 54,000 in 1998 to 112,000 in 2007, the most recent year for available data, according to Spain’s Ministry of Health.

The bill’s supporters say the abortion measures are part of a broader national strategy on sexual and reproductive health, including education and access to contraceptives, which aims to prevent unwanted pregnancies in Spain.

That notwithstanding, The Roman Catholic church, in concert with Spain’s opposition conservative Popular Party have blasted the ruling Socialist government’s efforts to make it easier to get an abortion and give it legal backing.

In response several Spanish Socialist politicians and political commentators have already pushed back and are calling for an end of the Churches Tax Exempt status. They are alsoaccusing the conservatives of being “hypocritical,” saying they did nothing to completely outlaw abortion during their eight years in power from 1996 to 2004 for fear of alienating Spanish voters.

The Catholic Church and the state have been closely linked in Spain for centuries, but in modern times under Spain’s Fascist Dictator Fransisco Franco, a symbiotic relationship developed in which the support for Franco by the Roman Catholic Church in Spain lent legitimacy to the dictatorship, which in turn restored and enhanced the church’s traditional privileges in that country.

However after the Second Vatican Council set forth the church’s new positions on human rights in 1965, that relationship began to break down, until finally in 1973 the Episcopal Conference convened, calling for the separation of church and state in Spain and the revision of a 1953 agreement between Franco and the Vatican that gave the church extraordinary powers in Spain but also allowed Franco to veto Vatican appointments of Spanish Church officials.

After Franco’s death and the subsequent replacement of the Fascist government with a new democratic Spanish state, the church finally achieved the separation it had been seeking, however the result of this new independence did not always bode well for the church or its social positions.

The passage of a law in 1981 legalizing civil divorce struck a telling blow against the influence of the church in Spanish society, as did a 1985 law legalizing abortion under certain circumstances in Spain. That abortion law was further liberalized to it current version in 1986, over the fierce opposition from the church.

Another result were government measures aimed at reducing, and ultimately eliminating, direct subsidies to the church and the removal of the Church’s traditional influence in the area of Spanish Public Education.

But even with these rollbacks in the churches ability to direct public policy in Spain, the church still has considerable influence in this country where 76% of the electorate identifies themselves as Catholics.

And like the recent Patrick Kennedy Communion controversy in this country, the action of the the Church in Spain has now opened up the issue of denying communion as a means to intimidate Spanish Catholic politicians and influence Spanish law for serious and heated debate among Catholics in Spain.

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11/04/09-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
What would Jesus do if he was a transwoman? That is, in some ways, what Jesus Christ: Queen of Heaven is asking. The play explores the journey of faith that one transwoman, the playwright Jo Clifford, undertook. Transgender deities are not uncommon in ancient times, of course, with there being masculine and feminine forms of deities. The Goddess Aphrodite has been said to have had a masculine form and that she would go between them. In fact, one Catholic saint is said to have taken on the visage of Christ, even growing a beard.

Jesus Christ: Queen of Heaven is part of the Glasgay!, a celebration of Scotland’s LGBT culture. Organizers of the festival have stated that they did not intend for this to be offensive or to cause controversy. Unfortunately, the play drew three hundred protesters who decried the play waving placards and singing hymns. Some of the placards could have been called incitement to homophobia and transphobia as well as being just plain provocative.

“”You can’t blaspheme God and use freedom of speech as an excuse for that. True biblical Christianity is becoming marginalised through political correctness,” said Pastor Jack Bell of Zion Baptist in Glasgow.

Of course, their decrying of freedom of speech should also be noted in that it is what allows them to both protest and use placards which equate transsexuality with perversion, and that being among the mildest of the signs, apparently. As the saying goes, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. As to Pastor Bell’s feelings about how, if this was about the Prophet Mohammed, it should be noted that Salman Rushdie was given a death sentence for blasphemy against Islam. Of course, if he and his church were to advocate that level of repression towards freedom of speech, then he would be rather rapidly rounded up as a terrorist.

In 1999, a gay bar was bombed in Soho, London, and it was deemed a terrorist act.

BBC News

10/29/09-by Paula Brooks
NPR is reporting that while most of us were sleeping, President Barack Obama went to look upon the real cost of the war in Afghanistan as he journeyed in the pre-dawn darkness to Dover (Del.) Air Force Base to honor the return of 18 fallen American heroes…. All were killed in Afghanistan this week.

AP is saying that, “The dramatic image of a president on the tarmac was a portrait not witnessed in years. Former President George W. Bush spent lots of time with grieving military families but never went to Dover to meet the remains coming off the cargo plane. Obama did so with the weight of knowing he may soon send more troops off to war.”

The solemn process of transferring remains of 15 soldiers and three Drug Enforcement Agency agents unfolded in four separate movements. Obama took part in all of them. as a chaplain offered prayers for the fallen, the crews that brought them home, the families who lost a loved one, and a nation embroiled in war.

President Obama Pays His Respects As Fallen Americans Return Home – The Two-Way – Breaking News, Analysis Blog : NPR.

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