A Kenyan man wears a mask
at a protest in support of gays and lesbians
outside the Uganda High
Commission in Nairobi. Uganda is joining a cohort
of African states that
includes Zimbabwe, Sudan, Nigeria, Tanzania and
Sierra Leone, where in
many cases, homosexuality is punishable by death.
Obama Warns Museveni Over Uganda's 'Scientific'
Anti-Gay Law (The Independent, Uganda)
"Now that the medical authorities - the Department of
Genetics at the Makerere Medical School - say there
remains no proof that people are genetically homosexual, I told the scientists to
put it in writing, which they are now doing. I will then sign the bill. ... In
the 1930s, Hitler made mistakes because he wanted to make Germany strong. So
some of these issues are crucial and should be handled objectively rather than
emotionally. ... I know we are going to have a big battle with outsiders, but I
will be able to say that I asked the scientists and this is what they said:
homosexuals are normal people behaving abnormally."
Sporting a wide-brimmed hat, President Yoweri Museveni arrives at the latest African Union summit in Ethiopia, Jan. 30. To the surprise of many, Museveni has used the pretense of science to explain why he is signing a law outlawing homosexuality that he previously refused to sign.
U.S.
President Obama has warned President YoweriMuseveni about the new anti-gay law he promised to sign at
the National Resistance Movement's [NRM]
retreat in Kyankwanzi. Obama said that the law would
complicate relations between the U.S. and Uganda, particularly considering that
Uganda receives over $400 million in aid from the U.S. government.
Since
the first anti-gay bill was tabled in 2009 calling for the death penalty for
"aggravated homosexuality," the gay issue in Uganda has been a thorny
one. Pro-gay groups have received a lot of hostility from the Ugandan public, a
mojority of which say that the act [of sodomy] is
un-African and violates Christianity.
“Uganda's
Anti-Homosexuality Bill, once law, will be more than an affront and a danger to
the gay community in Uganda. It will be a step backward for all Ugandans, and
reflect poorly on Uganda’s commitment to protecting the human rights of its
people,” Obama said.
President
Museveni had previously dilly dallied around the
issue, warning its backers that passage would have serious foreign policy
implications. However after commissioning
a team of scientists to establish whether homosexuals were born and not
made, Museveni has budged and agreed to sign it.
“People
should be treated equally and have the opportunity to reach their fullest
potential, no matter who they are or whom they love,” Obama said.
Making Sense of Museveni’s Decision to Sign
Below
are President Museveni’s remarks on his decision to
sign the Anti-Homosexuality Bill at the closing ceremony of the 10-day NRM
Parliamentary Caucus retreat, on February 16.
1.
In this bill, I had no problem with punishing people who promote homosexuality.
2.
I had no problem with punishing people who become homosexual for mercenary
reasons - what one would call homosexual prostitution. The man is not a
homosexual, but he engages in homosexuality for money.
3.
I had no problem with punishing the exhibitionism of homosexuality.
The
reason I didn't sign the bill before was for us to scientifically answer the
question: are there people who are genetically born homosexual? For me, I had
thought that since there were people born albino, then there could be people
born homosexual.
Posted
By Worldmeets.US
But
now that the medical authorities - the Department of Genetics at the Makerere Medical School - say there
remains no proof that people are genetically homosexual, I told the
scientists to put it in writing, which they are now doing. I will then sign the
bill.
I
am taking these precautions because historically, I am answerable for what I do
as leader. In the 1930s, Hitler made mistakes because he wanted to make Germany
strong. So some of these issues are crucial and should be handled objectively
rather than emotionally. With
those remarks, what do you think of President Museveni’s
decision to sign the bill?
I
hadn't concentrated on homosexuality all these years. I thought electricity and
roads were more urgent. Moreover, I had never seen a homosexual. Then you
insisted that we sit down and discuss it, so now we have systematically found a
solution.
I know we are going to have a big battle with outsiders, but I will be able to
say that I asked the scientists and this is what they said: homosexuals are
normal people behaving abnormally.
With
those remarks, what do you think of President Museveni’s
decision to sign the bill?
