Ugandan tabloid prints list of 'homosexuals', February 25, 2014 updated 5:08 PM EST, Franca R. Jalloh

Summary:

The article listed below describes how a Ugandan tabloid newspaper known as the ‘Red Pepper’ came out with a list of the country's top 200 homosexuals. Apparently, this was not the first time that a Ugandan newspaper has identified people it claimed were gay. Further, the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni Museveni  said that he had commissioned a group of Ugandan government scientists to study whether homosexuality is "learned," and they had concluded that it was a matter of choice. He said according to the paper "Genetic distortion -- that was my argument. But now our scientists have knocked this one out”. He has now officially signed into law the bill that made some homosexual acts punishable by life in prison. The article also said that a Ugandan gay rights activist named Pepe Julian Onziema told CNN's reporter Christiane Amanpour, “that some gay people in Uganda would rather kill themselves than live under the new law”.

Analysis:

The gay and lesbian community is in grave danger these days considering all the laws passed worldwide targeting these individuals and their way of life. Now especially in Uganda, a newspaper has recently released an article printing the names, addresses and photographs of about 200 gay people in the country. These people are officially targets and will be subjected to atrocities far beyond our wildest dreams both from local Ugandan people as well as from government authorities. The country and its people need not like, understand or agree with homosexuality but they do need to uphold the rights of all their citizens rather than persecute the minority they seem to hate. It is absolutely terrifying to think about how these 200 people will continue being safe in a country like Uganda now that their identities have been released. More so now than ever, the international community needs to speak up and show support for the homosexual people of Uganda as well as other such countries targeting the gay and lesbian community globally. Countries need to step up and offer asylum to these people as their lives are in danger if they continue to reside in their home countries. If the world shows our eyes and ears are open and that such nonsense cannot be tolerated, just maybe, the Ugandan leaders and their president will pardon their lgbt community members so that they can live in peace, free from all the animosities and troubles of their home country. Something needs to be done now and it has to be done fast in order to save the lives of these people who could possibly face genocide if this hate was to continue down the path it is going today.  

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/25/world/africa/uganda-anti-gay-law/

Blog 2, Kenya: U.S. Pushes Gay Rights in Africa, 02/13/2014, Franca Jalloh

Summary

This article describes how the United States has asked African leaders to repeal anti-gay laws which they say are 'discriminatory' and a violation of human rights. It was particular interesting considering what we just learned in class and discussed on black board in regards to sex, gender and sexuality. Accordingly as reported in the article, the U.S Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said that the US laws are developed to protect human rights of the LGBT community and that we also want to encourage such laws in our foreign policies and our approach to governments in Africa. Apparently 38 out of 54 countries in Africa now criminalize homosexuality and the United States wants to make its stance now in an effort to protect the rights of the homosexual community in Africa. The U.S outright objects to the unfair treatments of gays in Africa and want countries like Nigeria and Uganda to reconsider their very barbaric laws towards the LGBTQ community. 

Analysis

Beyond considering how divided the United States is on its own in regards to same sex marriage as well as the rates at which gays and lesbians are still being discriminated against here, it is however good to see they care enough to quickly respond when another country seems to be going down the wrong path. Among many other nations, the U.S has spoken up to support basic human rights of all people, particularly in this case the gay and lesbian community in Africa. That is an important first step in addressing this issue. We may have our own problems here, but it is only humane to lend a hand and not let nations make the same mistakes just as the United States did historically with African Americans which contributed to the Civil War and the American Civil Rights Movement. The article emphasizes first and foremost the fact that discrimination of homosexuals is a global problem, if not addressed and rectified quickly enough it will harm us economically, socially and politically as it may eventually lead to retaliations and wars which would hinder any progress Africa is making so far in terms of development. This issue is a matter of nature not nurture so mankind has no other option but to adapt even if we don't necessarily agree on it, as it is here to stay long after most of us leave this world.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201402130682.html

Blog1 - Archbishops criticize Nigerian and Ugandan anti-gay laws, 30 January 2014- 05:47 ET

Summary
This BBC article is in regards to a letter written by the Archbishops to the presidents of Nigeria and Uganda, as well as to the heads of Anglican churches globally. It addresses the extremely harsh laws passed by Nigeria and Uganda that outright violates and targets the rights of people with same-sex attractions, and those that support them. The Archbishops specifically mentions in this letter as referenced in the article, that “…homosexual people were loved and valued by God and should not be victimized or diminished.”

The world is in an uproar due to these reports wherein Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan, signed into law a bill banning same-sex marriages, gay groups and shows of same-sex public affections. In Uganda, their bill calls for far greater punishments for gay people and those who fail to turn them into police. This is the country where homophobia is widespread and ‘corrective’ rapes have been reported against lesbians. Though the bill was passed by parliament, it has however been blocked for now by the Ugandan President Museveni, due to what seems to be pressure from the West threatening donor aid withdrawals if this should persist.

Human rights groups including the United Nations have heavily criticized these legislatures termed as ‘draconian’. Though the church is in support of homosexuals, traditional Anglicans along with members of the Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon), condemned the preaching’s as "false gospel" to claim God's blessing for same-sex unions.

Analysis
The report highlights the power of sexual orientation when it comes to religion, specifically in the Anglican faith to begin with but not quite addressing additional Christian beliefs or alternate religion views. The article is a call for Christian understanding and support of gay people as a huge number of people are being adversely affected by these legislatures. As we can see, it is a huge sociological problem not only in the continent of Africa, but also here in the United States as well as in countries world-wide. The church however as we know it, has always had an enormous influence on how the public thinks. By speaking up now in regards to gay and lesbian rights, it serves as a beginning step in ‘curing’ ancient views which threatens a countries economic and social development. In this century, it is hard to think mankind cannot be tolerant of each other despite our many differences. I am an African Muslim with a variety of opinions myself, but that should not and does not affect my treatment of a person with an alternate opinion or lifestyle than mine. Rather, I believe one should be judged and treated based on an individuals character which makes for a far more tolerable society for us all. Discrimination has never brought along progress but rather a lot of hurt, anger and loss of life so why can’t these African leaders learn from history? A lot of developing countries are dependent on the West for aid which is often used as a weapon of control, yet still we continue to implement laws that set us years back in terms of social development as well as economically.

Gay and lesbian rights is an ongoing problem with a variation of sociological views that impacts global trade limiting resources and wealth to nations which causes widespread poverty as well as steps back in modernization. Not many nations would want to invest or trade with a country that ruthlessly violates the rights of fellow humans just because they don’t like or agree with a particular lifestyle. We see from this that it’s a long term fight, but a step in the right direction when religious leaders are willing to speak up and technology is available to reach nations where in ancient times was unheard of. There is indeed a potential for sociological change in regards to this global issue.

The above mentioned article can be found via this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25959942