This Wednesday night, Current TV's Vanguard series will be talking about Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill in a documentary entitled Missionaries of Hate. And if this documentary is as powerful as its trailer, then it needs to be seen, sent to members of Congress and all of the media -- LGBT included -- and remembered for posterity.
The press release is as follows:
CURRENT TV'S VANGUARD PREMIERES "MISSIONARIES OF HATE" WEDNESDAY, MAY 26 AT 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PTEpisode Chronicles Increasing Strength of Anti-Gay Movement in Uganda, and the American Influence on Uganda's Laws and Attitudes
New Bill Would Increase Penalties Against Homosexuality, Make Homosexuality Punishable by Imprisonment or Death
Correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to Uganda to delve into reasons behind the increasing strength of anti-gay sentiment spreading throughout the country, which prompted the creation of a proposed law that would severely increase penalties against homosexuality, making the practice punishable by imprisonment or death.
"Missionaries of Hate" explores the impact American Evangelicals have had on the movement, and features exclusive video of American Evangelical Lou Engle's visit to Uganda on May 2 to support the major backers of the proposed legislation. Mariana van Zeller also interviews Pastor Martin Ssempa, one of the most famous religious leaders in Uganda and an anti-gay crusader, whose preaching methods include showing gay pornography in church. She also talks to Ugandan citizens (both gay and straight) about their feelings on homosexuality, the new proposed law, and the effect it will have on their lives.
It hasn't even aired yet and there is already speculation that Scott Lively, one of the people featured in the documentary, is trying to push up a defense. The following is from his webpage:
Friends,
I'm looking for a good Christian media source to interview me on film on the Uganda issue for posting online. I intend to get off defense and counter-attack the false witnesses with hard facts about Uganda and the dishonest way the media has addressed the story. Please forward this to any pro-family journalists you know and ask them to contact me at sdllaw@gmail.com.
Personally, I want to see who takes up his request. Based upon Lively's past actions, I'm curious to see who fits his definition of the word "pro-family."
Big hat tips to Truth Wins Out and Professor Warren Throckmorton.
Related posts:
UK Times: Anti-gay laws in Africa are because of anti-gay Americans
Scott Lively demonstrates how to throw gasoline on an anti-gay brush fire
Scott Lively advocated 'criminalizing homosexuality' as far back as 2007
More proof that Scott Lively knew exactly what he was doing in Uganda
Scott Lively practiced 'pink-baiting' in Uganda
Martin Ssempa claims to be misunderstood
'Kill the gays' bill supporter reduced to showing gay porn in church
Martin Ssempa talks about 'poop' to demonize lgbts
World Net Daily writer evokes Martin Luther King, Jr. in support of Ugandan 'kill the gays' bill
Rachel Maddow annihiliates 'ex-gay' Richard Cohen over Uganda bill
Wayne Besen: Ex-Gay Group Should Repent, Not Revel
Could be an elegant solution to all those evangelical problems... win-win if you see what I mean:
Full bellies for some mal-nourished populace and the evans get to meet their god they so eagerly pursue.
Works for me.
Have you read the Bible, though? The nasty passages in Leviticus actually are there, and they're in line with anti-gay "exploits". Sure, you can "refuse" to believe in it, but I believe it's counter-productive.
Not trying to make this into a totally religious discussion but my experience has been religion in itself is not the problem but how man interprets religion in accordance to his own ego brings problems. For every Scott Lively and Martin Ssempa willing to misinterpret Scripture, there are dozens who actually do good in the world in accordance to how they interpret the Bible. Also, the lgbt identity and religious beliefs are not two separate identities. There are many lgbts whose faith in God has allowed them to be more open about their lives.
It's something to think about.
There are also passages commanding that women who are not virgins when married are to be stoned to death on their father's doorstep. Or that they be cast out of their homes and sent to menstruation huts on a monthly basis. Or that you may kill your children if they dishonor you.
Yet I see not a single Christian or heterosexual advocating for heterosexual biblical law.
Perhaps because heterosexuals and Christians understand that if they did THAT, we'd ALL be stoned to death.
Instead, heterosexuals and Christians pick 'the sin' they would never commit (unless they are a republican religious leader, of course) and completely demonize it, so that no matter 'the sin' that heterosexuals and Christians engage in, hey, at least they aren't 'the gay.'
It's all so very transparent and unintelligent that it's almost laughable.
Almost.