Frank Mugisha, a brave gay rights advocate in Uganda
It's been a tense 48 hours -- just days ago it looked like the Ugandan Parliament was going to use mounting violence in the streets over a potentially rigged election to force a monstrous anti-gay bill through Parliament.
Bad enough that the bill imprisons people for "homosexual conduct." It also imposes prison sentences of 7 years on anyone who "aids or abets" homosexuals. Even the parent or sibling of a suspected LGBT person can be imprisoned for waiting longer than 24 hours to turn their loved one in.
Worst of all, "repeat offenders" are sentenced to death.
Frank Mugisha, an amazing gay rights activist in Uganda, is at Parliament right now and, while he tells me that the bill has been pulled off the agenda for today, Parliament has decided to hold an emergency session and bring this bill to a vote on Friday.
This bill is our problem.
It was presented for the first time in 2009, just weeks after Rick Warren, members of Saddleback church, the Family and Exodus International held a conference in Uganda that argued against homosexuality.
The pastor behind the bill, Pastor Ssempe, has visited the U.S. many times and has close ties to many religious extremists in the U.S.
Finally, the U.S. is the single largest aid donor to Uganda -- essential to the survival of President Museveni's 25 year rule over the country.
Last time this bill was tabled in Ugandan Parliament, President Obama spoke out against it. This time, Representative Barney Frank has bravely stood up and condemned this attack on LGBT Ugandans.
We can join this movement. Sign the petition at www.avaaz.org
Then call your representative, and the White House. There are only a few days between certain death and victory for Frank and thousands of out gay Ugandans like him.
Follow Emma Ruby-Sachs on Twitter: www.twitter.com/EmmaRubySachs
Darnell L. Moore and Bryan M-C Epps: An Interview with Frank Mugisha, LGBT Freedom Fighter in Uganda
Rev. Dr. Cindi Love: The Separation of Church and Hate
It's time that we stopped allowing people to use a claim of "It's my religion" as an excuse for bigotry.
The Family’s membership includes congressmen, corporate leaders, generals and foreign heads of state. The Family engages in back-room dealings effecting both domestic and foreign affairs with little or no public accountability. Their activities possibly violate the Open Government Act. Because the Family chose not to register as a lobby group, their domestic and foreign activities are purposely kept secret. At the very least, we as Americans should challenge our elective officials as to their membership in the Family, what they do for the organization, and how the organization shapes their views. See "The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power" by Jeff Sharlet for more information on The Family.
http://salem-news.com/articles/may232010/africa-gay-rs.php
Don't forget, "God's people" in the United States want to re-criminalize homosexuality and get an amendment to the Constitution passed forbidding them to marry.