Over 1,300 people gathered at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda on Sunday to hear American Evangelical Lou Engle preach at a rally and prayer service against "homosexuality, witchcraft, and corruption."
Engle's involvement in organizing TheCall Uganda was mired in controversy from the very beginning given his long history of violent anti-gay and anti-abortion rhetoric and preaching. At past TheCall rallies, like the one in support of Proposition 8 in California, Engle called homosexuality a "spirit of lawlessness" and called for "martyrs" to become "God's Avengers of Blood" to stop the "homosexual agenda" at all cost.
Engle's newly founded chapter of TheCall Uganda comes at a time of unparalleled violence and animus towards LGBT people in the country, including the odious Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which calls for life imprisonment for gays and their supporters, as well as the death penalty in some cases.
With this backdrop of violence, Engle chose to hold a huge religious rally to further gin up anger towards gay people in Uganda. Before the rally, Engle claimed in a press release that he would not be there promoting the "kill the gays" bill, in an effort to stem some of the push-back he was getting from human rights groups for his panned rally. Not surprisingly, once he arrived in Uganda, his tune was very different and very dangerous.
Engle's press statement before the event said:
TheCall had no knowledge at the time, of the Uganda homosexual bill and the controversy surrounding it...
TheCall has been wrongfully marked and vilified as an organization promoting hatred and violence against homosexuals and as one that supports the Uganda bill as currently written...
We do not see the character of Christ reflected in some key aspects of the language of the current bill.
His words and actions in Uganda on Sunday told a very different story.
The New York Times reported that Engle came out strongly in support of the Ugandan anti-gay efforts:
When he [Engle] took the stage late on Sunday afternoon, with Ugandan politicians and pastors looking on, he praised the country's "courage" and "righteousness" in promoting the bill.
"NGOs, the U.N., Unicef, they are all coming in here and promoting an agenda," Mr. Engle said, referring to nongovernmental organizations. "Today, America is losing its religious freedom. We are trying to restrain an agenda that is sweeping through the education system. Uganda has become ground zero."
Quite a different tune from Engle's previous previous press release before his trip, isn't it? His rallying support and praise for the Bill is exactly what Human Rights groups feared would happen. It seems TheCall was in no way "wrongfully marked and vilified" for its violent, anti-gay stances.
One long-time Ugandan LGBT rights activist, who asked that I not share his name for fear of his safety and that of his family, sent me this chilling first-hand report of TheCall Uganda rally, which he attended:
Pastor John Mulinde of Trumpet Church, in his prayer, condemned evils in society done by both homosexuals and heterosexuals. He emphasized that homosexuality is in schools, families, and the entire community. He also pointed out that many children are being deceived with school fees from homosexuals and recruit them into the act.
Pastor Lou Engle from America noted that he didn't know by the time of his invitation to Uganda that there was a homosexuality bill. He went ahead to emphasize that it is the Western World using non-government organizations to promote homosexuality. He warned the youth in the crowd that when America allowed homosexuals freedom it was the end of their nation.
He [Engle] called upon the government of Uganda to be firm and hold on its righteous stand against the evil. He mentioned that homosexuals have penetrated the educational system and Ugandans must be aware of the evil. He also lectured about how God planned marriage only between man and woman and that marriage is for procreation.
Honorable Minister of Ethics Nsaba Buturu was worse. He spoke out against homosexuality, saying that for those who think it's a human right issue 'Uganda cannot listen to that nonsense.' He asked the audience to pray for president Museveni and his government to maintain their firms stand against evil in our society.
Pastor Mulinde then called his fellow pastor to come forward and pray for Buturo and Bahati and the government to continue with their crusade against homosexuality.
Not only did Engle fully support the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill, but he whipped up bizarre fears of evil gays lurking in schools in Uganda. He also praised the backers of a bill that seeks to kill gays and imprison those who support them. Engle happily gave a huge platform to violent, anti-gay activists with his organization's TheCall rally in Uganda.
This is the danger of exporting radical American Evangelicalism and homophobia to other countries. Lou Engle has turned an already volatile situation into an untenable one where blood will most likely be spilled in the name of his extremism -- blood that will rest firmly on his hands.
(Cross-posted from my home blog, Bilerico Project. Come visit me there to see why both the Washington Post and the Advocate named us one of the top 10 LGBT political blogs in the nation.)
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Rev. Dr. Cindi Love: Uganda, Gay Rights and the Mandates of Compassion
Therefore TheCall, though continuing to be held in Uganda, will not promote this bill. In fact, we challenge the Church of Uganda to join with Christians around the world, to first examine our own moral failures, confess our own lack of love, and from that heart seek to establish true biblical standards, reflecting compassion for those struggling with same-sex attraction and equal justice for criminal offenses committed by heterosexuals or homosexuals. We believe this also reflects the heart and intent of the Christian leaders of Uganda.
In releasing this statement, we want to take this opportunity to reiterate our deep love for the homosexual community and, as followers of Jesus, our commitment to oppose all hatred and violence directed towards that community.
For TheCall,
Lou Engle
Now recently, TheCall has been wrongfully marked and vilified as an organization promoting hatred and violence against homosexuals and as one that supports the Uganda bill as currently written. To the contrary, we have never made a private or a public statement of support for that bill. Though we honor the courage and stand with the stated purpose of the many Church leaders in Uganda who are seeking to protect the traditional and biblical family foundations of the nation, we have serious concerns with the bill as presently written, especially in terms of some of the harsh penalties for certain homosexual behaviors or offenses.
Sadly, many around the world are identifying TheCall with these aspects of the bill. Our concern is not to avoid the controversy the bill is stirring up, but to give an accurate representation of biblical values and the heart of Christ for all humanity. Though TheCall is not afraid to take a clear stand on biblical truth on matters of sexuality, we are deeply concerned that TheCall ministry would not wrongfully reflect the character of Christ, and we do not see the character of Christ reflected in some key aspects of the language of the current bill.
April 28, 2010
When TheCall was invited to come to Uganda our intent was to join with the leaders and the people of the great Ugandan Church in a gathering of fasting and prayer to confess our personal and national sins, to pray for God’s blessing on the nation, and for a great spiritual awakening among her youth. Personal and national repentance among Christians and prayer for spiritual awakening has been the core focus of TheCall since her inception.
TheCall had no knowledge at the time, of the Uganda homosexual bill and the controversy surrounding it. TheCall was unaware that our genuine intent to encourage the Ugandan church in prayer would thrust us into an international controversy.
TheCall, in 2008, mobilized thousands to pray and fast in California that marriage would be upheld between a man and a woman, believing this to be God’s design for the good of society, family, and children. TheCall belief and intent has never been about promoting hatred toward the homosexual community as a whole or towards individuals who identify as LGBT. We have always sought to offer a message of love and redemption to those with same-sex attractions, though at times our communication could have been expressed more effectively and graciously. In this aspect, we humbly seek your forgiveness if we had not communicated God’s righteousness and mercy adequately.
If blood is spilled because of his blatant disregard towards humanity, he should be arrested on human rights violations.
To think of all the things that could be done for Uganda that would genuinely help it's people progress in the world, and Engle is what they actually get is really unacceptable. Hopefully Rachel Maddow will continue to shine the light of discovery on the roles that Engle and others in this country play in the conflict. It is a dangerously explosive situation.
And now, this creep pushes for anti-gay legislation. I think that it's worth noting that some of the most stringent anti-gay laws have been in countries that the US has considered the enemy: communist countries and Muslim fundamentalist countries. Homosexuality was a punishable offense in every Eastern Bloc country, and last time that I checked, Iran and North Korea still execute LGBT people. These facts should automatically make gayhood OK.
As for the stuff about gay rights destroying the US, last time that I checked, god has not struck down the US!
Americans love and cheer the underdog. When that underdog is supported in everything, they relinquish their status and become the "Nazis". We throw it around a lot, but when one can logically link speech tactics, hive mentality control and the knowledge of what went before being stunningly and clearly repeated, there is no "paranoia" in the comparisons. These "holy men of god" amongst you are not just using Nazi tactics to remove "their" enemy from the world, they are using YOU to kill in the name of a god that demands "Thou shalt not kill". Not "Thou shalt not kill ... except...." You have Hitler leading you, and his Eichmann, Goebbels, and Himmler are right there with him, cheering on atrocious behavior and the deepest evils humans are capable of. And making you feel all shiny and proud that YOU are willing to surrender everything to their lies and hate. You are choosing to write a story already writ. Same reasons, same tactics, same leaders. Different central enemy, maybe, but the ovens and ash pits will one day mark you the same. You have one chance to step out of line and say, "This I will not do!" Walk away. Please! Remember your humanity. Before history makes you remember.