Democracy Now ran a great story today on the troubling Ugandan anti-gay bill, and considering discussion we had yesterday, I though it pertinent. According to this story, a Ugandan weekly published on its front page a "kill list" of gay men and lesbians, which contradicts a comment made in class yesterday that Ugandan press and citizenry do not care about this issue as much as US press/citizens do. If it's on the front page, apparently the press finds the situation important, and wants others to value it as well. Perhaps this has not always been the case, but it certainly suggests increasing contemporary interest.
I am also intrigued (and disturbed) by the involvement of US conservative Christian players such as the creepily-named group "The Family," of which several US politicans have been a part. What I can't wrap my brain around is the motivation behind this involvement...the only idea I can come up with is that these individuals seek to further an evangelic Christian agenda by othering and ultimately eradicating "sinning" gay folks from the global scene.
It seems like the author of this bill might be seeking a scapegoat upon whom to blame AIDS - a ridiculous notion in itself, but also one that cannot be justified by exterminating an already marginalized group. Further, I don't believe this law to be moral, ethical or even rational. Reminiscent of the Nazi rationale for Jewish isolation and extermination, this also speaks to today's arising "blame Muslims" rhetoric.
What do you think is the historical significance (or future consequence) of US political/power elites putting their noses in Ugandan lawmaking?
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/10/21/anti_gay_fervor_in_uganda_tied
To clarify what I said in class: The anti-gay bill has never been a non-issue for Ugandans. When I first moved to the country two years ago homosexuality was illegal although the law was ill defined and there were fewer instances of it being enforced.
ReplyDeleteThe introduction of The Family and the subsequent reaction by international human rights groups has made the issue more salient in the media.
The attacks over this last week didn't come from mainstream media but a new tabloid called "The Rolling Stone". Out lists are not new. When I lived in Uganda another paper, The Red Pepper, also published their outings of people who lived and worked around Kampala. The paper is another tabloid and most of its content is crime photography and pin-up models. Its purpose is to shock readers in this culturally conservative country. The more legitimate two mainstream papers, The Daily Monitor and the state run New Vision, have been a lot more reserved in their coverage of this event.
Half of all of Uganda's income comes from foreign aid. As the Democracy Now interview correctly points out, Uganda is strongly Christian and wishes to identify and win favor with its fundamental Christian donors. The Family and other US Christian groups admit that they've lost the battle over homosexuality in America. The Family believes Uganda will be more impressionable of its ideology.
On the other hand, UN programs stressing universal Human Rights seek to empower the local population. Recognition of sexual orientation is one of these rights. The ever-present, international human rights groups in the country obviously can't sit back on this issue and the tug of war begins.
I kind of see this as almost like a cultural Vietnam where a battle is going on between two differing ideologies on foreign turf. The Ugandans who perpetuate the violence against gays are not innocent either, but the issue would not have become this big if it were not from international pressures.