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An Uncertain Future for Gay Ugandan Activists


Uganda signatures x390 (photos.com) | Advocate.com

“Who would want to live in a place where everyone hates you?” Frank Mugisha, the chairman of Sexual Minorities Uganda, recently asked me. “Who wants to live in a place where you cannot easily do your shopping? Where you think, Am I going to survive today? Am I going to get arrested today? Or beaten? Who wants to live in a place where your friends have alienated you? Who wants to live such a life?”

But in spite of the police harassment, the attacks from local media (he was identified in a Ugandan tabloid as a “Top Homo”), the death threats on his mobile phone, and the attempted blackmail, Mugisha and other activists are determined to stay and work for change in a country where the already criminalized gay population is being threatened.

If you’ve watched the news lately, you know why: The Anti-Homosexuality Bill has received significant attention in international press, where it is often called the “kill the gays” bill. Not only do “serial offenders” face execution, those who fail to report gays and lesbians to the police face incarceration.

Mugisha’s resolve is astounding, given one simple fact: “I could be the first person to be sentenced to life in prison if this law is passed.” He added calmly, “Uganda has some of the worst prisons in the world.”

Another person who, while frightened of what the law will do to the country, refuses to be intimidated we’ll call John (not his real name), a physician who also works for an international HIV/AIDS organization. “If the bill passes,” he said, “I will be supposed to do things that I, frankly, will not do. Damn the bill! I will be supposed to report any person who comes to me and tells me about homosexual contact within 24 hours on pain of a fine and three years in prison myself.”

John is equally indignant with the bill’s potentially devastating effects on HIV prevention and services.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: raven
    Date posted: 1/17/2010 1:59:34 AM
    Hometown: Provincetown, MA

    Comment:

    First, this story should be at THE TOP of the page and on the FRONT cover. What culd be MORE important to have us read? Fluff about so and so getting on TV? Heck, no!! This is the news we need to bring to the forefront of our papers. Second, is there no rich gay man anywhere out there who can sponser this man and have him come to some safe country under the pretenses of a "lecture seris" or a "conference tour" or the like? Tell me this can't me done...I know that someone who has money(not me-I am the "working poor") can pull this off. Keep this guy out of prison NOW. Once he is in prison it will be even harder to assist him and his cause in his country. Those with money need to do good things for others. Here is an opportunity. AND finally: Everyone out in Advocate readership land---do you all know that The American Red Cross still PROHIBITS gays and lesbians from giving blood? Yup! It's true! I just asked a Red Cross volunteer at my local mall.

  • Name: Jordan
    Date posted: 1/11/2010 2:00:40 PM
    Hometown: Milwaukee

    Comment:

    WHERE is the UN in all of this? We have a word for the persecution and attempted destruction of an entire minority group of people... GENOCIDE. What Uganda plans to do is genocide by the exact definition of the word. A flat out witch hunt, a repeat of kristallnacht. WHERE is United Nations and the civilized nations of the world? Why are they just watching?

  • Name: Storm Christopher
    Date posted: 1/8/2010 3:14:33 PM
    Hometown: Kansas City

    Comment:

    Join the boycott of Ugandan coffee and all African coffees. Coffee is the backbone of Uganda's economy and accounts for 90% of their gross export. Express your anger about this bill with your dollars. Boycott their coffee. More details at conversiontherapy.blotspot.com

  • Name: kenny
    Date posted: 1/7/2010 4:02:27 PM
    Hometown: S.C.

    Comment:

    Absolutely awful I hope this bill is nullified and declined.I mean this is like a domino effect if it goes through there who's to say that it won't happen where we live eventually? These people all of them who support this bill are total depraved monsters how dare they think they have the right to demand people to live the way they arent meant to live in the first place. Im gay and fucking proud of it I feel so much for these activists and all of these innocent homosexual americans worried that they may not make it through this year in their country.NULLIFY this bill and do whats right cherish and value human beings love them don't hate them don't condemn someone just because they are not straight . Don't vilify gay americans Uguanda cherish them care for them treat them like normal rational clear-thinking human beings because that is what we all are in the first place. If this bill passes then this world is truly hopeless.



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