Ugandan MP Would Kill His Gay Son

OTTO ODONGA X390 (FAIR USE) | ADVOCATE.COM

A member of Uganda's parliament said at a Kampala forum on human rights and sexual orientation that he would kill his son if he found out he was gay.

MP Otto Odonga (pictured) was immediately denounced by the forum's keynote speaker, the chair of Kenya's Human Rights Commission, Makau Mutua, according to Xtra, a gay Canadian publication. Mutua said he was "baffled" by Odonga's homophobia. "Would you apply to be a hangman if the person to be hanged were your son?" he asked Odonga. When the MP nodded yes, Mutua replied, "There is something deeply wrong with you."

Another Ugandan MP, Christopher Kibanzanga, shared his outrage regarding bisexuals. "Who are bisexuals?" he asked. "What do they do? Has it just been imported into Africa?"

Rubaramira Ruranga, the director of a local HIV/AIDS organization, assured the attendees that anal sex was not something solely for gays, and that homosexuality and bisexuality were not un-African.

"When I was young, I saw men having sex with men in my small village, out in the bush, as we went hunting," he said.

Solome Nakawesi-Kimbugwe, the director of an African feminist organization, also urged leaders to focus on the country's economic status, since it is one of the poorest in the world.

"Let's put our priorities where our problems are," she said. "As Ugandans, what we want are laws that are relevant. Homosexuality is not a problem for us." Uganda's parliament is getting ready to debate a proposed law that would impose harsh punishments, up to and including the death penalty, on gay people.

The invitation-only forum was coordinated by students and staff from a Kampala university and held at one of the city's most exclusive hotels. Funding for the forum came from the Ford Foundation, a U.S.-based organization that promotes social justice, human rights, and economic fairness.

‹‹Previous Article in Category | Next Article in Category››

FILE UNDER: Uganda

Reader Comments

Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Deborah
Date posted: 5/29/2010 2:44:56 PM
Hometown: Vancouver

Comment:
This attitude and state of mind is why Uganda is still caught in the dark ages. This is why they need so much foreign aid, people cannot think logically, and have to constantly close their mind and ignore the truth that's tugging at it to live happily in this sort of society. Where are all the Ugandan inventors, scientists and innovators who would contribute something to pull them out of this economic mess ? So much for Ugandan contributions to technology and science. Ugandan Einsteins, they're probably the ones that a bill like this would kill/drive into the closet/emotional turmoil. Someone mentioned that animals don't have homosexual behaviour but they do, birds and ducks do it.
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: lejos del usa 6
Date posted: 3/15/2010 12:44:30 PM
Hometown: Caracas Venezuela

Comment:
ThThe colonialists of North America & western Europe are a disgrace to try to force the nationsof the world lieUganda to accept their immoral feminists lesbians & homosexuals--The people of Venezuela stand firm with the people of Ughanda Brundi & all the greaty nations of Africa who resist the immoral nations of NOrth America & Western Europe & thier colonialst disgrace-- We must all band together to resist USA Canada & Western Euro IMperialism-- if it is homosexuaks--lesbians-- or even propaganda about invading nations--Tell all those USA colonialsts like RUTH MESSINGER-- GLORIA ALLREDS-- BARBARA WALTERS-- WHOOPI GOLDBERD--MAYA ANGELOU--DIANNE FESINSTEIN--OBAMA--& THE REST-- GO AWAY & STAY IN OYUR OWN NATIONS--your a disgrace who even allow men to "marry" me in WASHINGTON DC-- & oyu INVADE NATIONS TO SPREAD YOUR "FREEEDOMS" GET OUT OF AFRICA SOUTH AMERICA-- ASIA & STAY OUT
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: hood
Date posted: 2/23/2010 5:48:55 AM
Hometown: kampala

Comment:
A man marrying a man, or a Woman Marrying a Woman. We call that sodomy? Gays please, let me inform you one thing, u will never import your act in uganda. We are strong and value family morals. The acts gay do, even animals do not do? that is what puzzles me. They they go on saying human rights.! what human is in that, if even an animal can not sleep with felow animal of same sex.
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: hood
Date posted: 2/23/2010 5:36:04 AM
Hometown: kampla

Comment:
U will not import acts which even a pigs do not do? to hell with gay
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Nathan
Date posted: 2/22/2010 12:08:21 PM
Hometown: Oakland Park

Comment:
The bible is full of stories of parents who are told by god to kill their children. The bible also calls for our execution. He is simply being a good christian (or bible believer for those of you who will be angry with me for calling him a christian).
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Randy Spence
Date posted: 2/22/2010 5:39:52 AM
Hometown: New York, NY

Comment:
How would one go about sponsoring a gay Ugandan, gay Haitian or gay Kenyan for U.S. citizenship? These brothers (and sisters) deserve our help, but I don't know where to begin... Please Advocate, more on this subject.
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Denicia Howard
Date posted: 2/22/2010 4:57:38 AM
Hometown: Sunrise

Comment:
d howard Isn't it wonderful - when so many people need food,shelter and health care that my tax dollars can go here. They can help fund laws that would lead to the execution of people just like me. What a world.
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Keith
Date posted: 2/21/2010 1:08:47 PM
Hometown: gastonia

Comment:
Send an e mail to the White House and ask "Why are we sponsoring a country that is committing genocide? Why do we give them $245 million dollars"!
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Kiara
Date posted: 2/21/2010 8:59:43 AM
Hometown: Illinois

Comment:
HIV and AIDS are one the most common problem that affects many people today. People of any background are vulnerable with this pandemic disease. Many programs are offered top help reduce the risk of HIV and AIDS but still the case continue to rise. Millions of fund has been allocated to prevent the disease, but as report show, the epidemic is unyielding and continues to put danger on human. source: http://simplestdtesting.com/resources/
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: jack
Date posted: 2/20/2010 5:42:18 PM
Hometown: new york

Comment:
There is one reality which most people are not willing to deal with. The problem with African/African American homophobia is not rational nor is it curable, but rather its is rooted deeply in history and psycology. I will present the following incontrovertible ideas: 1) almost no one is capable of original independent ideas. Most ideas come from family, religion, and national upbringing. Thus, African homophobia is a product of slavery and colonialism. The slaverers and colonialists took away the black people's masculinity and turned them from men to boys. Instead they gave them the protestant religion, which is steeped in homophobia. As a result, blacks hate gays because they remind them of the adult male kunta kinte fighting against his own dimunition into force transformation into the pre-pubescent boy-Tobey. Africans use the protestant religion as a support of their irrational beliefs. As a result their explanation of how they feel toward gays often sounds childish and irrational.

PREVIOUS 1 2 3 4 NEXT

Don't Miss

News Features WATCH: Son Defends Two Moms in Prop. 8 Case
Seventeen-year-old Spencer Perry is the latest of a number of young people who are standing up for their gay and lesbian parents and showing that the kids are all right, no matter what politicians might say.

Commentary Op-ed: Our Groups Need More Color in Their Rainbow

LGBT organizations need more racially diverse leaders, and there are a number of resolvable reasons why they are now lacking, argues Jimmy Nguyen.

News WATCH: Dustin Lance Black on Prop. 8, Election 2012
Dustin Lance Black, the screenwriter and founding board member for the American Foundation for Equal Rights, spoke to The Advocate after an appeals court called Prop. 8 unconstitutional.

Commentary Op-ed: Disliking Us Is No Longer a Legal Rationale

What the appeals court judges said in their ruling on Proposition 8’s constitutionality will have far-reaching consequences, and that has our opponents freaking out.

Television World’s First Openly Gay Royal Is on Fairy Tale Search for Love
India's gay Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil was burned in effigy when he surprised his countrymen and came out. Now he's going undercover to find love on a new reality show on TLC.

News Features Filmmakers Work for Marriage Equality
Instead of the typical campaign commercials advocating against antigay ballot initiatives like North Carolina's Amendment 1, Working Films is going deeper to show how these laws harm families.

Commentary Op-ed: Why We Are Fighting Meth

The executive producers for the Hollywood Rush witnessed a friend’s struggle with the drug and are trying to do something about it.

Music The Advocate Editors' Personal Madonna Moments
In honor of our March cover subject, we're sharing our own Madonna recollections, including getting nearly trampled by her fans and receiving correspondence from the lady herself.

Commentary Advice: Two Weddings, Two Sets of Gifts?
One groom-to-be asks what to do if you've already been married once before, but not "gay-married." Is it taboo to ask friends for wedding gifts again?

Television Housewives' Kyle Loves You, But Hands Off Her Mauricio
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Kyle Richards tells us about fending off gay advances toward her husband and receiving come-ons from lesbians.

News Quinn to Christie: Stop “Playing Games” With Marriage
New York City Council speaker Christine Quinn said that Gov. Chris Christie appears to be playing a “political game” with his call for a marriage equality referendum in New Jersey.

News Prop. 8 Recordings Could Still Be Made Public ... in 2020
Court rules mandate that documents filed under seal become public 10 years after a decision in the case — unless a legal party shows “good cause” as to why they should remain out of the public’s hands.

Best of Broadway Smash: Why You Will Love It
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, two of the producers of NBC’s new critically acclaimed musical series, explain why the backstage drama of creating a musical about Marilyn Monroe has mass appeal and why big stars like Anjelica Huston, Uma Thurman, Bernadette Peters, and Nick Jonas were eager to appear in it.

Best of Broadway The Advocate Staff Remembers: Best of Broadway
The staff of The Advocate turns back the pages of time and shares their favorite Broadway memories. We asked for yours earlier so it only seemed fair that we share, too.

Best of Broadway Sometimes a Hat Makes a Big Difference
Who has the best Easter bonnet? It's just another of the unexpected ways that Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS raises money for the cause.

News Psychedelic Queen of Pop (Art)
The March 2012 issue of The Advocate kicks off our 45th anniversary by paying homage to its birth year, 1967.

Best of Broadway Dressing Felicia: Priscilla's Costume Designer Talks Shop
Costume designer Tim Chappel shares private sketches with The Advocate of his work on The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and gives the behind-the-scenes scoop on that flip-flop dress.

Best of Broadway How Broadway Does a Flea Market
Find out why actress Kathleen Chalfant calls the annual Flea Market and Grand Auction in Times Square "the most glamorous flea market you've ever seen." It raised half a million dollars to fight HIV/AIDS.

Best of Broadway Especially for You, It All Goes Backwards on Broadway
Here's your chance to hear the best of Broadway sung with you in mind at the annual Broadway Backwards event.

Best of Broadway You Picked: Broadway's Best Moments
We asked for your most loved and loathed moments from the Broadway stage. Here are eight of our reader's favorite musical moments, plus two that were not so well received.

Travel Gayest Cities in America, 2012
It's no secret that megalopolises New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles have robust LGBT life — and we've even heard tell of little queer hoods like the Castro and P-Town. This isn't that list.

Business Best Companies List: Who Is on Your Side?
The Human Rights Campaign released its newly updated Corporate Equality Index today. Here's the complete list of companies that scored 100% for being LGBT-friendly.