Gives Thanks

Rachel Maddow Covers Uganda

 Rachel Maddow has been key to focusing public consciousness on Uganda’s draconian “kill the gays” bill—and its connection to the secretive, homophobic Christian group known as the Family, whose members include many powerful U.S. religious and elected officials. “The idea for the ‘kill the gays’ bill was first floated at an event associated with the Uganda National Prayer Breakfast, an event sponsored by the Family,” she told viewers of her eponymous talk show in February. In jaw-dropping reports featuring investigative journalist Jeff Sharlet, Maddow helped underline bill sponsor David Bahati’s cozy relationship with some evangelical U.S. politicians and preachers, including U.S. senator James Inhofe and megachurch pastor Rick Warren. Only after the GLAAD Media Award–winning reports and ensuing the public outcry did Inhofe and Warren disavow the murderous bill—which remains pending in Uganda’s parliament.