Pro-Life?
A member of the Ugandan parliament who is also a member of the religious group “The Family” (prominent U.S. members include John Ensign, Tom Coburn, Mark Sanford and Bart Stupak – the Cheat Street crew) has proposed a new law in Uganda:
The Ugandan parliament is currently considering an “Anti-Homosexuality Bill,” under which any person “convicted of gay sex is liable to life imprisonment.” If that person is HIV positive or has sex with a minor or a person with a disability, he or she would be guilty of “aggravated homosexuality” and face the death penalty. The bill also proposes up to three years of imprisonment for anyone who “fails to report within 24 hours the identities of everyone they know who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, or who supports human rights for people who are.” The bill would even “apply to Ugandans who commit homosexual offences, but who live overseas.” There are approximately 500,000 gay men and women living in Uganda.
Pastor Rick Warren claims to be neutral on the bill:
Pastor Rick Warren — whom President Obama controversially chose to deliver the invocation at his inauguration — is now refusing to condemn Bahati’s bill, which has been endorsed by Ugandan pastor Martin Ssempa. Ssempa has been welcomed by Warren’s family and made appearances at his church. Newsweek reports that although Warren has distanced himself from Ssempa’s views, he won’t come out against the Anti-Homosexuality Bill:
The fundamental dignity of every person, our right to be free, and the freedom to make moral choices are gifts endowed by God, our creator. However, it is not my personal calling as a pastor in America to comment or interfere in the political process of other nations.
Is this part of the culture of life I hear so much about?
Tags: Republican Hypocrisy, Rick Warren
Jeff Sharlet was on Fresh Air recently talking about this stuff — especially Uganda — and this publication has a partial transcript of his interview.
i know its horrible, but i cant help but laugh at the term “aggravated homosexuality” Draws up images of Carson Kressley and Tim Gunn in a slap fight over who swiped who’s idea for the Barbra dress up ball. “its MY gold lame you bitch”
Warren’s statement reflects the incorrect belief that homosexuality is a “choice”. I pray for the day that actual irrefutable scientific evidence proves that being gay is something you are born with, like red hair or blue eyes. Maybe THEN we’ll be able to get some traction on this ouright bigotry (we didn’t have to deal with this “lifestyle choice” crap in the 60s). But the cynical side of me doesn’t think that’s going to do anything either. Considering some conservatives wear their ignorance like a badge of pride.
V, there are already evangelicals who not only believe it is something you are born with, but it is something that can be cured. I had a teacher in college who i had many a debate with after class. He is a hard core conservative but there was always a mutual respect between us. His firm belief was (and i assume still is) that people who are born gay, are so because of some sin committed by a male ancestor. It is their job then to not act on those feelings so that they may cleanse the bloodline. Sins of the father and whatnot.
The other side is if it IS in fact found to be a gene, or god forbid some kind of deformity, you KNOW people will look for cures. Then you COULD really choose to stay gay. As in.. if you are gay and choose NOT to get the “vaccine” you are living in sin. Would liberals support the government covering this procedure? What if homophobic parents force their 16 year old to get it after they come out of the closet?
Stupid.
Ass.
Idea.
Positively ridiculous xenophobia.
And why I am coming out of hibernation, and will vote against any idiocy of this type that attempts to rear its ugly, nasty micro-minded self, in this country.
“If that person is HIV positive or has sex with a minor or a person with a disability, he or she would be guilty of “aggravated homosexuality” and face the death penalty.”
In Uganda and many other African countries, this is a real problem, due to the widely held belief that having sex with a virgin can cure you of HIV. On the good news side, the South African Defense Force has lifted a ban on HIV-positive soldiers actively serving – they used to just kick them out, which discouraged them from getting tested and treated.
Can you tell I watch the BBC every morning?
Yes, but the problem with HIV sex with minors is OVERWHELMINGLY heterosexual. Men raping baby girls. Just so we’re clear.
Yes, that’s my problem too, Brooke. It singles out homosexuality as the culprit.