Gay and proud? Not in Uganda!

by Danielle Mc Mahon

LGBT rights once again made their way to the front page this morning as Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni, signed an Anti-Homosexuality bill into law. Uganda is one of the thirty seven African countries which are anti-gay. This controversial bill has been passed into law having gone through parliament, during which they negotiated and removed a death penalty clause from the bill before allowing to pass to law.
I was deeply saddened to read further into the story and discover that the reason this bill is being signed into law is not merely because of deep rooted moral beliefs, for religious reasons or even cultural cleansing, no, it has actually been described, by the Ugandan president himself as a way of showing the Western world that his country will not fall at the feet of threats from countries such as America. The United States is currently one of Uganda's primary aid providers and president Obama has warned that the passing of this law may affect the relationship between Uganda and America. This underdeveloped country which struggles with providing basic goods to its people is now making life unbearable for some of its population, and for what? To prove a point to the Western World?
This current law against homosexuality states that people who are found to be homosexual could face a life time in prison, it also stipulates that it is the duty of all citizens to denounce homosexuality and homosexual behaviour.
Does this sound right to anyone out there? Does this even make sense? While the rest of the world is trying to better themselves and as a result improve gay rights this backward African country is taking drastic measures to avoid progress.
As you make your way through the news headlines today you will see news of this bill, news of protests in Kiev, the death-toll in Venezuela and numerous other headlines about violence, protests about not allowing LGBT floats in the New York St Patrick's Day parade, and much more.
For me the main issue which seems to be a common factor in the majority of these headlines is the question of human rights.
How is that after something as horrific as the Holocaust that people all over the world seem to be turning a blind eye to the fact that once again human rights are being forgotten, being torn down, being dismissed coldly for no reason at all, that certain people are being punished for simply being who they are.
I can only image the fear of the homosexual population in Uganda today. Realising that you are gay is not something easy, it is an idea that fills you with fear, you are unsure about what you think you are feeling, you feel like you are doing something wrong. You are terrified about what your friends and family will say.
Now imagine a young person in Uganda realising that instead of wanting to hold the hand of the boy sitting next to her that the she wants to kiss her best friend. Imagine realising that being yourself, simply being who you are will result in your being put in prison for the rest of your life. Imagine knowing that by law people cannot accept you for who you are.
Africa has had a turbulent past, they have struggled with issues of human rights, they struggle on a daily basis to provided for the growing population, a large percentage of African countries depend on aid from foreign organisations as they cannot manage themselves. Should these countries not appreciate the value of basic human rights? Is it not a basic human right to love and be loved? Is it not a basic human right to walk the streets and not be jailed or beaten for simply being who you are.
Uganda is a country in development, it is my firm belief that having passed such a backward law it will never be much more than that. The rest of the world is moving on, slowly, but nevertheless moving on and growing. The rest of the world is seeking equality, happiness and safety for its population while countries such as Uganda are condemning homosexuals to a life time of pain, suffering and torture.This is not acceptable, it never has been and never will be.