Ugandan presidential adviser John Nagenda told the BBC that people in his country were “tired of these lectures” about gay rights and being treated like “children.”
Sounds like someone didn’t get his naptime!
After UK Prime Minister David Cameron made it clear over at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Australia last week that ex-colonies receiving aid from Britain should respect LGBT rights, Nagenda accused him over the weekend of using a “bullying mentality.”
In case you’ve forgotten, homosexuality is currently illegal in Uganda—which gained its independence from Great Britain in 1962— and a pesky “Kill the Gays” bill keeps popping up in the legislature. “I believe it will die a natural death,” Nagenda said of the bill. “But this kind of ex-colonial mentality of saying: ‘You do this or I withdraw my aid’ will definitely make people extremely uncomfortable with being treated like children… Those who have more should give to those who have less. It’s as simple as that.”
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Uganda isn’t the only Commonwealth country in Africa with a black eye when it comes to gay issues. Nigeria is considering a law that would make it a crime to even speak out in support of gay rights or same-sex marriage. The BBC report notes that of the 54 countries in the Commonwealth, 41 have laws banning homosexual acts—many of which are holdovers from British rule.
Oops.
Bob
‘You do this or I withdraw my aid’ will definitely make people extremely uncomfortable with being treated like children…
If you need to be supported because you are too stupid or lazy to support yourself, then you are a child, and should respect the parent country. The USA also needs to stop sending foreign aid (our tax money; some of which comes from the LGBT community) to these barbaric countries.
Isebantu in Uganda
Why would the US or UK want to stuff GAYISM down people’s throats using the cover of AID. If its ok to be gay, why is it not ok if States oulaw the evil act? Anyway, pliz give the aid to only States that appreciate homosexuality and leave out those that dont.
Robert in NYC
I’m glad you’re living in Uganda, No. 2 where you belong, hopefully in a cave.
HM
Behold the consequences of 50 years of wackjob US televangelists and their African ‘crusades’. Crazy preachers and their extremist mantra have been a quiet but nasty US export for years….. and all the horrid “gays must die” Biblical literalism that even most US evangelicals can’t stomach is all part of the accepted message to their ‘new customers’.
matt
@Isebantu in Uganda: Sorry to disappoint but “GAYISM” is already all over the place in every country and not even the “kill the gays” bill is gonna stop it. How about you stop denying reality and enter the 21st century?
Bob
@Isebantu in Uganda:
Why are you even on a gay site? If you hate us, why would you want to read anything about us.
Rohan
If they stop acting like children, people will stop treating them as such. I never thought I would actually say this but I’m really impressed with the stance David Cameron has taken on this issue. This from a guy who, in recent history, supported the notoriously homophobic Section 28.
Seriously, I think withdrawing aid from these barbaric troglodytes is the right thing to do, and not just for infractions against the rights of gay people. Until Uganda has a legal system that provides some semblance of equality for gays, women and people of minority religions, cut the cord.
Ray
@Isebantu in Uganda: Nice to see our tax dollars going to pay for barbarians to get fat while sitting around playing on the internet waiting for the next welfare check. Let the animals starve. If they weren’t fat and happy off our tax dollars they wouldn’t be worried about what gays are going. Obviously they don’t have any real problems.
Dan
Gay people and straight allies are way too nice. I can’t imagine any other enormous group putting up with these kinds of human rights violations, especially given the financial and technological resources of gay people and straight allies.
Oscar
If Ghana wants to abuse some of its citizens and conveniently turn public attention away from its governments more obvious failures to improve their lives then it can, but I think any country giving Aid has a right NOT to contribute to such abuses directly or indirectly.
Queer Supremacist
No country anywhere should be getting foreign aid; it’s just welfare for dictators. I’ll be goddamned if I’m going to foot the bill for the genocide of my gay brothers and sisters in Uganda.
HJTravels
They shouldn’t get any money if they are going to have laws like this.