Reuters: Uganda says wants to pass anti-gay law as "Christmas gift"

[visionary]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8AC0V720121113

Uganda says wants to pass anti-gay law as "Christmas gift"

Uganda's parliamentary speaker said she wanted to pass as a "Christmas gift" for Ugandans an anti-gay law, which rights groups have criticized for its draconian penalties against homosexuals.

The bill had initially proposed the death penalty for gays in the conservative east African country but still presents an array of jail terms for convicted homosexuals, including life imprisonment in certain circumstances.

Denounced as "odious" by U.S. President Barack Obama, the bill has left veteran President Yoweri Museveni struggling to balance the demands of the evangelical church on one side and aid donors on the other.

Some international donors have threatened to cut aid if the legislation, which is now before a parliamentary committee and was first introduced in parliament in 2009, becomes law.

"Ugandans want that law as a Christmas gift. They have asked for it and we'll give them that gift," parliament speaker Rebecca Kadaga told Reuters on Tuesday.

[Tulane Skins Fan]

Now all the people who are fleeing the country due to Obama's re-election know where they can go.

[Predicto]

Extremist American evangelicals like Scott Lively have really poisoned the waters over there.

[Special K]

Extremist American evangelicals like Scott Lively have really poisoned the waters over there.

Yeeeaaahhh, that guy is nucking futs.

As a Christian, it is really hard for me to swallow such extremism represented as true Christianity. The character of God he (and others like him) preaches is absolutely off track and false. It's sad that his extremism is the only view of God and Christianity some people will ever know.

[elkabong82]

Ironic that they call sanctioned killings based on religious and moral reasoning a "Christmas gift," given that Jesus would have been against man enacting such laws.

I would like the UN to send people there to discuss the issue. Right now they are threatening to cut off aid, but I don't think that is enough. I think people with such horrific viewpoints need to be challenged, not isolated.

[LadySkinsFan]

I think WE should cut off aid to Uganda, declare it a hostile state, and refuse to allow anyone to travel there, much like North Korea, Cuba etc. I wonder how much we'd save in aid dollars. That also means that no US citizen would be allowed to travel there, and especially not to spread their particular brand of evangelical Christian fire.

[Predicto]

I think WE should cut off aid to Uganda, declare it a hostile state, and refuse to allow anyone to travel there, much like North Korea, Cuba etc. I wonder how much we'd save in aid dollars. That also means that no US citizen would be allowed to travel there, and especially not to spread their particular brand of evangelical Christian fire.

The problem is, Uganda has been very helpful to the West in recent years, especially in providing peacekeepers to other spots in Africa.

[Larry]

Now all the people who are fleeing the country due to Obama's re-election know where they can go.

I hear their President was born in Kenya.

[Bang]

Dey is eating de poopoo!








Listeners of my podcast may appreciate that.

~Bang

[Jumbo]

Really? "evangelical church?" Y'know, one place decent Christian folk really do have it bad is how many absolute butt****s associate themselves as the same.

[Thiebear]

Been all over the world - its crazy out there
Not being killed all the time for no reason is a good characteristic of America. (by the gov't)

Because I know Jesus would want gay people killed for his birthday celebrated by all.
Or life imprisonment if your only partially gay is turning the other cheek?

[LadySkinsFan]

The problem is, Uganda has been very helpful to the West in recent years, especially in providing peacekeepers to other spots in Africa.

Well, shoot, that makes it okay then.

[Thiebear]

Well, shoot, that makes it okay then.

We put up with Saudi Arabia which really isn't that great...

[Special K]

I think WE should cut off aid to Uganda, declare it a hostile state, and refuse to allow anyone to travel there, much like North Korea, Cuba etc. I wonder how much we'd save in aid dollars. That also means that no US citizen would be allowed to travel there, and especially not to spread their particular brand of evangelical Christian fire.

Yeah, that's not going to happen, nor should it, IMO.

Uganda is in a very strategic location in Africa and as Predicto stated, has been a vital part of ground operations on that continent.

If we didn't do jack crap in Sudan when millions of innocent people were getting slaughtered and displaced, I doubt our government is going to risk our relatively friendly relations and strategic partnership with this country over this law.

Not that the law is right, it's obviously a horrific law fueled by religious extremism and hatred.

Unfortunately, most countries on that continent enact horrible laws, laws that most Americans would find objectionable. This law is no worse than similar horrific laws enacted in many African countries; it's just that those countries' plights aren't given the type of media attention Uganda has received...