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Monday, December 12, 2011
Nigeria Celebrates Homophobia and Hetero Infidelity
Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
December 12, 2011
The following homophobic and irrational opinion article appeared in the Nigerian Vanguard newspaper today written by Kola Animasaun. This was written in light of the impending passage of a virulent anti-gay statute in the Nigerian senate.
My response to this mindless discrimination follows:
Sirs and Mesdames,
Regarding your writer's words "making nonsense of the sanctity of marriage", instead of blasting a very small minority (of gays) who wish to love in private, I suggest the leaders--political, media and religious--of Nigeria look in the mirror and see how much straight married adults make nonsense of the sanctity of marriage by their infidelity and deceptive attitudes toward their vows.
By the tens of thousands, it is well known that husbands stray far and wide from their spouses--as evidenced by the huge increase of HIV cases among heterosexuals. How many of these men have abandoned their wives and children? How many secretly pursue sex with other women--and men? (It is telling that on today's 12/12/11 front page of the Vanguard there is a joke cartoon that openly suggests infidelity between a husband and his laundrywoman!).
In today's issue of PMNews (Nigeria) the author--a Nigerian woman--has written: "We now live in a civilised world where men carry the Bible and Koran on one hand, while they use the other to commit all sorts of crime. People keep using religious words and titles just to cover up for different atrocities they perpetrate. In fact, the pew is now more sanctified than the pulpit. Why go on preaching against people with two wives when clergy have five girls in his church and two from each church he visits? Why do you claim to be very polished and educated that you can’t imagine yourself with two wives when God knows you have ten already?"
Indeed, these are the people who should be demonized and condemned for their sinful and callous behavior--based on today's reality. Gays who want equality and marriage are a very very small minority of Nigerians who only want to be left alone to love in peace and are much more likely to be faithful than heterosexual husbands.
Reacting hysterically and disproportionately to these few gays--who could never possibly threaten the institution of marriage--today's alleged Christian leaders think they have found the real demons in the moral corruption in Nigerian society, basing their condemnation on ancient Biblical scripture that is unscientific, historically inaccurate, mysterious and factually confusing. (Not to mention prejudicial and selective: recall that the Bible says the greatest abomination is charging interest on borrowed money!)
Gays are not a threat to modern Nigerian society; corruption, greed, theft, infidelity, poverty and religious warfare are far more dangerous than a few homosexuals who simply want to care for each other. Also, be reminded that countess scientific studies have confirmed that (1) homosexuals have always existed in African cultures and (2) people are born with a predisposition toward sexual orientation; they don't suddenly chose it at the age of seven, fifteen or twenty-three as a fun thing to do in order to get beaten up for it!
Tend to your own morals before you condemn others. I think Jesus said something like that.
Protest the anti-gay Nigerian law
Forbes Magazine: Obama's Threat
The Economist Report
Washington Post Warns of HIV Increase
Other Nigerian homophobic rants online:
Business Day Online
Daily Trust
Nigeria Masterweb Daily News
+ much more
GlobalGayz.com
December 12, 2011
The following homophobic and irrational opinion article appeared in the Nigerian Vanguard newspaper today written by Kola Animasaun. This was written in light of the impending passage of a virulent anti-gay statute in the Nigerian senate.
(I quote the first four paragraphs)
"Where do human rights begin and where do they end? I should think they should begin with al God-given rights and end where God's laws naturally "adhere to proper human rights."
"But the British Prime Minister has extended it to include making homosexuality legal. The British have been doing the best for themselves to redraw the natural laws in the last few years. They have made nonsense of the Bible and the Qur'an. And you want to believe that they do not believe in any of them.
"You hear of partners - male and female - living together and making nonsense of the sanctity of marriage. That of course does not seem to be the limit. Now, you have marriage between man and man; woman and woman."From time immemorial God warned us against both extremes. And he even demonstrated what would happen if we go against His injunctions. We should not forget the people of Lot - many years and many centuries ago - who were punished by turning them into pillars of salts - both sodomites and lesbians..." (read full story here)
Kola Animasaun is an author; one of his books is entitled 'The Voice of Reason'.
My response to this mindless discrimination follows:
Sirs and Mesdames,
Regarding your writer's words "making nonsense of the sanctity of marriage", instead of blasting a very small minority (of gays) who wish to love in private, I suggest the leaders--political, media and religious--of Nigeria look in the mirror and see how much straight married adults make nonsense of the sanctity of marriage by their infidelity and deceptive attitudes toward their vows.
By the tens of thousands, it is well known that husbands stray far and wide from their spouses--as evidenced by the huge increase of HIV cases among heterosexuals. How many of these men have abandoned their wives and children? How many secretly pursue sex with other women--and men? (It is telling that on today's 12/12/11 front page of the Vanguard there is a joke cartoon that openly suggests infidelity between a husband and his laundrywoman!).
In today's issue of PMNews (Nigeria) the author--a Nigerian woman--has written: "We now live in a civilised world where men carry the Bible and Koran on one hand, while they use the other to commit all sorts of crime. People keep using religious words and titles just to cover up for different atrocities they perpetrate. In fact, the pew is now more sanctified than the pulpit. Why go on preaching against people with two wives when clergy have five girls in his church and two from each church he visits? Why do you claim to be very polished and educated that you can’t imagine yourself with two wives when God knows you have ten already?"
Indeed, these are the people who should be demonized and condemned for their sinful and callous behavior--based on today's reality. Gays who want equality and marriage are a very very small minority of Nigerians who only want to be left alone to love in peace and are much more likely to be faithful than heterosexual husbands.Reacting hysterically and disproportionately to these few gays--who could never possibly threaten the institution of marriage--today's alleged Christian leaders think they have found the real demons in the moral corruption in Nigerian society, basing their condemnation on ancient Biblical scripture that is unscientific, historically inaccurate, mysterious and factually confusing. (Not to mention prejudicial and selective: recall that the Bible says the greatest abomination is charging interest on borrowed money!)
Gays are not a threat to modern Nigerian society; corruption, greed, theft, infidelity, poverty and religious warfare are far more dangerous than a few homosexuals who simply want to care for each other. Also, be reminded that countess scientific studies have confirmed that (1) homosexuals have always existed in African cultures and (2) people are born with a predisposition toward sexual orientation; they don't suddenly chose it at the age of seven, fifteen or twenty-three as a fun thing to do in order to get beaten up for it!
Tend to your own morals before you condemn others. I think Jesus said something like that.
Protest the anti-gay Nigerian law
Forbes Magazine: Obama's Threat
The Economist Report
Washington Post Warns of HIV Increase
Other Nigerian homophobic rants online:
Business Day Online
Daily Trust
Nigeria Masterweb Daily News
+ much more
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Belize LGBT Activists Mount Historic Challenge to Anti-Gay Laws
By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
December 1, 2011
A November 16, 2011 Guardian newspaper report announced a new challenge in Belize to its anti-gay laws. The legal suit is the first contest by a new human rights organization that intends to overturn all post-UK former colonies that have laws criminalizing homosexuality. "The Human Dignity Trust (HDT), which launched its campaign in London on Thursday, is targeting the 80-odd states where consensual sexual activity between adults
of the same gender is outlawed. More than half are Commonwealth countries which inherited their regulations from British colonial rule. In some like Uganda, Kenya, Cameroon and Ghana the laws are seen by some as justification for violent attacks on gay and lesbian people."
(photo right: for tourists Belize is a paradise; for gays it is less than that.)
Not surprising, Belize's Anglican, evangelical, and Catholic 'spiritual leaders' have united to oppose the effort. They will announce their objections in a court hearing this week. As if to add injury to insult they insist they have evidence that homosexuality can be 'cured'--against all scientific studies to the contrary. It will be a contest between intelligent modern thinking and archaic religious bigotry.
It is endlessly frustrating to read the same old, absurd and morally-twisted arguments of such people as Belize Catholic bishop Dorick Wright, Anglican bishop Philip Wright and Evangelical Rev Eugene Crawford in Belize City. These supposed 'good Christians' are quoted as saying, "the people of Belize will not surrender our constitution, our moral foundations, and our way of life to predatory foreign interests."
Indeed! These are the very ones who are devoid of moral foundation in their modern use of ancient books of ambivalent religious mystery that have no factual source or verifiable accuracy; they justify their bigotry purely on prejudicial misinterpretations and mistranslations of alleged scriptures that were in fact 'invented' by highly fallible writers (with no acknowledgement of dissenting views) and politically imposed upon an ancient nomadic populace who could not read or write, hence violating their native animist belief system. (photo left: courthouse in Belize City)
It is a pathetic miscarriage of Christian justice to use such fragmented, unreliable, multiply-translated, man-made, opinionated and selected bits of 'scripture' as a basis for a guide to daily life nearly two thousand years later. These old texts are about as accurate and truthful for today's science-based life as using ancient Egyptian pharonic scribblings on medical procedures as a guide for surgery today. Would anyone in their right mind allow a physician schooled in these antique lessons to perform life-saving procedures to heal injuries or disease?! For the same reasoning, how do modern religious believers follow equally archaic words?
It takes a huge leap of blind foolishness to state in a modern public
forum such prejudicial ignorant opinions against scientifically verified aspects regarding human sexuality. Homosexual behavior is an inherent variety of human nature that has existed in every society that's ever emerged on the planet. There is no sound verification of homosexuality being 'imported' or forced on a people from alien sources.
(photo right: activist Caleb Oroczo, head of UniBam--leading the court suit against the government)
Modern 'thinkers' who claim spiritual leadership would do well to go back to deeper research and investigation into their alleged sources in culture and language. There, if they have the intellectual open-mindedness, will they not find any specific reference or rule regarding the sexual nature of human beings, other than some comments on marriage. Modern religious bigotry against homosexuality has no true scriptural standing. Prejudice is just that--opinion without truth.
And speaking of "predatory foreign interests", it was the Christian armies, missionaries and inquisition that targeted violence against peoples of other territories, tribes and cultures in the mad crusade of 'saving the heathen' from their native beliefs and worship rituals, which had served them well enough for thousands of years.
Shame, shame on Catholic bishop Dorick Wright, the Anglican bishop Philip Wright and the evangelical Rev Eugene Crawford. Let's hope their irrational hateful beliefs are crushed under the truth and science of modern enlightened thinking.
In front of the Anglican cathedral in Belize City there is a 'peace post' with the inscription: May peace prevail on Earth. Let's hope this bit of hypocrisy reverses to become a reality. (photo left)
Read more about LGBT life in Belize here.
GlobalGayz.com
December 1, 2011
A November 16, 2011 Guardian newspaper report announced a new challenge in Belize to its anti-gay laws. The legal suit is the first contest by a new human rights organization that intends to overturn all post-UK former colonies that have laws criminalizing homosexuality. "The Human Dignity Trust (HDT), which launched its campaign in London on Thursday, is targeting the 80-odd states where consensual sexual activity between adults
of the same gender is outlawed. More than half are Commonwealth countries which inherited their regulations from British colonial rule. In some like Uganda, Kenya, Cameroon and Ghana the laws are seen by some as justification for violent attacks on gay and lesbian people."(photo right: for tourists Belize is a paradise; for gays it is less than that.)
Not surprising, Belize's Anglican, evangelical, and Catholic 'spiritual leaders' have united to oppose the effort. They will announce their objections in a court hearing this week. As if to add injury to insult they insist they have evidence that homosexuality can be 'cured'--against all scientific studies to the contrary. It will be a contest between intelligent modern thinking and archaic religious bigotry.
It is endlessly frustrating to read the same old, absurd and morally-twisted arguments of such people as Belize Catholic bishop Dorick Wright, Anglican bishop Philip Wright and Evangelical Rev Eugene Crawford in Belize City. These supposed 'good Christians' are quoted as saying, "the people of Belize will not surrender our constitution, our moral foundations, and our way of life to predatory foreign interests."
Indeed! These are the very ones who are devoid of moral foundation in their modern use of ancient books of ambivalent religious mystery that have no factual source or verifiable accuracy; they justify their bigotry purely on prejudicial misinterpretations and mistranslations of alleged scriptures that were in fact 'invented' by highly fallible writers (with no acknowledgement of dissenting views) and politically imposed upon an ancient nomadic populace who could not read or write, hence violating their native animist belief system. (photo left: courthouse in Belize City)It is a pathetic miscarriage of Christian justice to use such fragmented, unreliable, multiply-translated, man-made, opinionated and selected bits of 'scripture' as a basis for a guide to daily life nearly two thousand years later. These old texts are about as accurate and truthful for today's science-based life as using ancient Egyptian pharonic scribblings on medical procedures as a guide for surgery today. Would anyone in their right mind allow a physician schooled in these antique lessons to perform life-saving procedures to heal injuries or disease?! For the same reasoning, how do modern religious believers follow equally archaic words?
It takes a huge leap of blind foolishness to state in a modern public
forum such prejudicial ignorant opinions against scientifically verified aspects regarding human sexuality. Homosexual behavior is an inherent variety of human nature that has existed in every society that's ever emerged on the planet. There is no sound verification of homosexuality being 'imported' or forced on a people from alien sources.(photo right: activist Caleb Oroczo, head of UniBam--leading the court suit against the government)
Modern 'thinkers' who claim spiritual leadership would do well to go back to deeper research and investigation into their alleged sources in culture and language. There, if they have the intellectual open-mindedness, will they not find any specific reference or rule regarding the sexual nature of human beings, other than some comments on marriage. Modern religious bigotry against homosexuality has no true scriptural standing. Prejudice is just that--opinion without truth.
And speaking of "predatory foreign interests", it was the Christian armies, missionaries and inquisition that targeted violence against peoples of other territories, tribes and cultures in the mad crusade of 'saving the heathen' from their native beliefs and worship rituals, which had served them well enough for thousands of years.
Shame, shame on Catholic bishop Dorick Wright, the Anglican bishop Philip Wright and the evangelical Rev Eugene Crawford. Let's hope their irrational hateful beliefs are crushed under the truth and science of modern enlightened thinking.In front of the Anglican cathedral in Belize City there is a 'peace post' with the inscription: May peace prevail on Earth. Let's hope this bit of hypocrisy reverses to become a reality. (photo left)
Read more about LGBT life in Belize here.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Bangkok: Flood, Sex and Tears
By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
11/11/11
I'm in Thailand for the umpteenth time. Last time the big event was was funeral for the king's sister, a prolonged three-day elaborate ritual of pageantry and pomp. It was covered extensively on Thai television and attended by hundreds of thousands dressed in black.
The focal person was His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the longest reigning monarch in the world--since 1946. Disturbing to see was his frailty. A special elevator was installed in his sister's cremation temple that lifted him six steps since he was unable to walk up, where he then lit the funeral pyre.
This year his health continues to be very fragile. The Bangkok Post reported that he was unconscious for a while yesterday until doctors discovered an internal bleed and was stabilized.
Aside from the personal and intimate aspects of this situation is the looming reality that his much-unloved son will follow as monarch, leaving Thais to worry about the political stability of the country that's already shaky with changing prime ministers several times over the past five years.
So there will be tears aplenty soon in the kingdom for this old much revered king who must soon pass away.
As for the sex trade here, it is a much over-rated and exaggerated slice of life, as sex issues often are anywhere. Most Thais do not relate to the red-light activities in the three or four major cities; a modest portion of foreign visitors or expats do indeed come for the carnal pleasures which are easily had if one is looking for them. Heteros outnumber homos, as usual, so an observer can see
many middle-aged and older men walking along with a young smooth-skinned women, holding hands or not, and probably sporting a shopping bag of gifts from 'daddy' to his 'girl'.
The gays are not dissimilar with older gents from all over North America and Europe accompanied by young sweet-faced Thai guys. Or visiting one of the several sex club saunas. It's a common sight here that blends into the larger city scenes of markets, bright lights, tourism and traffic. It's too simplistic to judge this sexuality as an exploited industry; it is after all a consensual adult activity and serves both parties well, albeit for different purposes, both pleasure and profit.
So in Thailand there will be sex for sale or trade, now and after the kingship changes.
The major situation at the present time, in central Thailand, is the severe flooding that has occurred over the past two months following unusually heavy el nino-induced rainstorms. Surrounding Bangkok are tens of thousands of inundated acres and many small villages where the water has reached to the second floor of houses. As of November 11, the water seems to have crested but is receding very slowly leaving countless piles of ruined furniture, farmland, livestock and houses, not to mention roads and local sanitation facilities, factories and lost jobs. Manufacturing around the world has been affected by the shutdown
of these essential supplier sources.
It is a especially sad because virtually all of these poor rural village and townspeople have no insurance or sufficient savings so any repairs and restoration is left for owners and tenants to do by hand. Much criticism is aimed at the unpreparedness of the government despite the mountains of sandbags in and around Bangkok. In various places poor planning has made sandbagging worsen the water flow. Some residents in the suburbs were so irate they tore open sandbag dikes because they were inhibiting drainage from their homes.
So in Bangkok this year there is flood, sex and tears.
------------------
A friend recently asked, why go to Bangkok?
My responses are many: because the people are pretty here--men and women. Because of the cooking aromas of the portable street kitchens. Because the architecture is different, including the monstrously new glass skyscrapers and condo towers adjacent to old wooden houses set among green trees along narrow alleyways and back streets. Because of the night market and it millions of 'stuff'. Because people bow to one another with respect.
Because of the elevated SkyTrain that whisks us across the city in no time. Because of the up-most-scale hotels along the Chao Praya River (now flooding). Because of the cheap ($7) foot and body massages from guys and gals (some of whom are willing to arouse a customer for an extra fee). Because of the soothing affordable facials ($15). The rooftop swimming pools. The sounds of endless new construction. The color of orchids. The countless golden shrines set up to honor the aged and frail king, as well as Buddha (with glowing incense sticks).
Because of the language which sounds exotic and looks like elegant scribbling; because there's a 7/11 store on every corner. Because there are fruit stands on every other corner. Because the locals treat tourists with politeness; whenever you buy something the merchant puts hands together and bows gratefully. Because the young guys wear their thick black hair in so many styles from wild bush, to slick down.
Because they wear sandals here. Because service workers do good work. Because Thailand is the most westernized SE Asian country with slick new train service from the BKK airport to city center and air-con express buses from the airport to Pattaya/Jomthien beaches. Not because of the beggars sitting on the sidewalks hands uplifted in appeal. Because the city virtually bubbles with human activity almost 24 hours a day.
GlobalGayz.com
11/11/11
I'm in Thailand for the umpteenth time. Last time the big event was was funeral for the king's sister, a prolonged three-day elaborate ritual of pageantry and pomp. It was covered extensively on Thai television and attended by hundreds of thousands dressed in black.
The focal person was His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the longest reigning monarch in the world--since 1946. Disturbing to see was his frailty. A special elevator was installed in his sister's cremation temple that lifted him six steps since he was unable to walk up, where he then lit the funeral pyre.This year his health continues to be very fragile. The Bangkok Post reported that he was unconscious for a while yesterday until doctors discovered an internal bleed and was stabilized.
Aside from the personal and intimate aspects of this situation is the looming reality that his much-unloved son will follow as monarch, leaving Thais to worry about the political stability of the country that's already shaky with changing prime ministers several times over the past five years.
So there will be tears aplenty soon in the kingdom for this old much revered king who must soon pass away.
As for the sex trade here, it is a much over-rated and exaggerated slice of life, as sex issues often are anywhere. Most Thais do not relate to the red-light activities in the three or four major cities; a modest portion of foreign visitors or expats do indeed come for the carnal pleasures which are easily had if one is looking for them. Heteros outnumber homos, as usual, so an observer can see
many middle-aged and older men walking along with a young smooth-skinned women, holding hands or not, and probably sporting a shopping bag of gifts from 'daddy' to his 'girl'.The gays are not dissimilar with older gents from all over North America and Europe accompanied by young sweet-faced Thai guys. Or visiting one of the several sex club saunas. It's a common sight here that blends into the larger city scenes of markets, bright lights, tourism and traffic. It's too simplistic to judge this sexuality as an exploited industry; it is after all a consensual adult activity and serves both parties well, albeit for different purposes, both pleasure and profit.
So in Thailand there will be sex for sale or trade, now and after the kingship changes.
The major situation at the present time, in central Thailand, is the severe flooding that has occurred over the past two months following unusually heavy el nino-induced rainstorms. Surrounding Bangkok are tens of thousands of inundated acres and many small villages where the water has reached to the second floor of houses. As of November 11, the water seems to have crested but is receding very slowly leaving countless piles of ruined furniture, farmland, livestock and houses, not to mention roads and local sanitation facilities, factories and lost jobs. Manufacturing around the world has been affected by the shutdown
of these essential supplier sources.It is a especially sad because virtually all of these poor rural village and townspeople have no insurance or sufficient savings so any repairs and restoration is left for owners and tenants to do by hand. Much criticism is aimed at the unpreparedness of the government despite the mountains of sandbags in and around Bangkok. In various places poor planning has made sandbagging worsen the water flow. Some residents in the suburbs were so irate they tore open sandbag dikes because they were inhibiting drainage from their homes.
So in Bangkok this year there is flood, sex and tears.
------------------
A friend recently asked, why go to Bangkok?
My responses are many: because the people are pretty here--men and women. Because of the cooking aromas of the portable street kitchens. Because the architecture is different, including the monstrously new glass skyscrapers and condo towers adjacent to old wooden houses set among green trees along narrow alleyways and back streets. Because of the night market and it millions of 'stuff'. Because people bow to one another with respect.
Because of the elevated SkyTrain that whisks us across the city in no time. Because of the up-most-scale hotels along the Chao Praya River (now flooding). Because of the cheap ($7) foot and body massages from guys and gals (some of whom are willing to arouse a customer for an extra fee). Because of the soothing affordable facials ($15). The rooftop swimming pools. The sounds of endless new construction. The color of orchids. The countless golden shrines set up to honor the aged and frail king, as well as Buddha (with glowing incense sticks).Because of the language which sounds exotic and looks like elegant scribbling; because there's a 7/11 store on every corner. Because there are fruit stands on every other corner. Because the locals treat tourists with politeness; whenever you buy something the merchant puts hands together and bows gratefully. Because the young guys wear their thick black hair in so many styles from wild bush, to slick down.
Because they wear sandals here. Because service workers do good work. Because Thailand is the most westernized SE Asian country with slick new train service from the BKK airport to city center and air-con express buses from the airport to Pattaya/Jomthien beaches. Not because of the beggars sitting on the sidewalks hands uplifted in appeal. Because the city virtually bubbles with human activity almost 24 hours a day.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Irresponsible Recommendation for Uganda from Lonely Planet
By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
November 5, 2011
Well, this is pretty revolting!
Lonely Planet, the widely-respected travel information and guidebook company has chosen one of the world's most homophobic and gay-violent countries as their number one pick for "Best in Travel" listings for 2012 --Uganda, Africa. A country where human rights should more correctly be called religious fundamentalist rights or in-power political rights or corrupt police rights.
Surely the Lonely Planet committee that picked this country out of many other more humane destinations were aware of the abysmal violations of its citizens and especially the LGBT (gay) population. Uganda already criminalizes consensual adult same-sex behavior and more recently the Parliament is dithering with a new law that would penalize such behavior with the death penalty--including jail time for anyone who knows of homosexual behavior and does not report it.
Around the world, other countries have threatened to cut off foreign aid to Uganda if the bill passes. All major human rights organizations as well as the UN, UK Prime Minister Cameron, Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu and President Obama oppose this egregious proposal.
Where is Lonely Planet's head to value human abuse over human dignity. With the abundance of knowledge that LP has about Uganda this is no mere oversight. Diminishing the horrors there by referring to them merely as "issues" in the abstract (as said in their blog) only makes LP seem more the blind fool who is indifferent to the wide-spread persecution and abuse going on there. Clearly wild animals and pretty waterfalls in Uganda--wonderful as they are--cannot count for more than human conditions there.
Lonely Planet says, "stability is returning and it won’t be long before visitors come flocking back." Not true. The appearance of stability is due to the stranglehold that President Museveni on political power. His presidency has been impaired by invading and occupying Congo during the Second Congo War (which has resulted in an estimated 5.4 million deaths since 1998) as well as conflicts in the Great Lakes region. Rebellion in the north of Uganda by the Lord's Resistance Army continues to perpetuate one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Museveni also manipulated the parliament to abolish presidential term limits in 2006 and has harassed the democratic opposition. (photo right, rural children)
Lonely Planet says, "Human rights abuses aren’t uncommon, and the country breathes a collective sigh whenever President Museveni thinks of another ruse to stay in power for a few more years." This is a myopic an distorted view of life on the ground. Human rights abuses are not "aren’t uncommon". This double negative mutes the real brutality that is launched on gay people, political opponents, tribal minorities and the impoverished. And only the military, religious right and the corrupt welcome more years of Museveni. as if 26 years in office are not enough repression and flawed elections. Human Rights Watch criticizes Uganda for unlawful prosecutions of civilians in military courts as well as health neglect, hard labor, and abuse in Ugandan prisons.
Lonely Planet needs to remove Uganda from it's list of favored tourist nations. At the very least, move it to the bottom of the list.
If anyone doubts this reasoning, let them read the following 55--and growing--news and reports archived by GlobalGayz.com; and these are only for 2011. The archive goes back to 2002:
Gay Uganda News & Reports 2011 Sep-Dec
Gay Uganda News & Reports 2011 May-Aug
Gay Uganda News & Reports 2011 Jan-Apr
GlobalGayz.com
November 5, 2011
Well, this is pretty revolting!
Lonely Planet, the widely-respected travel information and guidebook company has chosen one of the world's most homophobic and gay-violent countries as their number one pick for "Best in Travel" listings for 2012 --Uganda, Africa. A country where human rights should more correctly be called religious fundamentalist rights or in-power political rights or corrupt police rights.
Surely the Lonely Planet committee that picked this country out of many other more humane destinations were aware of the abysmal violations of its citizens and especially the LGBT (gay) population. Uganda already criminalizes consensual adult same-sex behavior and more recently the Parliament is dithering with a new law that would penalize such behavior with the death penalty--including jail time for anyone who knows of homosexual behavior and does not report it.
Around the world, other countries have threatened to cut off foreign aid to Uganda if the bill passes. All major human rights organizations as well as the UN, UK Prime Minister Cameron, Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu and President Obama oppose this egregious proposal.
Where is Lonely Planet's head to value human abuse over human dignity. With the abundance of knowledge that LP has about Uganda this is no mere oversight. Diminishing the horrors there by referring to them merely as "issues" in the abstract (as said in their blog) only makes LP seem more the blind fool who is indifferent to the wide-spread persecution and abuse going on there. Clearly wild animals and pretty waterfalls in Uganda--wonderful as they are--cannot count for more than human conditions there.
Lonely Planet says, "stability is returning and it won’t be long before visitors come flocking back." Not true. The appearance of stability is due to the stranglehold that President Museveni on political power. His presidency has been impaired by invading and occupying Congo during the Second Congo War (which has resulted in an estimated 5.4 million deaths since 1998) as well as conflicts in the Great Lakes region. Rebellion in the north of Uganda by the Lord's Resistance Army continues to perpetuate one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Museveni also manipulated the parliament to abolish presidential term limits in 2006 and has harassed the democratic opposition. (photo right, rural children)
Lonely Planet says, "Human rights abuses aren’t uncommon, and the country breathes a collective sigh whenever President Museveni thinks of another ruse to stay in power for a few more years." This is a myopic an distorted view of life on the ground. Human rights abuses are not "aren’t uncommon". This double negative mutes the real brutality that is launched on gay people, political opponents, tribal minorities and the impoverished. And only the military, religious right and the corrupt welcome more years of Museveni. as if 26 years in office are not enough repression and flawed elections. Human Rights Watch criticizes Uganda for unlawful prosecutions of civilians in military courts as well as health neglect, hard labor, and abuse in Ugandan prisons.
Lonely Planet needs to remove Uganda from it's list of favored tourist nations. At the very least, move it to the bottom of the list.
If anyone doubts this reasoning, let them read the following 55--and growing--news and reports archived by GlobalGayz.com; and these are only for 2011. The archive goes back to 2002:
Gay Uganda News & Reports 2011 Sep-Dec
Gay Uganda News & Reports 2011 May-Aug
Gay Uganda News & Reports 2011 Jan-Apr
Monday, October 31, 2011
Jamie and Jamey: Gay Youth Bullied to Death
By Richard Ammon
GlobalGayz.com
October 2011
Yet two more teen suicides spurred on by high school bullying and harassment from peers. (Read previous blog on gay teen suicides.)
Last month, 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer killed himself in Buffalo, N.Y., after years of homophobic harassment.
(photo right)
Last week in Ottowa, Canada 13 year-old Jamie Hubley took his life. He too was taunted and ridiculed, in this case because he preferred dance to football, art instead of mechanics. There is no apparent evidence that Hubley was gay or displayed homosexual tendencies in public.
But it doesn't take that to ignite an immature homophobe to action; mere suspicion, innuendo and peer presumption is enough to make a strong case against a child who is not fully 'macho' and make him an easy target for scorn and cruel language.
What is it about homosexuality that inspires hate, injury and an intent to kill? An innocent soft artsy-type of kid minding his own business is mowed down by assaultive insulting language and he succumbs? Evil is often beyond a reasonable answer. (photo left Jamie Hubley with his father)
The unseen problem in the It Gets Better crusade is that it often gets worse before better as helpless children are sucked into a maelstrom of anguish depression and turbulent confusion where it's impossible to feel assured of a less painful outcome a year or three later.
How do we take hold of a sinking fragile ego and brace it, anchor it against the terrible angst of peer scorn--often anonymous over the Internet from senders who hide--knowing their attack is shameful and cruel.
I say first and foremost yank the kid out of his or her school and transplant them to a safer place. Don't wait while your child is in pain. Find another school, a charter school, private school, home schooling, internet courses...
The second step is to fight back; mount a very public protest against the school, in newspapers, social media, radio and TV interviews condemning the hate crime of bullying.
The third is to use the force of law and court action to threaten back the individuals and system that tolerates crime. Many Catholic priests and the church itself are now under assault for tolerating child abuse. This is no different. Use the technology the internet against the perpetrators to uncover their identity and eject them from school and bring charges. Hate crime should be handled like physical assault. Identify and prosecute both the kid and their parents.
Then demand the school system mount a high awareness program against the crime and evil of bullying, compelling every student to attend assemblies where speakers and victims and bullies tell their stories. Empower kids to go public against bullies, expose them and make them the shamed ones--and then offer them and their families counseling that may hopefully change behavior by deeper understanding of the harm and crime of bullying.
Bring bullying out of it's bullied kids become the hidden closet and make it a public nuisance so that victims become victors and perpetrators become the fearful one begging for mercy--and given it.
Jamie Hubley and Jamie Rodemeyer should be alive and proud boys not motionless victims.
Read more about gay teen bullying and suicide:
-http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/10/21/hundreds-mourn-gay-canadian-teenager-jamie-hubley/
-http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1073942--gay-students-endure-cycle-of-hate-in-schools
-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/toan-lam/bullied-teen-posts-it-get_b_1022753.html
-http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/a-year-after-teen-suicide-spate-more-gay-students-are-speaking-out-schools-taking-action/2011/10/22/gIQAD5rv6L_story.html
-http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/22/2467455/on-the-road-to-equality.html
GlobalGayz.com
October 2011
Yet two more teen suicides spurred on by high school bullying and harassment from peers. (Read previous blog on gay teen suicides.)
Last month, 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer killed himself in Buffalo, N.Y., after years of homophobic harassment.
(photo right)Last week in Ottowa, Canada 13 year-old Jamie Hubley took his life. He too was taunted and ridiculed, in this case because he preferred dance to football, art instead of mechanics. There is no apparent evidence that Hubley was gay or displayed homosexual tendencies in public.
But it doesn't take that to ignite an immature homophobe to action; mere suspicion, innuendo and peer presumption is enough to make a strong case against a child who is not fully 'macho' and make him an easy target for scorn and cruel language.
What is it about homosexuality that inspires hate, injury and an intent to kill? An innocent soft artsy-type of kid minding his own business is mowed down by assaultive insulting language and he succumbs? Evil is often beyond a reasonable answer. (photo left Jamie Hubley with his father)The unseen problem in the It Gets Better crusade is that it often gets worse before better as helpless children are sucked into a maelstrom of anguish depression and turbulent confusion where it's impossible to feel assured of a less painful outcome a year or three later.
How do we take hold of a sinking fragile ego and brace it, anchor it against the terrible angst of peer scorn--often anonymous over the Internet from senders who hide--knowing their attack is shameful and cruel.
I say first and foremost yank the kid out of his or her school and transplant them to a safer place. Don't wait while your child is in pain. Find another school, a charter school, private school, home schooling, internet courses...
The second step is to fight back; mount a very public protest against the school, in newspapers, social media, radio and TV interviews condemning the hate crime of bullying.
The third is to use the force of law and court action to threaten back the individuals and system that tolerates crime. Many Catholic priests and the church itself are now under assault for tolerating child abuse. This is no different. Use the technology the internet against the perpetrators to uncover their identity and eject them from school and bring charges. Hate crime should be handled like physical assault. Identify and prosecute both the kid and their parents.
Then demand the school system mount a high awareness program against the crime and evil of bullying, compelling every student to attend assemblies where speakers and victims and bullies tell their stories. Empower kids to go public against bullies, expose them and make them the shamed ones--and then offer them and their families counseling that may hopefully change behavior by deeper understanding of the harm and crime of bullying.
Bring bullying out of it's bullied kids become the hidden closet and make it a public nuisance so that victims become victors and perpetrators become the fearful one begging for mercy--and given it.
Jamie Hubley and Jamie Rodemeyer should be alive and proud boys not motionless victims.
Read more about gay teen bullying and suicide:
-http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/10/21/hundreds-mourn-gay-canadian-teenager-jamie-hubley/
-http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1073942--gay-students-endure-cycle-of-hate-in-schools
-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/toan-lam/bullied-teen-posts-it-get_b_1022753.html
-http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/a-year-after-teen-suicide-spate-more-gay-students-are-speaking-out-schools-taking-action/2011/10/22/gIQAD5rv6L_story.html
-http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/22/2467455/on-the-road-to-equality.html
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