Comments on: Newsweek: Is Uganda’s Anti-Gay Ferver Spreading? http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/12/18/18475 News, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric Tue, 21 May 2013 23:58:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Alex http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/12/18/18475/comment-page-1#comment-57405 Alex Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:17:15 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=18475#comment-57405 The idea that Rwanda might criminalize homosexuality is denied today. http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=14114&article=23893 KIGALI - The Minister of Justice Tharcisse Karugarama has condemned and refuted reports that government intends to criminalize homosexual acts saying that sexual orientation is a private matter not a state business. His reaction comes after international organizations, including rights groups and gay communities across the world raised an alarm in several reports accusing the government of trying to consider a law against homosexuality. “The government I serve and speak for on certain issues cannot and will not in any way criminalize homosexuality; sexual orientation is a private matter and each individual has his or her own orientation - - this is not a State matter at all,” said Karugarama. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL), and Rwanda’s Horizon Community Association (HOCA), recently issued statements demanding that that the Rwandan Parliament withdraws article 217 of the penal code regarding homosexuality. The Minister accused the ‘groups for either acting in total ignorance or intentionally presenting wrong facts for their own political motives.’ “They allege that the law was to be passed in Parliament on December 16, but sincerely there was nothing like that in the parliament that day.” He clearly stated that; “these people should distinguish between issues debated by private parties and concrete proposals from the government.” He hastened to add that the government has held a meeting with its development partners on this particular issue and told them their position ‘which is that the government has no intentions whatsoever to criminalize homosexuality. Ends The idea that Rwanda might criminalize homosexuality is denied today.

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=14114&article=23893

KIGALI – The Minister of Justice Tharcisse Karugarama has condemned and refuted reports that government intends to criminalize homosexual acts saying that sexual orientation is a private matter not a state business.

His reaction comes after international organizations, including rights groups and gay communities across the world raised an alarm in several reports accusing the government of trying to consider a law against homosexuality.

“The government I serve and speak for on certain issues cannot and will not in any way criminalize homosexuality; sexual orientation is a private matter and each individual has his or her own orientation – - this is not a State matter at all,” said Karugarama.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL), and Rwanda’s Horizon Community Association (HOCA), recently issued statements demanding that that the Rwandan Parliament withdraws article 217 of the penal code regarding homosexuality.

The Minister accused the ‘groups for either acting in total ignorance or intentionally presenting wrong facts for their own political motives.’

“They allege that the law was to be passed in Parliament on December 16, but sincerely there was nothing like that in the parliament that day.”

He clearly stated that; “these people should distinguish between issues debated by private parties and concrete proposals from the government.”

He hastened to add that the government has held a meeting with its development partners on this particular issue and told them their position ‘which is that the government has no intentions whatsoever to criminalize homosexuality.

Ends

]]> By: Richard Rush http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/12/18/18475/comment-page-1#comment-57365 Richard Rush Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:01:53 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=18475#comment-57365 Timothy, I can see where my comment seemed as though I was ONLY seeing a business operation, but I didn't mean to discount the zeal and ideological certainty, as I realize that is the primary driver for these people. But it may be easy to forget that they require the flow of money to function. Many people have a burning passion for their work, but if it cannot generate enough income, they will need to look elsewhere. Timothy, I can see where my comment seemed as though I was ONLY seeing a business operation, but I didn’t mean to discount the zeal and ideological certainty, as I realize that is the primary driver for these people. But it may be easy to forget that they require the flow of money to function. Many people have a burning passion for their work, but if it cannot generate enough income, they will need to look elsewhere.

]]> By: Timothy Kincaid http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/12/18/18475/comment-page-1#comment-57361 Timothy Kincaid Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:12:16 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=18475#comment-57361 Richard, I think the participants viewed it as part of their ministry, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. As such, expenses probably were out of their ministry's regular operating expenses. I think it is unwise to view such efforts purely in a business or profit-making perspective. Zeal and ideological certainty are probably more of a motivation than profit. And it is to our own detriment that we discount these emotional drives. Richard,

I think the participants viewed it as part of their ministry, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. As such, expenses probably were out of their ministry’s regular operating expenses.

I think it is unwise to view such efforts purely in a business or profit-making perspective. Zeal and ideological certainty are probably more of a motivation than profit. And it is to our own detriment that we discount these emotional drives.

]]> By: Richard Rush http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/12/18/18475/comment-page-1#comment-57357 Richard Rush Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:10:45 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=18475#comment-57357 Do we know if these men from the US were paid for attending the meeting in Uganda? And, if not, who paid their travel expenses? Or did the men or their organizations view it as a marketing opportunity and therefore cover the expenses themselves? And would the travel expenses be tax deductible? I think it's likely these men were salivating at the potential business opportunities, in not only Uganda, but in most of Africa. After all, their business in the US is in the slow process of drying up. These men's careers and incomes depend on exploiting societies that overwhelming loath homosexuals plus the resulting self-loathing homosexuals. Do we know if these men from the US were paid for attending the meeting in Uganda? And, if not, who paid their travel expenses? Or did the men or their organizations view it as a marketing opportunity and therefore cover the expenses themselves? And would the travel expenses be tax deductible?

I think it’s likely these men were salivating at the potential business opportunities, in not only Uganda, but in most of Africa. After all, their business in the US is in the slow process of drying up. These men’s careers and incomes depend on exploiting societies that overwhelming loath homosexuals plus the resulting self-loathing homosexuals.

]]> By: Timothy (TRiG) http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/12/18/18475/comment-page-1#comment-57354 Timothy (TRiG) Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:05:19 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=18475#comment-57354 It's rather amazing to think that the first country in the world to write nondiscrimination laws into its constitution is on the same continent. (Not that violence is unknown in South Africa, of course; "corrective" rape of lesbians is frighteningly common there.) TRiG. It’s rather amazing to think that the first country in the world to write nondiscrimination laws into its constitution is on the same continent. (Not that violence is unknown in South Africa, of course; “corrective” rape of lesbians is frighteningly common there.)

TRiG.

]]> By: Timothy Kincaid http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/12/18/18475/comment-page-1#comment-57347 Timothy Kincaid Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:22:53 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=18475#comment-57347 As Jim notes above, it was not just the presentation of an anti-gay conference that concerned us. Those happen regularly. Rather, it was the environment in that the conference was being presented. Callously presenting anti-gay rhetoric without knowing your audience is irresponsible. Presenting such rhetoric when you have been warned is reprehensible. I have not yet forgiven the men who went to Uganda and threw fuel on the fire. But, then again, they haven't asked for forgiveness. As Jim notes above, it was not just the presentation of an anti-gay conference that concerned us. Those happen regularly. Rather, it was the environment in that the conference was being presented.

Callously presenting anti-gay rhetoric without knowing your audience is irresponsible. Presenting such rhetoric when you have been warned is reprehensible.

I have not yet forgiven the men who went to Uganda and threw fuel on the fire. But, then again, they haven’t asked for forgiveness.

]]> By: Benjamin http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/12/18/18475/comment-page-1#comment-57343 Benjamin Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:54:46 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=18475#comment-57343 It would be awesome (if this were only possible) to see Alexander the Great & his warrior lover Hephaeistian lead their vast armies and roll over Uganda like a roaring fire consuming everything in its path. I'm sick and tired of this. Gay people need to mobilize and fight this even if they have to take up arms. This is not only treasonous to International Law but no free nation should ever tolerate this and all free nations should boycott, sanction and threaten to cut off all connection with this insane country and any other who criminalizes who people are. It would be awesome (if this were only possible) to see Alexander the Great & his warrior lover Hephaeistian lead their vast armies and roll over Uganda like a roaring fire consuming everything in its path. I’m sick and tired of this. Gay people need to mobilize and fight this even if they have to take up arms. This is not only treasonous to International Law but no free nation should ever tolerate this and all free nations should boycott, sanction and threaten to cut off all connection with this insane country and any other who criminalizes who people are.

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