Uganda's new laws: Anti-gay and FGM
What is happening in Uganda this week? Lots of news-making legislation apparently. The big news all week has been the Parliament's consideration of an anti-homosexuality law that up until Wednesday would have made "aggravated homosexuality" a capital offense. Now before we cheer the Ugandan Parliament for removing the threat of death from the bill, let's consider that Uganda is still talking about making being gay illegal. Controversy has swirled through headlines throughout the week and then today Uganda was back in the news: banning female genital mutilation (or female circumcision).
Let's go back to the anti-gay bill first. It's been big news here in the States because many see connections to conservative Christians here who have allied themselves with Uganda. Evangelical pastor Rick Warren has been a strong supporter of the Uganda, calling it a "purpose-driven nation". The country's lawmakers seem to be inspired by the efforts of US Christians who believe that homosexuality can be cured and gays can become "ex-gays".
Ex-Gay (Video) - A personal journey through an ex-gay program.
Warren this week finally distanced himself from the anti-gay bill, condemning it in a statement Thursday. But despite Warren's rejection of it and the reported removal of the death penalty, human rights activists still fear Uganda will pass the bill soon. So the timing is strange then that gender rights activists now have something to celebrate in the passage of the bill banning female genital mutilation (FGM). An effort to try to distract the international human rights community with some good news to mask all this week's bad press? Whatever their reasons - the ban is welcomed. This video will give you a sense of the struggle against FGM in Africa.
FGM in Sierra Leone (Video)
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Let's go back to the anti-gay bill first. It's been big news here in the States because many see connections to conservative Christians here who have allied themselves with Uganda. Evangelical pastor Rick Warren has been a strong supporter of the Uganda, calling it a "purpose-driven nation". The country's lawmakers seem to be inspired by the efforts of US Christians who believe that homosexuality can be cured and gays can become "ex-gays".
Ex-Gay (Video) - A personal journey through an ex-gay program.
Warren this week finally distanced himself from the anti-gay bill, condemning it in a statement Thursday. But despite Warren's rejection of it and the reported removal of the death penalty, human rights activists still fear Uganda will pass the bill soon. So the timing is strange then that gender rights activists now have something to celebrate in the passage of the bill banning female genital mutilation (FGM). An effort to try to distract the international human rights community with some good news to mask all this week's bad press? Whatever their reasons - the ban is welcomed. This video will give you a sense of the struggle against FGM in Africa.
FGM in Sierra Leone (Video)
Recently on the Current News Blog:
- The Beast of Kandahar and conducting war via remote
- Spiral light over Oslo, Norway - Mystery SOLVED!
- Climategate: Gates that are not gates (a new series)
- It's Vanguard Day on Current News!
- Who will pay for climate change? - Copenhagen
