Vanguard | May 26, 2010 | 6 comments

Uganda as Ground Zero: Missionaries of Hate, Pt. 6

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MarianaVanZeller

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Whether the proposed Ugandan bill passes as originally proposed -- including a death penalty provision for "repeat offenders" -- or in a slightly less severe form, everyone agrees that Uganda's anti-gay climate is here to stay. Many of anti-gay movement leader Martin Ssempa's strongest supporters are young college students, and gay activists are pessimistic about their chances of convincing neighbors to show simple compassion. Mariana interviews Rev. Scott Lively, an American who helped begin the "pro-family movement" in Uganda. Despite his opposition to use of the death penalty, Lively calls the bill "the lesser of two evils." Lou Engle, another U.S. religious leader, has also taken up the call for Uganda as "ground zero" in Africa's attempts to resist homosexuality.

In "Missionaries of Hate," correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to Uganda, where many question whether the growing influence of American religious groups has led to a movement to make homosexuality a crime punishable by death.

"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Wednesdays at 10/9c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.

For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.
  1. groups:
    On Current TV,   Current Video,   Vanguard,   Vanguard Weekly Special,   2 more
  2. tags:
    News,  Politics,  Religion,  Gay,  16 more
  3. credits:
    MarianaVanZeller Correspondent, alexsimmons Producer, dmfoster Producer, more
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6 comments // Uganda as Ground Zero: Missionaries of Hate, Pt. 6

  • Eternalwraps
    • 0
      Eternalwraps  

    • Sssempa has it wrong...The thing that sticks out though is when he says if you have a problem with me, you have a problem with God, I believe nobody is really allowed to say that but JESUS himself...There is so much more I want to say, but I am just a whirlwind of thoughts at the moment, I will have to come back when I have calmed down

    • 1 year ago
  • Jasmine_Kennedy
    • +1
      Jasmine_Kennedy  

    • This is really sad. You can tell they are very afrocentric because they are concerned with this being a strickly African idea and they want to better their country and protect it from the Western ideals but they cannot see how following the lead of these Evangelicals is only dividing their country with hatred, confusion, and fear. They seem to be so ilinformed thinking of homosexuality as an institution with an agenda. This social and political climate can only get worse whether the bill is passes or not. I will be praying for Uganda.

    • 1 year ago
  • BlackthoughtZ
  • BlackthoughtZ
  • Drach
    • +6
      Drach  

    • Frighting, and sad. I don't understand a lot of this even though I have been to evangelical churches as a teen. They are SCARY. They did the same thing to their youth group showed us horror pictures of a similar no-no to a Christian. Premarital Sex. We were shown some VERY nasty pics of VD, while also lacing in some genital mutilation pictures. It was extremely disturbing when I saw it. (I'm glad I'm not a christian, I'm a Unitarian.. was baptized that way when I was a tyke)

      I'm interested in updates on this. I want to know if they just get rid of it completely, or if they're still trying to pass it.

      Honestly, I always want to ask the, "What if you lived in a place where they were trying to ban heterosexuality? What if they tried to execute you for having sex with your wife?"

      Mariana asked the best one though... "What if your child was gay?" That's usually the best hypothetical you can put on them. From what I've been told, it's not a CHOICE. You don't get made gay by watching the wrong movies or reading the wrong books... I KNEW I liked women (I'm a dude) when I was young. I thought they were pleasant to be around, and talk to. I was attracted at a level that I did not have any control over. I can only speak from my own experience. But I KNEW before I was 12 that I liked women. It's hard wired that way, for lack of a better phrase. Who am I (or anyone else) to say that what another human feels or desires is wrong? I always rationalized it by thinking that its a way for nature to compensate for overpopulation. But there I go into deep thought over something I've decided a long time ago. I do not hate anyone because of their sexual preference. That's their business, not mine. The gay men I've met were very respectful of me, so I in turn am respectful of them.

      I got into a physical confrontation with a former friend over this subject. It escalated from him using the word gay to describe something he didn't like. It went into him telling me that he thinks that homosexual people should be segregated from heterosexuals... This made me furious. I don't live in Uganda. I live in a country where our first amendment is supposed to protect ones right to be with whatever we chose (The words "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" came to mind). anyways, I fought my own friend because he was intolerant of gays. I ended up getting my nose broken. All for shunning intolerance from my life, and taking a firm stance on the subject. I even get mad if I hear the word "agenda" attached to gay, homosexual, etc. uttered by a friend or acquaintance.

      I guess I should ask the "That's Gay" actor which he prefers to be called. I really dislike using terms that would offend.

      I'm Straight. Not Narrow.

      Thanks, Mariana. Your films always are informative, and well put together. I'm envious of you being able to keep your cool in almost all of the situations I've seen here on vanguard. I love this series because it brings me closer to my fellow man. I can be aware of the struggle that happens elsewhere, and be more globally aware. I'm very thankful for this. =D You are a VERY brave woman.

      I look forward to the next episode! Who's next? Adam? I like all of you guys, but I'm partial to the original correspondents.. (I've been watching you guys online for the past 3 years.) Keep up the superb work!

    • 2 years ago
  • superjake2004

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