Open letter to Ugandan scientists

From the New York Times, Nick Kristoff's column, out gay scientist Dean Hamer takes on the non-scientific claptrap that Uganda is using to justify its kill lock up the gays bill.  Among his rsponese:

1. There is no definitive gene responsible for homosexuality.
The presence or lack of a single gene says nothing about the overall extent to which a trait is influenced by heredity. There is also “no definitive gene responsible for” skin color, height, handedness or many other innate human characteristics because these traits, like sexual orientation, are influenced by multiple genes acting in concert with one another. That doesn’t make the traits non-genetic, it just makes them complex. 

In fact, twin and family studies indicate that genes are the major known factor responsible for individual sexual orientation in both males and females, accounting for 25 to 50 percent of the overall variation and 50 to 100 percent of the ascribable variation; the sources of the remaining variation are unknown, but are most likely to be biological and stochastic factors since they are not affected by rearing environment or social surroundings....

2. Homosexuality is not a disease, but merely an abnormal behavior which may be learned through experiences in life. 

There is no scientific evidence that homosexual orientation is a learned behavior any more than is heterosexual orientation. ... 

3. In every society, there is a small number of people with homosexuality tendencies. 

This is correct, but it points to precisely the opposite overall conclusion of the report. Cross-cultural universality is an indication that a trait has origins that are shared by all humans, most likely genetic. Traits that differ from one culture to the next are more likely to be learned. 

4. Homosexuality can be influenced by environmental factors, such as culture, religion and peer pressure among others. 

Although sexual activity can clearly be influenced by environmental factors, including laws, the underlying orientation is immutable. 

 

Christian Right cheers Uganda "Kill the Gays" Bill

The Ugandan bill that would kill people for being gay has been revived.  The Box Turtle Bulletin shows us that even arguing against the bill means you can be imprisoned.  Or failing to turn in your son for being gay.  It penalizes not just action, but thought.

Joe My God shows us that the "Christian" Right in this country are celebrating the planned murders of gay Ugandans here and here.

Because who would Jesus kill?

File this under disgusting.

First they came for the gays....

The vicious homophobia that has developed in Africa is fanned by the efforts of anti-gay Evangelical activists from the United States. We saw that in Uganda. NOw, in Nigeria, they are proposing death for gay people.

Tsk, tsk, say the straights. How unfortunate.

But straights are also at risk. From the WaPo:

Under the proposed law, couples who marry could face up to 14 years each in prison. Witnesses or anyone who helps couples marry could be sentenced to 10 years behind bars. That’s an increase over the bill’s initial penalties, which lawmakers proposed during a debate Tuesday televised live from the National Assembly in Nigeria’s capital Abuja.

Other additions to the bill include making it illegal to register gay clubs or organizations, as well as criminalizing the “public show of same-sex amorous relationships directly or indirectly.” Those who violate those laws would face 10-year imprisonment as well.

So, if you are a gay-friendly straight person in Nigeria, you can go to prison.

And don't think for a minute there aren't people here who would like to do the same thing to LGBT people and their allies.

UN statement on LGBT Rights supported by Obama Administration

Poliglot tells us that the White House and State Department have released statements about international LGBT rights.
From the White House Statement:

President Obama believes that advancing the human rights of minorities and the marginalized is a fundamental American value...

Over the past months our diplomats have been engaged in frank, and at times difficult, conversations about the human rights of LGBT persons with governments from around world. This morning, at the United Nations Human Rights Council, some 85 countries joined the United States in reaffirming our joint commitment to end acts of violence and human rights abuses on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The President is proud of the work we have done to build international consensus on this critical issue and is committed to continuing our determined efforts to advance the human rights of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity

.

From the Secretary of State:

Today, 85 countries from every region of the world joined together in a historic moment to state clearly that human rights apply to everyone, no matter who they are or whom they love.

The United States, along with Colombia and Slovenia, took a leading role on this statement along with over 30 cosponsors. Countries around the world participated including many that had never supported such efforts. And we hope that even more countries will step up, sign on to the statement and signal their support for universal human rights.

This statement is an example of America’s commitment to human rights through dialogue, open discussion and frank conversation with countries we don’t always agree with on every issue. In Geneva, our conversations about the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals with countries where sexual orientation is not only stigmatized, but criminalized, are helping to advance a broader and deeper global dialogue about these issues.

As I said last June, gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights. We will continue to promote human rights around the world for all people who are marginalized and discriminated against because of sexual orientation or gender identity. And we will not rest until every man, woman and child is able to live up to his or her potential free from persecution or discrimination of any kind.]

Hey Uganda, are you listening?

Exporting hate: the anti-gay agenda and Africa

We've talked in the context of the kill-the-gays law in Uganda about how the American Evangelicals have been responsible for stirring up the hate. (See previous posts here and here). The new issue of the Advocate has a detailed cover story from Jeff Sharlet talking not just about exporting the culture war to Uganda, but throughout Africa. And as this graphic from Wikipedia shows, they have been very successful.

Death sentences in Nigeria. Prison terms in Malawi. Violent, homophobic rhetoric spewed by dictators in Zimbabwe and Gambia. Perhaps nowhere on earth are gays persecuted more than in Africa — ground zero for a culture war waged by U.S. religious and political leaders.

Interviewing a virulently anti-gay American evangelical in uganda, Sharlet writes

I explained that I was interested in their view of the death penalty for homosexuality. Tommy shook his head. Tough one.

“Well, I’m totally against killing them. Because some of them can be saved, and changed. But the thing is, you can’t force them to stop. It’s been tried! But it don’t work.” He shook his head over the problem on all sides — the homosexuals, themselves, and his Ugandan friends, so on fire for the gospel that they’d gone too far in an antigay crusade. That’s how it is with Ugandans, he explained. They’re a bighearted people, but they get ahead of themselves sometimes. That’s where Americans could help.

“What they need,” Tommy proposed, “is a special place, like, for people doing homosexual things to learn different. A camp, like.”

“Keep them all in one place?” I asked.

“Yes. I think that’s what we have to try,” he said. “Because the thing is, the Bible says we can’t kill them. And we can’t put them in prison because that’d be like putting a normal fella in a whorehouse!” Teresa chuckled with her husband. A camp in which to concentrate the offenders — that was the compassionate solution.

If you look at the map, you can see the effect of all this: Africa stands out as a backward place where people are murdered for who they are. Even as we win battles in Europe, the US, and central and south America, our GLBT brothers and sisters are being abused, imprisoned, tortured, and put to death at the behest of Americans. Exporting their hate.

Texas Republicans think Uganda is swell

The Texas Republican Party is channeling the antigay forces in Uganda. You know, the Uganda Kill-the-Gays bill, inspired by American activists, that not only criminalized homosexuality to the point of death but also called for the imprisonment of anyone who knew and did not report on, Teh Gay. It's the Stasi all over, with a rainbow twist.

Rob Tisinai, at the outstanding blog, Waking up Now, reports that the Republican Party Platform in Texas calls for the overt criminalization of homosexuality and same-sex marriage. He compares word for word the Texas Republican Party Platform and the Uganda Bill. For example,

We oppose the legalization of sodomy. We demand that Congress exercise its authority granted by the U.S. Constitution to withhold jurisdiction from the federal courts from cases involving sodomy.

That might inconvenience more than a few straight couples, or so I'm told....

If we just focus on the the features of the platform (pdf) that focus on marriage:

Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable “alternative” lifestyle in our public education and policy, nor should “family” be redefined to include homosexual “couples.” We are opposed to any granting of special legal entitlements, refuse to recognize, or grant special privileges including, but not limited to: marriage between persons of the same sex (regardless of state of origin), custody of children by homosexuals, homosexual partner insurance or retirement benefits. ...

And it is not just Teh Gay who get in trouble:

We support legislation that would make it a felony to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple and for any civil official to perform a marriage ceremony for such.

I suggest you go over to Rob's blog and read the whole comparison: it's chilling. As Rob says,

The Texas GOP controls the governor’s office, the State Senate, and the State House. This is the platform of the people in charge. Remember that when somebody tells you gays don’t face the same threat to our civil rights as other minorities.

Now, can we expect to hear a backlash or protest?


{{{cicadas}}}

Just Love: Conference opposing Ex-gay industry

We recently talked about being "born gay". It is therefore perhaps not surprising that the "ex-gay" movement, which is founded on the idea that it's "just a choice" is at the lead in opposing GLBT rights in this country. The so-called "ex-gay" organizations are criticized by mainstream medical professionals for the harm they do GLBT people. The supporters of this discredited movement are linked to the Uganda bill that would criminalize homosexuality up-to-and-including the death penalty. They claim to be driven by religion, but are viewed with dismay by many religious people.

The "ex-gay" movement is flexing its political muscle. It's not limited to religion any more. Its involvement in Uganda, the calls to criminalize homosexuality in this country , are all linked. Therefore anyone interested in GLBT rights in the secular sphere has to be aware of and fight back against these groups, not dismiss them as fringe religion.

On Saturday March 6, there is a conference opposing the so-called "Ex-gay" movement. The JUST LOVE conference, will be held at St Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, San Diego (which is a leader in local advocacy for GLBT rights). The conference will bring together leaders in medicine, law, faith groups, and advocacy to expose the ex-gay movement and raise awareness of its activities in the USA, as well as its role in the Uganda "kill the gays" bill. Speakers include Michael Bussee (survivor, writes at Beyond Ex-gay); Wayne Besen (Founder of Truth Wins Out, a non-profit that defends the GLBT community against anti-gay misinformation and the “ex-gay” industry) ,and Jim Burroway (from the Box Turtle Bulletin who exposed the link between ex-gay movement and Uganda).

There will be afternoon workshops for legal professionals, media coverage, allies in the faith community, and support/recovery issues for victims of the ex-gay movement.

This conference is FREE. More information here.

Draft program here.

Facebook pagehere.

The conference corresponds with an opposing conference promoting the "Ex-gay" abuse, also in San Diego. There will be protests against the emotional spiritual and physical violence done in the name of the "Ex-gay" movement. Check out this post from blogger MIke Tidmus for more background!

Education is the key to defend our community against the haters.

Uganda bill kills more than gays (video Sunday)

You will know they are "Christians" by their hate

Recently there has been a spate of commentary from the loony wing of the Christian right, calling for the criminalization of homosexuality in this country.

Item Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council said that gays should be imprisoned.

"I think that the Supreme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas which overturned the sodomy laws in this country was wrongly decided," said Sprigg. "I think there would be a place for criminal sanctions against homosexual behavior."

"So we should outlaw gay behavior?" asked Matthews again.

Yes,” said Sprigg.

Item Bryan Fischer of the American Family Associationwrote

If you believe all Scripture is inspired, then you are compelled to accept that legal sanctions may appropriately be applied to those who engage in homosexual behavior.

Item Gary Glenn of the American Family Association of Michigan says:

"We believe that states should be free to regulate and prohibit behavior that’s a violation of community standards and a proven threat to public health and safety — including, as most of the United States did throughout its history, homosexual behavior.”

Item This goes along with the "Kill the gays" bill in Uganda, which is of course a direct result of American Evangelists' influence. They may be embarrassed that their contribution got out, but until then they had no problem with a death-to-homos bills.

But not all of them are embarrased. Cliff Kincaid, of the group Accuracy in Media writes to justify the death penalty

The Ugandan bill does provide for harsh measures against homosexual conduct, including the death penalty for such practices as pedophilia, facilitating homosexual activity, and deliberately spreading AIDS. As such, however, Ugandan Christian ministers see the legislation as a necessary and continuing part of Uganda’s successful anti-AIDS effort.

At the blog PamsHouseBlend, commenter Alvin McEwen is wondering whether this represents a new coordinated angle by the religious right.

Consistent with this, a winger group has filed a suit against the hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, claiming that its itent is to

"criminalize the Bible and use the threat of federal prosecutions and long jail sentences to silence Christians from expressing their Biblically-based religious belief that homosexual conduct is a sin."

Of course, it does no such thing--unless their Biblically based views call for violence.

Meanwhile, I'm getting tired of them claiming the "Christian" card, okay? I'd like to see robust pushback from the mainline religions who support GLBT equality, on the misuse of the term "Christian". (One of themore surreal set of questions in the Prop8 testimony was the Forces of H8 listing all the churches that DO support marriage equality. Of course in total membership they are much smaller than the big kahunas of the Mormons and the Catholics, but to find that even the other side had to admit that religion did not speak with one voice gave me a little hope for reason. Their attorneys had a bad case, but I don't think they are stupid. But I digress.)

What could be gained by this fulminating, this hate-mongering? The right wing is nothing if not organized. It isn't by chance that multiple groups hit on the same argument.

One possibility is that they are concerned that they are losing momentum on the equality issue. Most fair minded people are "live and let live". They may not want to give us marriage equality, but most people don't obsess about us. So those opposed to equality know that they get the most response when they demonize us, thus they are fighting hard to fan the flames of hatred. This is one way to plant the seeds in people's minds that we are so dangerous, how could we possibly have any rights! We should consider ourselves lucky we aren't in prison where we belong! it's the "Ick factor" writ large.

I suspect in a time of economic stress and frustration, most people want to feel above someone else. "At least I'm better than X." In many parts of the US, I'm sure that poor whites felt superior to poor blacks. But that kind of overt racism is no longer acceptable, whereas antigay bias is. There is a bullying mob-tendency to attack the vulnerable, when one is weak oneself.

That's what they are doing here. And make no mistake, this language of hatred and anger is not inert. Bias crimes have already gone up. We need to be vigilant. And we need to push back against hatred. None of us should be threatened with jail, orworse, fore the rare gift of love.

Uganda Gay Death Bill : more on the American Connection

From the NY Times:

Last March, three American evangelical Christians, whose teachings about “curing” homosexuals have been widely discredited in the United States, arrived ... in Uganda’s capital to give a series of talks.

The theme of the event, according to Stephen Langa, its Ugandan organizer, was “the gay agenda — that whole hidden and dark agenda” — and the threat homosexuals posed to Bible-based values and the traditional African family.

For three days, according to participants and audio recordings, thousands of Ugandans, including police officers, teachers and national politicians, listened raptly to the Americans, who were presented as experts on homosexuality. The visitors discussed how to make gay people straight, how gay men often sodomized teenage boys and how “the gay movement is an evil institution” whose goal is “to defeat the marriage-based society and replace it with a culture of sexual promiscuity.”

Now the three Americans are finding themselves on the defensive, saying they had no intention of helping stoke the kind of anger that could lead to what came next: a bill to impose a death sentence for homosexual behavior. ...

And now they are shocked, shocked, that the Ugandans are proposing death. Oh no! We didn't mean that! Some of our best friends are gay! (yes, they really say that).

Human rights advocates in Uganda say the visit by the three Americans helped set in motion what could be a very dangerous cycle. Gay Ugandans already describe a world of beatings, blackmail, death threats like “Die Sodomite!” scrawled on their homes, constant harassment and even so-called correctional rape.

“Now we really have to go undercover,” said Stosh Mugisha, a gay rights activist who said she was pinned down in a guava orchard and raped by a farmhand who wanted to cure her of her attraction to girls. ...

“What these people have done is set the fire they can’t quench,” said the Rev. Kapya Kaoma, a Zambian who went undercover for six months to chronicle the relationship between the African anti-homosexual movement and American evangelicals.

We've talked about Rev. Kaoma before, and the revelations linking this horrible bill to American evangelicals in government, especially the murky C-street cult, in some detail here.

In iraq, religious leaders are silent, or even endorse brutal, sickening torture and murder of gay people. Now in Uganda, there's a positive blood-lust, driven by American fundamentalists who call GLBT people "evil", "hidden", "dark". They didn't say a thing about this bill as long as it wasn't officially noticed, which means they see nothing wrong with murdering people for the crime of whom they love. You know perfectly well these sexual obsessives would like to see GLBT people imprisoned and executed in this country too.

Is it different really from a Vatican that calls GLBT people "objectively disordered" and our relationships a "intrinsic moral evil"? Remember the Vatican would not sign on to a UN resolution against criminalization of homosexuality, ostensibly because to do so would support gay marriage. I call it their "better dead than wed" policy. And of course they oppose condom usage as a means to fight HIV, arguing that condoms increase the disease.

This language is the same used to de-humanize despise minorities throughout history: whether used against gays by straights, Tutsis by Hutus, or against Jews by Nazis. And they claim they are doing it in the name of religion.

Let us remember that many faith groups oppose this abuse. Why is it their rights and voices are ignored?

For shame.

Update: Scott Lively in this video describes this law as a "nuclear bomb" against gays. Suuuuure he's surprised by it. As noted by Andrew Sullivan,

here's a video of Lively's talk in Uganda that reveals what he says when he doesn't think he's being watched by Americans. He likens gays to mass killers, as the kind of people who would create a holocaust, as terrible dangers to civilization. This is the core of the Christianist message and the Christianist message is now the core of the GOP. At some point, you have to take these people's words seriously.