As many of you have heard, last Monday Uganda passed its
anti-homosexuality bill after President Museveni signed it. The Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) was introduced back in 2009, originally with the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality" but it has now been reduced to life imprisonment. I'm sure you can imagine how difficult this has been as a Peace Corps volunteer, especially since 97% of the population supports the bill. There's a lot of history behind the bill, including major influence from Christian evangelical missionaries for spurring such homophobia. I highly recommend the documentary
God Loves Uganda for Uganda's terrifying turn towards biblical law. It's always been illegal to be gay in Uganda, but now it's been criminalized, similar to pedophilia or child pornography. That's where a huge problem lies is that many people equate homosexuality as pedophilia and not as love between two same-sex people. It's far too touchy a subject that I feel comfortable to try and educate anyone, as misconceptions and the Bible are at the crux of this bill.
Before he signed the bill, Museveni gathered a team of scientists from Makerere University to determine if homosexuality was natural or if it was socialized, if someone or something can "make" you gay. Their research found that homosexuality is a social phenomenon, by no means natural, thus providing grounds for passing the bill.
I have to be honest, I struggled a lot during this period with the AHA written into Uganda's history. I tried my best to have some empathy and understand where Ugandans were coming from. There were parades in the street in celebration over the bill's passing, euphoria over Museveni "standing up" to the West and doing what he felt what was right for his country.
But that's not all, there's a twist. Uganda is the third country in the world, behind Pakistan and Kenya, for the highest number of Google searches for gay sex. Men here hold hands all the time as a symbol of friendship and affection, but in no way is that considered gay.
It's been a frustrating week as history seems to be taking two steps backwards: the anti-gay bill, the anti-pornography bill, homophobia at the Sochi Olympics, Russia invading Ukraine, the abortion and women's rights backlash in the US. In response to the AHA bill, several countries such as Denmark, Norway and the World Bank have already pulled out aid.
As for now, Peace Corps plans on remaining in Uganda despite this bill. In the works is a second bill that's going to make lives more difficult, the anti-pornography bill, which dictates the type of clothes that a woman can wear but seems to be enforced more by boda-boda drivers than by police. Volunteers have reported seeing women stripped naked in public by a mob "enforcing" the law.
On another note, a big thank you to my parents for their fundraising efforts for Fred Kiyingi, who is eagerly awaiting a liver transplant. If you would like to donate, please go to
feea.org to make a donation to Fred Kiyingi. It's nice to see that there are good, honest people in this world willing to help others, and I'm honored to have such wonderful parents as role models. Thanks Mom and Dad, you're amazing!
