"Aggravated Homosexuality" in Uganda and Christianists in America: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Ugandan MP David Bahati has introduced a bill that could impose the death penalty upon gay and transgender citizens for acts of "aggravated homosexuality". It also calls for citizens to report any person they know to be homosexual to authorities.

Uganda already has some of the toughest anti-gay laws on the planet but this proposed law has sweeping implications for HIV/AIDS programs and gay rights organizations. "The bill would criminalize the promotion and dissemination of materials that are affirming of homosexuality". Its feared this could be applied to any charity that helps a known homosexual for any reason.

Many Christianists have praised Uganda for its tough laws and open and institutionalized homophobia. It seems that once they journey there they feel free to speak in ways that would get them into serious trouble here at home but reveals their true beliefs. One such is President of Defend the Family International Scott Lively. If you can stomach it, go read his "Report from Uganda" on his website. He equates giving those convicted of the "offense of homosexuality" the choice of undergoing "reparative therapy" instead of prison to choosing therapy after being arrested for drunk driving to avoid prison time. He also thinks that things would be much worse in Uganda if it wasn't for the fact that homosexuality is illegal in Uganda since the "international gay movement" is trying to befoul this proud pro-family Christian nation.

It's embarrassing that we're exporting this kind of filth.

When we hear the Christianists spout their madness and rail against LGBT rights, same-sex marriage or transgender "bathroom bills" this is kind of thing their belief system would bring about. If they could, they would criminalize homosexuality and transgenderism in the US. They would seek to roll back the tide of human rights in order to preserve a way of life that never really existed.

When we hear stories about the abuses heaped upon LGBTs in Uganda and other countries in the name of Christianity or Islam, we cringe. The extreme cases are so obviously egregious that they are easy to condemn but while we are safe in our outrage for the problems "over there" we fail to equate the equally egregious events in our own backyard.

From discrimination faced by someone like 8-year-old Josie Romero who couldn't attend school in Arizona because she was transgendered to Christianist activists spreading lies in the fight for marriage equality in Maine, we stand on the precipice of the infamous slippery slope. While we slog our way towards an enlightened way of thinking about and dealing with our LGBT sisters and brothers, the impetus to fall back into the depths of hate are ever present. They are present in the voices of those on FreeRepublic.com who screech hate towards Josie's parents; present in the ads of Stand for Marriage Maine and others like them that try to stop same-sex marriage; present in the violence and verbal abuse that are sad facts of life for far too many LBGTs in our country.

As long as we stand idly by and allow those who hate to continue unchallenged, they win.