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God Loves Uganda But Hates Its Gays? by Don Schwartz
Some African gays demonstrating (not in Uganda). illo: courtesy unknown
SADLY, MANY HUMAN ADVANCES ARE
accompanied by backlashes from those threatened, afraid or uninformed. Nowhere is this more true than in Uganda, where Christian and traditional morality has long fomented an anti-gay agenda leading to the Parliament passing a sweeping anti-homosexuality law on December 19th.
Although the death penalty was removed, due to international pressure, life imprisonment remains not to mention untold abuse, stigma and oppression. Indeed, those imprisoned for gay offenses are likely to face murder by fellow inmates.
For those who wish to do something about this tragedy—by taking the first step of getting informed—there is no better place to start than Roger Ross Williams’ “God Loves Uganda” currently at San Francisco's Roxie Theater. The film, which premiered here at the international film festival, investigates the International House of Prayer in Uganda, which preaches an interpretation of ‘The Gospel’ including the de facto damnation of LGBT people.
Originally from the Baptist community in Pennsylvania, the forty-year-old Williams directed a best-short Oscar-winner, "Music by Prudence", about a disabled Zimbabwean singer-songwriter, the first African-American to do so. He currently lives in New York City where he has worked for ABC News, NBC News, MSNBC, BBC, CNN and PBS among others, producing, writing or directing.
Since 2010, there has been proposed anti-gay legislation which included the death penalty. Although the current bill excludes the death penalty, it includes life in prison as a possible punishment for offenses involving minors, the disabled and an AIDS/HIV infected partner.
For the bill to be enacted, it must be signed by President Yoweri Museveni, who is currently being lobbied by activists and others. To not sign, he would have to stand up to the Ugandan politicians who claim "Western gays are recruiting their children."
Protestors demonstrating against Ugandan anti-gay legislation in England. illo: courtesy unknown
Although the film’s focus is Uganda, it’s message is that well-funded United States-based evangelical Christian groups are spreading a fear- and hate- filled religious message to nations around the world. Their targets include impoverished, highly vulnerable people.
How many Ugandans have been, are being, and will be harassed, abused, injured, and killed in the "Name of Christ," the "Name of God," the "Name of the United States of America?" How many people around the world?
As of this writing, “God Loves Uganda” is playing theatrically throughout the United States and Canada. It is one of 15 documentary features on the Oscar® ‘short list’ to be reduced to five nominated films by January 16, 2014.
This one deserves to be on list of five. Posted on Dec 21, 2013 - 09:18 PM