RENWL

Photo: Ugandan supporters of the anti-gay bill yesterday demonstrate in Uganda’s eastern town of Jinja against US president Barrack Obama and all those who support homosexuality (Feb’ 2010)

Now this is an interesting development that has received next to no coverage from the LGBT news scene.

Two US diplomats from the US Bureau of African Affairs–Geeta Pasi, the bureau’s East Africa director, and Bruce Wharton, the bureau’s director of public affairs, travelled from DC earlier this month to meet with a group of Ugandan LGBT activists. Held at the US Embassy in city of Kampala on March 3, the meeting was centered around the development of strategies to defeat the controversial anti-gay bill in the African nation.

Present at the meeting were also representatives from the Ugandan human rights organization the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law. According to Canadian LGBT online news portal Xtra.ca, Ugandan gay leaders offered an array of strategies at the US diplomats to stalwart the bill including a proposal for economic sanctions on Uganda to a campaign to US Evangelical church leaders to get them to speak out more against the proposed anti-gay law.

While no financial support from the US was discussed, the diplomats did say that they would consider granting American visas to Ugandan gay leaders so they can travel to the US this summer and raise awareness about the legislation.

As a side note Ugandan transgender activist Victor Juliet Mukasa is currently in Norway visiting the country’s National Organization for Lesbians And Gays. Mukasa has been travelling worldwide for the last few years providing awareness about homophobia in Uganda and how it is spreading from country to country throughout the African continent. The activist was the International Grand Marshall for Toronto’s gay pride in June 2009. Here’s a short interview with Mukasa while in Toronto sharing on why it’s important for him to claim both his transgender and lesbian identity in Africa.

Mukasa also stated in an interview with a Norwegian newspaper this week that that foreign and domestic fundamentalists are behind the growing gay hatred in Africa. “Much of it stems from the American right wing. Evangelical movement is very active in Uganda and other parts of Africa,” said the activist.

“They are working to criminalize homosexuality in Africa,” says Mukasa who now lives in South Africa.

Be sure and check out Uganda’s Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law Web site at the end of this post. It seems to be the best source of direct updated information concerning developments in the Ugandan LGBT activist community and the latest updates on status of the anti-gay bill. The site also provides a healthy list of Web links to African human rights organizations. If you work for a social cause organization you can also endorse support of the campaign against the anti-gay bill by posting your org’s logo and information on the Civil Society site. In addition, there’s an on-site petition requesting signatures in support of the movement to defeat the bill.

Quick commentary: We find the silence by mainstream LGBT blogs and pubs on this event curious behavior after last year’s blatant anti-Obama campaign launched by several popular gay mainstream blogs and news cheat sheets. Possibly their silence could be a matter of keeping the majority of gay folks in the dark about the work the administration is doing in regards to human rights and international diplomacy on the behalf of LGBTs. By remaining mum on such matters, these blogs and LGBT pubs can mount and remount their campaigns against President Obama with plenty of unenlightened support from their readers. Maybe they’re not providing balanced coverage of governmental activities in relationship to human rights and LGBT persecution internationally because they feel President Obama should be moving faster on LGBT rights domestically.

If so, that’s kinda’ effed up don’t you think?

It’s irresponsible the way we see it. And in this particular instance it only hurts Ugandan LGBTs when progress and news information is not disseminated by those who claim to have their best interests at heart.

Xtra.ca: Obama administration meets with gay leaders in Uganda

Link to: Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law

Possibly Related Posts:

• Courage Campaign NOM Tour Tracker; More Hindrance Than Help Says Some
• Constance McMillen Gets Paid And Gay Kids Still Get Beat Up Everyday
• Senator Roy Ashburn Begs For Penance; Wants Outfit Tips For Next White Party
• LBG But No “T” In DC Health Report
• High Tea: The LGBT Leadership’s Right Wing Party Pals