Behind Uganda's "Kill the Gays" Bill
December 1, 2009
Last night Rachel Maddow talked about Ugandan government’s proposed law that would *literally* require the execution of gay people and people with AIDS who have gay sex, as well as prison time for people who fail to inform the government of their loved one’s homosexuality. The law also renders advocacy for LGBT and HIV/AIDS causes *literally* illegal.
Box Turtle Bulletin has exhaustive coverage of this story, beginning in March when members of the Exodus International Board and other anti-gay Americans joined a rather frightening conference in Uganda. Very soon after that conference Red Pepper, a Ugandan tabloid, began printing full page lists of gays for people to target, often complete with pictures.
Anyway, it turns out that there’s more of an American connection that we previously knew. Not only are American anti-gays working in advisory roles, not only is Rick Warren (who swears he’s never been political) associate Martin Ssempa a key player, but the bill was written by a member of “The Family”, an arch-conservative religious group that directly targets politicians to turn their hatred into law. Jeff Sharlet, the go-to guy on The Family since his 2008 book, joins Rachel.
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This is literally THE most shocking story of my entire life. Not either of the Space Shuttle disasters, not even the WTC attacks. This is the most disgusting, vile, treacherous villainy ever since… well, ever since Hitler did the exact same thing.
This is so preventable. Let's hope like hell that it GETS prevented, despite the persistence of the zealously Religious Right. Thanks for spreading the word.
This is literally THE most shocking story of my entire life. Not either of the Space Shuttle disasters, not even the WTC attacks. This is the most disgusting, vile, treacherous villainy ever since… well, ever since Hitler did the exact same thing.
This is so preventable. Let's hope like hell that it GETS prevented, despite the persistence of the zealously Religious Right. Thanks for spreading the word.