Great News! Uganda's parliament takes no action on anti-gay bill

I like to think that we've all made a little difference today.





Lots of emailing and blogging of late about the horrid situation in Ugandan where there was the potential for a law to be introduced that could mean death penalty for homosexual acts.





Parliament wrapped up yesterday and the Bill didn't make it to a vote. While the Bill is not completely dead it now needs to start the long road all over again before it can become law, such is the way Ugandan parliament works.

Gay activist David Kato killed in January

The story of murdered Ugandan activist David Kato and the worldwide call for petition signatures are both things I've banged on about before, so it is a great relief to know that the gay community in Uganda does not live under this threat, at least for the time being. They still have unbelievable discrimination issues so they so there is still a long way to go.





To read more, here is some of the coverage today...





CNN

BBC News

Forbes

Global Post (great read)





And just finally, so impressed that Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd came out in opposition to this. Very impressed that it was on his radar. Thanks Kev!





ABC News story on Rudd's condemnation of Uganda's anti-gay bill.





Thanks all.

Death Penalty for citizens who repeatedly “practice homosexuality”!

I've talked about David Kato here before, and its time again to revisit his story. He was killed in Uganda for being gay after a 'name and shame' campaign by local papers, which is so disturbing I'm lost for words. But the Ugandan Parliament is still trying to pass laws that could see gays and lesbians being hung for being born this way. So while I sit here in the eastern suburbs of Sydney leading what can only be described as a 'flamboyantly gay' lifestyle, it breaks my heart that I have it so good while other men and women face the threat of death for loving who they love. Please take a minute to read this letter from the Avaaz Organisation and sign their petition. A small way to make a difference....

Hanged for being gay – two days to act!

Dear friends,

David Kato, murdered Ugandan gay rights activist In two days, the Ugandan Parliament could pass a brutal hate law that would impose the death penalty on citizens who repeatedly “practice homosexuality.” If we can keep this law from reaching a vote this week, it will die when Parliament closes on May 12th. Click below to sign the petition, then forward to everyone:

In two days, Uganda could legalize the murder of gays and lesbians. Parliament is on the verge of passing a brutal hate law that would impose the death penalty on citizens who repeatedly “practice homosexuality.”



Last year, a massive outcry of citizens from around the world helped shelve this same bill. But, political unrest is mounting in Uganda, and religious extremists in Parliament are hoping the confusion and violence will distract the international community from a second effort to pass a bill legalizing the murder of gay Ugandans. If we can keep this hate-filled law from reaching a vote this week, it will die when Parliament closes on May 12th and all current bills are scrapped.



Frank Mugisha, a close friend and gay rights activist in Uganda, wrote to us today, "If this bill passes there is going to be more harassment, and more bashing and violence in the streets. This anti-gay bill will turn Uganda into a police state where we can't speak out, can't express ourselves, and we won't even be able to live here without being thrown in jail or hanged. Please help". With only 2 days to go until the closing of Parliament, we don’t have a moment to lose. Let’s build a huge petition to stop the gay death penalty and protect Frank and his community from a brutal government crackdown -- click here to take action, then forward this email widely:



http://www.avaaz.org/en/uganda_stop_homophobia_petition/?vl



For Frank and thousands of others, being gay in Uganda is already dangerous and terrifying. They are regularly harassed and beaten, and just months ago, Avaaz colleague and gay rights activist, David Kato (pictured above), was brutally murdered in his own home. Now LGBT Ugandans are threatened by this draconian law which imposes life imprisonment for people convicted of same-sex relations and the death penalty for “serial offenders”. Even NGOs working to prevent the spread of HIV can be imprisoned for “promoting homosexuality” under this hate-filled law.



Proponents of the bill claim that it defends national culture, but this culture of intolerance did not happen by accident. In the last decade, powerful religious figures, backed by US radical religious groups have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to instill homophobia in Ugandan communities, and drive abroad messages of fear, hate and violence.



These extremists preach a message of hate which is a far from the the christian values many Ugandans are taught and that are enshrined in the country’s constitution which guarantees freedom of expression, thought, and a right to life. In the next 48 hours, let’s build a massive international outcry in support of respect for human rights, justice and tolerance. Together we can save lives by stopping this bill -- sign now here, then tell friends and family:



http://www.avaaz.org/en/uganda_stop_homophobia_petition/?vl



Earlier this year, we stood in solidarity with Uganda's equality movement to show that all life, no matter creed, nationality or sexual orientation, is equally precious. Together, we shelved this hate-filled bill the first time it was presented to Parliament. Then, when a tabloid newspaper published 100 names, pictures and addresses, of suspected gays and those identified were threatened, Avaaz supported a legal case against the paper and we won! We proved that, when hundreds of thousands of us come together in solidarity and with purpose, we have the power to change the world for the better. Let’s renew our commitment to the fight for equality in Uganda, and prevent any further bloodshed:



http://www.avaaz.org/en/uganda_stop_homophobia_petition/?vl



With hope and determination,



Emma, Iain, Alice, Morgan, Brianna and the rest of the Avaaz team





SOURCES:



Ugandan lawmakers hold hearings on anti-gay bill

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article



Uganda gay activist Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera hailed

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13278374



Pulling Out All the Stops to Push an Antigay Bill

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/14/world/africa/14uganda.html

Note from St. Murphy: After much talking-up of 'Fashion Spread' I promise it will be tomorrow's post. With only two days to go before Ugandan Parliament shuts down the work of Avaaz

I do not need to see the shots of a dead bin Laden

I do not want to see the shots of Osama bin Laden shot in the face.

And I do not need to see them.

Surely this is one instance where we should be happy to take the word of the leader of the free world. If Obama puts himself on the line like this, he who has so expertly linked himself with this momentous event and with the full support of CIA, Pentagon and world leaders – who am I to want to see the evidence?

56million Americans watched...

And at the risk of sounding dumb, if Osama has been shot in the face how the hell is Joe Public meant to tell if its him anyway. We’ve only ever seen grainy photos or video of him so what would be gained? Surely to release the photos to appease the public’s baying for blood is completely redundant. I can understand experts wanting to see them, and they have, and they’ve been verified. As has DNA. US citizens, I feel, should be happy with that and on this one issue of such national importance should have a little more faith and trust in their political and intelligence leaders.

And that is to say nothing of the political and societal impact of releasing a graphic photo of someone shot in the face, irrelevant of who it is. That would have to be one of the most disturbing images ever to be seen on Page 1. No thanks, I don’t need to see it.

On somewhat of a tangent, it has been fascinating to watch the events of the last week and look at them from a communications and publicity perspective. Before I go down this path I need to say that I could not be considered by any stretch of the imagination an expert on US politics or world terrorism. I’d say 75% of my knowledge of US politics comes from the second best TV series ever made, West Wing. What I know is from a general, sometimes passing, interest in world events.

Situation Room on West Wing

Watching live Obama’s speech announcing the death of bin Laden, what struck me the most was his incredibly clever use of language to leave no doubt in the public’s eye that it was he, Obama, who had brought down bin Laden. I can’t remember the exact words but it was Obama who lead the investigation, Obama called for clarification, Obama gave the final word, Obama watched it live, Obama has called all key stakeholders. It felt like he said ‘as Commander-in-Chief’ every second sentence. His message was clear. He was the US leader that had found and killed bin Laden. The political capital in this is astronomical.

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘a picture tells a 1000 words’. That picture of the Security Council watching the attack on the compound live will be one of the most historical photos ever taken. To release that shot was absolutely genius! It gave an act of war a distinctly human feel. Hilary in particular stands out to me. What strikes me as odd about it is how did it come about? Do they shoot everything that happens in that room, me thinks not. So someone would have had to make the call that they needed a photographer in the room which automatically gives it a different context for me.

Yes they knew it would be a historic moment, yes I’m sure they were all aware of the inevitable public expectation for detail. As I’m sure they are so used to being photographed they didn’t even notice him in the room. I would just love to know how that conversation took place, and between who, that decided to have a photographer in the room. It’s the publicist in me, but it was an absolute stroke of genius and who ever in Obama’s Communications team suggested it is my new idol (a real-life CJ Cregg).

The only thing I’ve found confusing about this situation from a communications perspective is the changes to the story of what exactly happened in that compound. Knowing the level of scrutiny they would be under from the world’s media and citizens, I am so shocked that every minute detail was not confirmed beyond a doubt before being released to the public. It’s Crisis Management 101. Take a leaf out of Anna Bligh’s book, she was the master during Qld floods. Only speak to what you know as fact. It does not instill the public with confidence when one group says one thing and then someone else says something different. I am genuinely amazed that this happened.

As I said, I’m only a passer-by on this dramatic world event. It’s just that I picked up on a few things that really got me thinking about the communications strategy involved. I’m fascinated by the PR components of this dramatic tale.

And of course I will be reading the inevitable behind-the-scenes book!

Because you were born this way you are EXPELLED!

WARNING: No Valentines Day love-stuff here.

So my overall bad mood continues today. My apologies in advance, I promise it will lift soon. But today I need to get off my chest how I feel about our Attorney-General, John Hatzistergos. A man I’ve never heard of before but who goes straight to the top of my list of ignorant stupid dumb people – and you know I hate nothing more than dumb.

Hatzisdumbgos

The man is obviously an idiot.

When presented with the opportunity to denounce a ridiculous law that allows private schools to expel gay students simply for being gay, he instead backed it with some waffling excuse about the ‘delicate balance’ between discrimination and ‘practicing their own beliefs’.

I know it is an election year but surely commonsense still has a place in politics???

Here is the story, and big thanks to Sydney’s Queen of Publicity who brought it to my attention. She is a very smart woman that QoP.

There are two glaring statements in the story that make me want to vomit. The first is the insinuation by the AG that the church has the right to discriminate – against children. Because of how they were born!!! Surely we do not have to go through this tired, boring debate again. How many times does it have to be disproven for it to sink into the minds of ignorants like AG. Homosexuals are born homosexual! We do not decide it as a lifestyle, we do not make a conscious decision to suddenly ‘switch teams’. What makes me gay is the deep-seeded, primal, fundamental attraction to people of the same sex. No different to how hetero's feel about the opposite sex. No one taught me that as a belief or doctrine, its how my mind and body functions. Ask any gay or lesbian! Therefore, why the hell does the church have the right to discriminate against gay kids, at an age when they are most vulnerable, and why the hell does the AG allow them?

Secondly, and I quote here…

Recent research shows that young same-sex-attracted people are up to 14 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers and that 80 per cent of the verbal or physical abuse they experience occurs in schools.

Heartbreaking. It does not take a genius to see the connection. But yet private schools and politicians are not prepared to change an out-dated law that so blatantly discriminates against gay kids. The message being “there is something wrong with you and, if we want, we will get rid of you because you are different”. No wonder gay kids are having such a hard time when such an example is being set by community leaders.

And let me just highlight…

Jim Wallace

Brigadier Jim Wallace of the Australian Christian Lobby has no qualms about the law. The head of the influential Christian pressure group said a church school should have the right to expel any openly gay child. “But I would expect any church that found itself in that situation to do that in the most loving way that it could for the child and to reduce absolutely any negative affects”.

Because booting the poor kid from their school because of how they were born couldn’t possibly have any negative effects.

Makes me so unbelievably angry.

Tony Abbott: why I can't be part of the bashing!

I despise Tony Abbott. He is without a doubt a personifaction of all that shits me about society. I am often overcome with sickness when I hear him speak. On Election night this year I almost vomited when the tally-room first suggested he could be PM. Thank god commonsense prevailed and he is still in Opposition. Just laying some groundwork here as what I am about to say makes me despise myself.

I genuinely believe his “shit happens” comment was completely in the moment and that the footage clearly shows it was contextual. When I watch the footage it just does not jump out at me as offensive in any way. They are standing in a warzone talking about death, they are somber, serious, intense. It does not have the flippancy needed for such a phrase to be offensive.

What the dickhead should be hung and quartered for, and dethroned immediately, is his utter stupidity in dealing with the media and his complete inability to contain his emotions. Both are crucial skills for anyone hoping to be PM.  The interview in question screams uneducated Neanderthal to me. So while I am quietly squealing with glee that Abbott is in serious trouble, I just wish it was for a mistake that I felt warranted it. 

Shit has happened.

David Kato, Brenda Namigadde, Elton John and the guy at the petrol station

This has pissed me off, made me sad and got me thinking! It brought me out of my inner-city bubble and made me think about those living a very different life to mine.

Quite by accident I came across two brilliant bloggers yesterday, both who were writing about homophobia. They come with very different stories but the message is still the same. The first is from Gay Fourth And Multiply who recaps the incredibly tragic story of David Kato from Uganda who was beaten to death with a hammer last week. Because he was gay! An excerpt…

David Kato

“Not only had he (David Kato) been viciously murdered, the chances for justice are slim, with homosexuality a crime in Uganda and newspapers running a "name and shame" campaign, printing photos of suspected "homos" under the headline: Hang them.”

Can you imagine? If Sydney newspapers did this we’d strip the world of trees.

Ugandan newspaper

Gay Fourth And Multiply also tells the story of Brenda Namigadde who fled Uganda for fear of prosecution. While this degree of homophobia seems a problem far removed from our Western society, homophobia takes many shapes and forms. As GFAM points out, lets not forget the newsagent in Arkansas who felt he had to hide the Elton John magazine cover which featured a picture of him with his partner and child. God-forbid gays can love too.

Fimly shield my arse!

Which brings me to my next blogger and much closer to home. Cate Swannell tells the story of the obvious ignorance and homophobia of the guy in front of her in line at a petrol station. And this is on the Gold Coast! It’s a funny story, but her message isn’t. She confronts the ignorant bastard brilliantly, then, in her words… “You’d think i’d rubbed an ice-cold dildo between his arsecheeks he moved that fast.”

We need to hear stories like this! The reason is that so many of us can go about life in our inner-city bubble – myself included – and lose sight of the homophobia that exists around us. I’ve always been very lucky and homophobia has rarely touched my life, compared to David Kato I have not a care in the world. I am incredibly grateful for that. I also think that is one of the reason’s why his story hurts so much, I live a life he could have only dreamed of.

But like I said, homophobia takes many forms, some of them incredibly subtle. We need to be alert and aware and pull people up on it whenever we get the chance. Just like Cate did. As lucky as we are in Australia we still have a ways to go. From my perspective, the most frustrating hurdle we are yet to overcome is marriage equality, the greatest legalised homophobia left in Australia. So while compared to David and Brenda’s issues it may fade in significance, it is still homophobia. And we all need to speak up about it. 

Especially to our politicians and the ugly bogans at the petrol station.

If you were like me and didn't really listen to the news on David Kato last week then catch up here...

The Guardian, Jan 30, 2011

The New York Times, Jan 27, 2011

Sydney Star Observor, Jan 28, 2011

For more information on gay activism...

Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby

Australian Marriage Equality

Brilliant gay-acceptance projects...

This Is Oz

It Gets Better

Born This Way

Politicians - What are they good for?

I’ve been doing some research and I’m not happy Jan!

Via my dear friend Twitter I learnt that the Federal Government’s Community Consultation period on Gay Marriage was ending this Friday. But hang on a minute… I haven’t been consulted? So off I go to the website of my Federal Member of Parliament, Labor’s Tanya Plibersek, to have my rant.

I was very pleased to find that Ms Plibersek had a feedback form front and centre on her home page. Two minutes later she knew exactly how I felt. In fact, I connected her with my post on Woogsworld where I first started venting. I bet Woogsworld is now sweeping through Parliament and soon Mrs Woog will be dining at The Lodge.

Thank you for the opportunity to have my say Tanya (and Mrs Woog!). I suggest everyone take her up on the offer.

So then I wanted to see what other pollies from the two major parties were doing? Were they letting their constituents in on this as well? I’ve done a quick whip-around of some of the key decision-makers websites and the results may surprise you, maybe not.

• ·      ALP – There’s nothing here, not even on the policy page. Go figure!


•       Julia Gillard/Lalor/Labor – again, nothing. Sadly I think I already see a pattern developing.


• ·      Wayne Swan/Lilley/Labor– nothing. Just some bad, air-brushed photography of himself. No mention of Gay Marriage.


• ·      Simon Crean/Hotham/Labor – my dodgy blog page looks better than his site. But still nothing.


• ·      I even checked in with Senators Penny Wong and Mark Abib – still no mention anywhere.


• ·      Liberal Party – I was so disturbed by the offer of “Liberal TV”, yes their own tv content, I could barely continue. But hey, low and behold, NOTHING.


• ·      Tony Abbott/Warringah/Liberal – it goes without saying, NO. Not even listed in his Constituent Issues Survey.


• ·      Joe Hockey/North Sydney/Liberal – getting real bored with this now, NO.


• ·      Malcolm Turnball/Wentworth/Liberal – Eastern suburbs hood you would think may be a little more progressive, NO. Only thing he was offering up was his iPhone App. What the…???

 Then shock, horror, BRACE YOURSELVES!!!

• ·      Julie Bishop/Curtin/Liberal – YES YES YES. Ms Bishop had a lovely little poll on the main page where you could vote – Strongly Agree down to Strongly Oppose. But the best part of it all – you can see the results! 64% of respondents voted STRONGLY AGREE with Gay Marriage!!!  Brilliant!

Julie Bishop

Can I strongly suggest that you all go to Ms Bishop’s site so that at least someone in the Liberal Party understands how we feel...

So my overall report card for our political representatives is depressing and sad. They are obviously disconnected and disinterested in regards to this issue, which appalls me. I can feel the anger boiling up inside. How the hell are they meant to know what their constituents think on the issue if they do not actively engage with them? Isn’t that like Politics 101 for a Federal Member?

I am now too angry to continue…

Anna Bligh - my new hero!

Like many Australians I have been obsessed with watching the coverage of the Queensland floods. Thank god I make sure there is a television wherever I go. It has been incredibly dramatic, heartbreaking and frightening. I also find it disturbingly intriguing to watch as it is one of those events that are so far out of your realm of possibility that you can’t help but be fascinated by it. I’ve never seen anything like it and possibly (hopefully) never will again. Through all of the mayhem there has been one constant re-assuring voice that has kept me calm and focused and that’s the Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh.

I think Bligh has been OUTSTANDING! She has been so unbelievably calm, so authoritive, so on top of the situation, it has been inspiring to watch. Her recall of facts and figures has been nothing short of phenomenal. Even with her relatively soft-spoken delivery she commands respect and attention. Visibly you can see she is getting tired and it’s taking its toll but you would never tell from her speech or the content. It is obviously devastating for her to see her beloved state going through this natural disaster but she is unflappable in her resolve to see it through and do the best job possible.

I am a New South Welshmen so my knowledge of Queensland politics and Bligh are limited to say the least. From some of the reactions I’ve got on Twitter I gather she is not the most popular of Premiers. I sincerely hope that this flood has demonstrated to her constituents her strength as a Premier and as a person. 911 did wonders for Giuliani’s popularity and I’m hoping for the same for Bligh. I would be a damn shame to lose a politician of this calibre.

To see Bligh front up at every press conference, every two hours, through Queensland’s darkest hour has been the most remarkable thing about the floods, besides the water that is. I once spent the day with Premier Bligh under completely different circumstances. I found her to be completely lovely, and I remember saying at the time how ‘normal’ she was. She was warm and funny, and it was so obvious after a 5-minute chat how completely devoted to Queensland she was. I made jokes about it.

It is a really tough comparison to make under these circumstances, but the contrast with our PM Julia Gillard has been obvious. They’ve done a few press conferences together so it is only natural to make comparisons. Bligh spoke from a series of bullet-points, predominantly off-the-cuff, rattling off facts and figures while delivering heartbreaking news. Gillard appeared to have an autocue (my guess, not fact) and delivered her lines in the typical fashion we’ve come to expect from her since she became PM. There was a lack of warmth and humanity in Gillard that Bligh has shown in bucket loads.

I’m a Labour voter to the core and one of Gillard’s most vocal supporters; I only hope that some of Bligh rubs off on Gillard. I want to see and sense the woman she was before becoming PM. I loved her! The office has hardened Gillard, as you would expect, but I still want to see some personality and candidness from our PM. Especially in our times of need.