Gay in Uganda

 

 

People in Uganda who have HIV/AIDS know they have it. The great majority are in treatment and are “virally suppressed.” That’s the good news.

 

The bad news. The Ugandan gummint has another cure. “Ban Homosexuality Or Die!” No, really. To quote Nancy Reagan, “Just Say No.” To your sexuality. Just tell your longings to go away and man up, gay people. “Oh, shit,” say gay Ugandans.

 

Fast forward to today. The Ugandan government is strongly, angrily, opposed to homosexuality. So strongly opposed, if fact, that they have made it illegal!

 

On the lighter end of sentencing for being gay, “Attempting to have same-sex relations,” will get you fourteen years in prison. Attempting? How does that work? In a Ugandan prison? Think about that for a moment. Actually doing the deed will get you life. In a Ugandan prison. For having consensual sex. Life.

 

“Aggravated homosexuality,” defined as when one partner has HIV or involving children “or other vulnerable people,” (skirt down, grandma!) will get you the death penalty. So, if you have HIV, “No sex for you or we’ll kill you both!”

 

Uganda isn’t entirely heartless. The new bill also makes identifying as LGBTQ+ NOT A CRIME! “Free to be me” is the law, as long as you stay in the president’s lane and don’t touch.

 

Frank Mugisha says that instead of targeting LGBTQ people, the gummint “should be focusing on tackling some of the greater social problems of the country.” He also said, “They should target individuals who are engaged in direct human rights violations and undermining democracy, but also corruption and abuse of other human rights as well.” 

 

Frank won’t be heard, sadly. You know Frank, right? He was head of the group Sexual Minorities Uganda. You probably guessed it already. The gummint banned it.

 

I seldom write about gay rights or related controversies, mostly because I don’t understand them and I don’t care that much. I’m in the camp of “You be you and I’ll be me and let’s both go in peace.” You’re gay? Fine with me. You’re straight? That’s fine, too. Go Ducks!

 

But there is no nuance in imprisoning or killing people for having gay sex. No wiggle room. (No pun intended.) No space in the Ugandan universe for that.

 

Biden is reviewing US plans for providing HIV relief to Uganda. Yeah, sure, (thank you for that phrase, my Norwegian Grandma). Cutting back on AIDS relief will help solve the problem by speeding up the deaths of sick Ugandans. That’s his idea. What’s yours?