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?

 

Gay in Moscow

Sexual Ethnic Cleansing

 

I wrote Gay in Uganda on May 30^th last. I thought it to be a one-off essay because Uganda is so obscenely corrupt and twisted and, of course, a third world, non-white country. All fair reasons to respond that I don’t have the knowledge to comment further.

 

I also wrote there, "I seldom write about gay rights or related controversies, mostly because I don’t understand them and I don’t care that much.” All true. I do not campaign for causes, I do not march, I do not seek a spotlight for any cause. I do understand repression and cruelty and authoritarianism and that’s what I choose to write about.

 

Thus, I am moved to write about the further repression of gays in Russia. Further, because it is already ingrained in much of the populace but now it has the cloak of law. The Russian Supreme Court, rubber stamp toadies of Vladimir Putin, has identified a great enemy of Russia, the “global LGBTQ+ movement.” As if Russia doesn’t have enough external enemies, now they have identified a great internal enemy. Gays. “People who aren’t like us.” Sexual ethnic cleansing. Hello, Uganda.

 

ABC News writes, “Activists have noted the lawsuit was lodged against a movement that is not an official entity, and that under its broad and vague definition authorities could crack down on any individuals or groups deemed to be part of it.” 

 

In America, it would be like suing “the Left” or “the Right,” depending on who is in office.

 

“I deem you queer. You’re under arrest. Prove you’re not.”

 

Reminiscent of, “You look Jewish. You’re under arrest.”

 

It’s a national movement in Russia now. It has to be. It’s the law, permission for every lazy cop in the country to say, “I got a few more again today, chief,” and expect a reward for doing his job. An observer might say, “But at least they aren’t putting them in gas chambers.” A distinction without a difference.

 

The gulags didn’t have gas chambers either but they murdered ten million Russians and others before and during WWII and long thereafter. It’s easy for a Russian leader to murder millions of people. See Poland, Ukraine, Georgia and Chechnya. A few hundred thousand in a country no one has ever heard of here, a few hundred thousand more there and you’re in the big leagues of murder. Tyrant prestige. You rule by fear. “Make it happen or you’re next.” And it happens.

 

Americans tend to have an aversion to over-the-top LGBTQ+ antics. I give you gay clowns performing in grade schools as an example. But being gay? I know of no one who begrudges gays the joys of life. Yes, I know there are some, but few. As I wrote in the same essay, “I’m in the camp of ‘You be you and I’ll be me and let’s both go in peace.’” 

 

Still, I recognize an anti-gay bias in America. I think it has to do with conflating the few who offend with the many normal gays who just want to live in peace. And the fact that it’s so easy to hate those who are different than us.

 

Today, after that odious ruling by the Russian Supreme Court, gays have to hide. Again. They are no longer welcome in “polite society.” Their contributions are unwelcome and ignored. It remains to be seen whether they will be rooted out of their esteemed scientific, intellectual and academic positions. They must be, mustn’t they, to comport with the law? The answer, of course, is yes. But what will happen is a version of “Well, we didn’t mean you. We meant those people outside.”

I cannot not say anything.

* * * * *

"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

—Martin Niemöller

* * * * *

I cannot stand by quietly.

--Then they came for the gays and I did not speak out--because I was not gay.-- 

Who will speak for me?

—Charles Stromme

* * * * *

Poor Russia. 

 

“Let the denunciations begin... again.”

“Let the pogroms begin… again.”

 

“If I were a rich man… ”

 

Poor us.