I am upset. Yes, about Uganda. About how far that dirty, homophobic bill has gone—how far it seeks to go. It is one thing to be uncomfortable about a person’s sexuality because of your religious or moral beliefs. But is a completely different thing to strip people of their sexual and reproductive rights because you feel like your beliefs are superior. The god-complex is sickening.
That bill is not only grossly inhumane, but also extremely backward. The humans who brought this up clearly do not care about the degree of harm they’re about to cause.
Let me start with a basic example of what’s already happening as we speak in Uganda. That bill allows people to report others who are gay. Girls who are masculine-ish or effeminate boys are at risk. You can report anyone who seems homosexual, and in turn, the government can prosecute them however they see fit. They can even face life imprisonment.
As we speak, people are already blackmailing those they believe are gays. These perceived gays are receiving threatening calls. Their lives and sources of income seem to be at risk. Mind you, family members, friends associates, and colleagues are mostly the ones turning them in.
This is the very Uganda which has a disgustingly high rate of sexual violence against women. Approximately 22 in 100 women in that country have experienced sexual violence. Based on these numbers alone, one would expect the country to have tougher rules against all forms of sexual abuse. Do not forget that the statistics on forced marriage and marital rape are an eyesore. Yet, they seem to be more focused on “purifying the land” from people who are having CONSENSUAL sex? How does that even make sense?
Need I add that this bill is also going to worsen the degree of profiling? Africa seems to already be suffering from what I describe as “Silly profiling syndrome.”
In Nigeria, for example, almost everyone profiles. The old call the young disrespectful. The young call the old too mean. Men say women are ashewos. Women say the men are heart breakers. The police profiles. It’s bad enough that young boys get profiled for being suspected scammers even in Cameroon based on their outfits or cars or company. Black American men are already suspects before anything else.
Let’s not go too deep into SRHR. Let’s focus on healthcare, which I am closer to. When a person is tested positive for HIV, health workers ask them to bring along their sexual partners. Why? So that they can all be tested and sensitized. Societies that have such inhumane laws on gay sex, are putting even more strain on the already strained heath system. Why? Because this bill permits even health workers to REPORT gay people. Imagine country that sets people against themselves. Such a unity country. This kind of unity will make it even more difficult, almost impossible even to track people living with HIV. They will not get tested; they will unknowingly spread the virus, and the HIV/AIDS crisis is going to get worse.
The Ugandan government seems to also be threatening organizations working with gay people. It will make health work much more difficult and heterosexuals are going to be at risk too. So, if you’re sitting there comfortably saying it’s okay because it doesn’t directly affect you, you clearly have no idea that stigmatization supplies wholesale damages.
There are people who think my opinions are shallow and a shame to the Christian society. This is laughable. I am a well-read Christian woman. What that means is I have read the Bible and I have seen that homosexuality is a sin. I have also read that same Bible and seen that lying, stealing, fornication, adultery, bribery, covetousness, and even gluttony are also sins in the eyes of God.
The book of Leviticus points out so many sins but you want to capitalize on one sin.
When a Christian brother and sister are in a sexual relationship, the church says they’re struggling. A pastor impregnates a sister in church and they term it “slipping into sin”. A man rapes his wife and nobody says anything about it because god forbid that a woman drags her husband to court. How dare she want to disgrace the family and the church? No, it’s a simple family matter.
Government officials, the clergy, school officials, and the community as a whole will turn a blind eye to almost everything except gay sex. Pedophiles are lifting “holy hands” in worship at various religious centers because child marriage is allowed in this day and age in Uganda. Children who cannot give consent are accused of seducing their abusers. Yet, you draw the line at who an adult chooses to have genital meet and greet sessions with?
Why do poor countries refuse to set their priorities straight?
They’ll risk losing the same grants that give them a semblance of a functioning society. If there are harsh international sanctions, it’s the average man/woman who will suffer. Yet, the masses are glad that the country is “wiping” away immorality. Joke of the century.
Let us stop making a mockery of ourselves in Africa.
About Ifeoma
Ifeoma is a Nigerian feminist who lives in Cameroon. She loves to write and take pictures of herself and red wine.