Violent homophobia rampant in Africa

[tko_ak]

This is an interesting article on the growing violence against gays in Africa. The problem seems to be getting worse, or is at least getting international attention

Comments

[machmed]

This post is racist. >;o Clearly every single African on the planet loves and cherishes gays.

Jokes aside, it is indeed pretty sad for gay people who live in those countries. Maybe Fred Phelps and Co. should bring their magic-based pickets to that continent.

[fabfemmeboy]

This. There's been quite a bit of coverage of how American evangelicals are helping to finance and drive the passage of laws that outlaw homosexuality, complete with ridiculously long jail sentences. It's awful.

[morgondag]

Bit of a random request, but do you happen to have any links or references on the involvement of evangelicals and such laws? I've been meaning to look into that for a while now.

[redstar826]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/world/africa/04uganda.html

do some searches on the anti-gay laws in Uganda, and you'll find all sorts of stuff about this

[tko_ak]

I don't think you read the article, which discussed how Islam has been the predominant driving force.

Which isn't to say Christian movements couldn't also contribute to it, but at least so much as the article discusses, it's predominantly Islam that has led in the uptick of violence.

[machmed]

My reference to Fred Phelps and the Westboro Church was a response to the OP's mention of them. I'm not suggesting there is no Christianity in African countries. Indeed, Christianity is the predominant religion in much of Sub-Saharan Africa.

With that said, it's not as if American Christianity is single handily responsible for that continent's anti-gay bigotry. That's a rather simplistic assumption. There are likely many factors at play here.

[machmed]

Well, golly, you're quite the smug piece of work, aren't you? :>

I'm certainly not pretending to be an expert on anything relating to Africa. I simply made a joke about how some people might react to this post, a joke you decided warranted a very serious and condescending response. Must everyone be an expert on a topic before making a joke? I was unaware and I apologize, oh wise one.

Nonetheless, at least we can both agree that, if it weren't for evil, white, Christian men, every single person of African descent on the planet would love and cherish homosexuality with all of their perfect little hearts. D:

[tko_ak]

Point of order: it's the white, Christian, straight men who are the most evil. Sure, the gays white Christian males are evil too - what with their gay male privilege - but everyone is oppressed by The WCSM.

[tko_ak]

As passionately as you seem to believe this - and I don't doubt they play a role - you haven't offered anything but your own rhetoric to back it up.

All I said was that, based on what the article reported, it's radical Islamic movements that has increased the violence. You just seem to dismiss that fact, and argue that it's really American Christians' fault. And maybe some of it is, but I have a difficult time believing a radical imam taking marching orders from Pat Robertson.

[redstar826]

My guess is that they are referring to Uganda (population about 80% Christian), where there has been meetings between anti-gay American Christians and anti-gay Ugandan Christian.