This week marked the one-year anniversary of the day David Kato, a gay activist in Uganda, was beaten to death in his neighbourhood with a hammer after his photo appeared in a local paper under the headline “Hang Them.”
Changing Attitude reports the former president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, has risen to the defence of homosexuals in Uganda, saying the proposed Antihomosexuality Bill (now languishing in Uganda’s Parliament) is irrelevant.
“I would say to the MP [David Bahati, mover of the bill]; sexual preferences are a private matter,” said Mbeki. “I don’t think it is a matter for the state to intervene.” Mbeki said he was certain that Bahati would disagree with his stand and argue that African culture does not permit same sex relations, a reason at the heart of the continent’s wide spread antipathy towards homosexuals….
I mean what would you want? It doesn’t make sense at all. That is what I would say to the MP. What two consenting adults do is really not a matter for the law,” he said.
However, Bahati defended his bill, adding that it was brought to curb a several issues including inducement, recruitment and funding homosexuality. “His excellency [Mr Mbeki] needs to read the Bill and understand the spirit in which it was brought and the context in which we are talking about,” Bahati said.
Leonardo Rico commenting on The Episcopal Cafe web site states:
“MP David Bahati is an Anglican and his ¨Spiritual Counselor¨ according to Jeff Sharlet, author of ¨The C Street Family¨, is Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi.
“It´s a very wise idea that Archbishop is going to retire this year…may he spend time in retirement amongst the marginalized, the despised, the outcasts of Ugandan society who live in fear for their daily lives. Living with fear and hate every moment of their lives as Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo (heterosexual retired bishop, excommunicated by Bishop Orombi and the Uganda HOB´s and spiritual counselor to marginalized/terrified LGBTI victims of abuse) certainly knows…it´s not too late for Bishop Orombi and MP David Bahati to work together to protect our innocent LGBTI Anglican/other sisters and brothers in Uganda.
“It´s never too late to speak out against, and to legislate against ¨difference¨ and ¨injustice¨ and bloody murder.
“Lord have mercy on all those who suffer and/or instigate suffering at Church.”