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In a world that I believe that has come so far, I can not believe that this is how we treat people. Here in the US, we fight for equality and the right to marry which straight people have always had. Gays have been bashed, beaten, been outcasts... but no more. But in Africa, particularly in Uganda, where the documentary took place, gays are denied all of their rights. I was beside myself as I watched this.
British Radio 1 DJ, Scott Mills, who is gay himself wanted to see for himself how gays were treated in this country. He talked to families of gays, gays living in shanty towns, and a politician, who later tried to have Scott and the film crew arrested, but luckily the politician had the wrong hotel information. Why have them arrested? Because the politician agreed to do an interview with Scott about a Bill that was going to be passed about "the gay problem" in his country. As the interview went on, Scott finally told the politician that he himself was an openly gay man. The politician took on a nervous laugh and demanded that they stop filming him. I guess he was mad that he was going to be seen by the world talking to a gay man that he sent out a task force to have Scott and his crew arrested.
No less than 37 countries in Africa have declared homosexuality illegal, with Uganda being the most dangerous. Scott met with a lesbian woman who has been raped repeatedly to "cure" her and left her pregnant and has subsequently contracted the HIV virus. He also met with young school children who told him that homosexuality is an abomination.
Since the documentary, Ugandan Gay Rights Activist, David Kato was outed by a newspaper along with photographs of himself and several others. The newspaper headline said "Hang Them". The police had made statements after the paper was published that gays, should take extra caution. There have been a recent reports of "Iron Bar" killings where people are attacked with pipes or other metal objects.
Witnesses have reported that a man entered David Kato's home and beat him to death with a hammer. Kato had received many death threats since the news paper had posted him picture, name and address. the newspaper issued a statement saying that they wanted the government to step in and hang homosexuals and not for the public to take matters into their own hands. President Obama as well as Hillary Clinton have issued statements after learning of Mr. Katos death. One man has been arrested for the killing.
I urge you to watch the program. I always urge people to open their eyes to the world around them. This affects us all. This hits close to home for me because I am bi-sexual and have a girlfriend. I have three daughters who have came out to me and the world as being bi-sexual. I can not believe that we live in a world where such madness and hate take place. But, I guess we do.
Thank you for reading...
