October 11, 2007
U.S. Accused of Funding Ugandan Homophobes
From pinknews.co.uk:
A gay rights organisation claims it has uncovered evidence that the U.S. government has funded groups in Uganda that actively promote discrimination against lesbians and gay men.
. . .
IGLHRC says that a “primary instigator” of the religious backlash against the LGBT community in Uganda was Pastor Martin Ssempa, leader of the Makerere University Community Church and spokesman for the Interfaith Family Culture Coalition Against Homosexuality in Uganda.
. . .
With support from conservative organisations such as Family Watch International in the United States, Ssempa has launched attacks not only on homosexuals but on Uganda’s women’s rights and HIV activists as well, claims ILGHRC.
“The U.S. government’s funding is meant to alleviate suffering and support effective AIDS initiatives in Africa, not to further blame and stigmatise already marginalised groups,” said IGLHRC Executive Director Paula Ettelbrick.
. . .
IGLHRC has also investigated homophobic Muslim groups in Uganda and claims that the Uganda Muslim Tabliqh Women’s Desk has also received a grant under the President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to implement HIV programmes in Masaka District.
Recently, Muslim Tabliqh youth announced a plan to form an ‘Anti-Gay Squad’ to fight homosexuality in Uganda. …
We are totally not surprised.
Permalink | Trackback | Filed under: Africa, HIV/AIDS, Hate Crimes, Hate Speech, Islam, Women
