Dear Matthew
Sadly, there are plenty of good reasons that indicate the backing (both long-term and short-term, financially and culturally) of the US Christian Right. Perhaps the author should have written the 'fundamentalist' or 'extreme' Christian Right. Still, I'm not sure (but would be interested if others have opinions) of the necessity of the distinction in this particular instance.
Just a selection of websites (one of which is Christian) - and by no means the best - which highlight this:
http://www.awid.org/Issues-and-Analysis/Library/Bahati-s-bill-A-convenient-distraction-for-Uganda-s-government
http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews37_43/page12.cfm
http://www.christianpost.com/blogs/opinion/2009/10/uganda-coalition-speaks-out-on-anti-homosexuality-bill-2009-23/
Thanks, I hope this doesn't distract from what is clearly the more pressing call for action.
Louisa
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From: A forum for critical and radical geographers [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Matthew J Rippon [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 24 October 2009 23:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: FW: death penalty proposed for HIV positive homosexuals in Uganda
"This bill has the backing of the US Christian right."
There is nothing in the BBC article about the US Christian right
whatsoever. This seems to be an example of throwing in an
anti-Christian stance for no good reason.
Kath Browne wrote:
> Please circulate widely- this letter comes from Insitute of
> Development Studies in the University of Sussex.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Susan Jolly [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> *Sent:* Fri 23/10/2009 21:33
> *Subject:* death penalty proposed for HIV positive homosexuals in Uganda
>
> Dear Colleagues and allies,
> Male homosexuality in Uganda is already illegal and punishable with
> life imprisonment under a law put in place in British colonial times.
> However, currently another bill is being discussed in Parliament which
> increases penalties - for example a death sentence would be imposed if
> the homosexual is HIV positive, NGOs and organisations which are in
> any way defend the rights of homosexuals will be closed down, as well
> as any networks they are part of (such as Uganda women's rights
> organisations would be put at risk), and people who know of a
> homosexual but do not report them are liable to up to three years
> imprisonment! This bill has the backing of the US Christian right. It
> has already passed the first reading in Parliament. It should have
> three, but the second readings may be rushed through. It is vital that
> urgent action is taken to prevent its passage as it will be much
> harder to reverse than to contest at this stage. Furthermore, the US
> Christian right may see this as a model to take forward in other
> African countries if this initiative succeeds in Uganda. Find also
> enclosed further information, and a link below to a BBC article on
> this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8308912.stm
>
> DFID has a substantial HIV/AIDS programme in Uganda which will be
> undermined if the bill goes through. The Foreign and Commonwealth
> Office of the UK has a ministerial commitment to support
> decriminalization of homosexuality, and in their LGBT programme they
> specifically mention Uganda as a country they could try to influence.
>
> Some actions you could take:
> Please write to your MPs on this. A model letter is attached.
> Encourage media coverage.
> Circulate this message to your networks.
>
> Best, Susie Jolly
> Sexuality and Development Programme Convenor
> http://www.ids.ac.uk/go/sexualityanddevelopment
>
>
>
>
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>
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--
Matthew Rippon
Department of Geography
Queen Mary, University of London
Tel: 0775 1943052
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