Staying objectively calm about an existential challenge?

When I worked in the Africa Bureau of USAID in 2012, the Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament (the first woman ever to hold that position), Rebecca Kadaga, came for a visit. Who should be delegated the duty to greet her? Me – the only transgender political appointee ever to serve at USAID.

Yes – I have no doubt that she and her aides Googled me beforehand.?She was not especially happy to meet me, but Uganda has long been a significant recipient of USAID funding and Speaker Kadaga needed to make that visit. ?She knew that I would be aware that she was then one of the main champions of Uganda’s first attempt to pass an anti-homosexuality bill, that very year. And yes, I was so tempted to give in to a raging, indignant rant, to confront her with a “how dare you”, and to give her a Pride flag on her way out. I behaved, and while that meeting was neither warm nor productive, I did my official duty.

Yet here we are, 11 years later, and another version of that pernicious legislation now awaits the signature of President Museveni to become law. At a stroke of his pen, many of my very dearest friends - people of legendary resilience and courage – will face their most existential threat yet. Their nation will be legally targeting them for being LGBTQI+, with a law that includes the death sentence for loving or being the “wrong” person.

I’m tempted again to rage and rant. These are my friends who are now at risk, due to truly remarkable levels of self-righteous ignorance and bias among Uganda's political leadership. But, once again, I will restrain myself and give you the scoop as objectively as I can. But just maybe then you will rage and rant, and write to your Senator (as I did this morning).

Anyway, here is what you need to know:

The anti-homosexuality bill in Uganda, also known as the "Kill the Gays" bill, is a piece of proposed legislation that seeks to criminalize homosexuality and impose harsh penalties on those who engage in same-sex relationships (and it is incorrectly conflated to assume that anyone who is transgender must, by definition, also be gay or lesbian). The bill has been widely criticized by human rights organizations and activists around the world for its blatant disregard for universal human dignity and the basic rights of individuals.

At the heart of the opposition to the anti-homosexuality bill is the idea of universal human dignity. This concept holds that every human being, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic, has inherent worth and value simply by virtue of being human. Come and take the graduate course that I teach on this topic at the University of Maryland. You’ll learn that this means that everyone ?- yes EVERYONE – (oops - rant apology – sorry) deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, i.e., that their basic human rights should be recognized, protected, and upheld.

Unfortunately, the current anti-homosexuality bill in Uganda completely ignores this fundamental principle of universal human dignity. Instead, it seeks to criminalize and punish individuals simply for their sexual orientation or gender identity, which is a clear violation of their basic human rights.

?One of the most egregious aspects of the anti-homosexuality bill is its provision for the death penalty for certain homosexual acts. This is a clear violation of the right to life and safety, which is (obviously) one of the most fundamental of all human rights. No one should ever be put to death simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and any law that seeks to do so is inherently unjust and immoral.

Furthermore, the anti-homosexuality bill seeks to criminalize even the most basic expressions of same-sex love and affection. This includes holding hands, kissing, and even hugging in public. Such restrictions are not only absurd and discriminatory, but they also go against the very essence of universal human dignity, which recognizes that every human being has the right to express themselves and their love in a way that is authentic to them. Call that "woke" if you want, or a Western imposition of morally corrupt values. I just call it love.

The anti-homosexuality bill also seeks to punish those who “provide support or assistance” to LGBTQI+ individuals, including even medical professionals and human rights organizations. This is a clear violation of the right to freedom of expression and association, which are also fundamental human rights. People should be free to express their opinions and beliefs without fear of punishment or persecution. Organizations and caregivers should be able to provide support and assistance to those in need without fear of reprisal.

Moreover, the anti-homosexuality bill is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of homosexuality and gender identity. It assumes that being gay or transgender is a choice, and that individuals can simply choose to be straight or cisgender if they want to avoid punishment.

This is simply not true.

Sexual orientation and gender identity are innate characteristics that are not chosen, and individuals should not be punished or discriminated against simply because of who they are.

In addition, the anti-homosexuality bill ignores the fact that LGBTQI+ individuals are part of the fabric of society and always have been (Uganda’s precolonial history makes this very clear). They contribute to the diversity and richness of human experience. By seeking to criminalize and punish them, the bill sends a message that those who are LGBTQI+ in Uganda are somehow less worthy or valuable than other members of society.

Finally, the anti-homosexuality bill is a clear violation of international human rights law. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 and ratified by Uganda, recognizes the inherent dignity and worth of every human being, and states that everyone is entitled to the same rights and freedoms, without discrimination of any kind. The anti-homosexuality bill clearly violates this principle, and it is therefore illegal under international law.

In conclusion, it is imperative that we continue to speak out against this bill and other similar forms of discrimination and oppression, identify and challenge those in the evangelical community in this country who largely fund this exportation of hatred, and work to ensure that Uganda continues to be held to the standard that every single Ugandan is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.

Speak out, loudly and persistently. Help me to keep my dear friends alive.