activists blame seminar for encouraging gay hatred

By Nthateng Mhlambiso (BTM Senior Reporter) 

UGANDA – 5 March 2009: Gay rights groups have lashed out at Family Life Network (FLN) for organising a three day seminar aiming to explore possible prevention and cure for homosexuality, saying the gathering is just another way of encouraging hatred and abuse against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Uganda, under the cloak of religion.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) said in statement that the seminar, starting today 5 March, features an array of US speakers known for their efforts to dehumanise LGBT people and for their belief that homosexuality can be cured.

The gay rights groups have described seminar speakers Scott Lively, Don Schmierer and Caleb Lee Brundidge as leading voices in the crusade by “religious extremists” to roll back basic human rights for LGBT people in the US.

“The American religious right is finally showing its hand and revealing the depth of its support for homophobia in Africa”, Cary Alan Johnson of IGLHRC said

He added that the seminar will increase violence and human rights abuses against LGBT people, women and all people who do not conform to gender norms.

“This newest form of colonialism is deplorable and must be stopped.”

Meanwhile Dr Christopher Ssenyongo, a Ugandan Bishop who was expelled from the Anglican Church for supporting gay people says there is a lot of misunderstanding about human sexuality.

“This workshop is going to bring more conflict, greater hostility and increased intimidation. We need love [and] in the long run, love will overcome.”

The seminar, which costs 25 000 Ugandan Shillings a day is hosted by FLN, a Ugandan non-governmental organization founded in 2002, that is committed to the restoration of Ugandan family values and morals.

FLN is alleged to oppose access to safe, legal abortions. It also opposes the use of condoms and promotes abstinence-only programming as its approach to HIV prevention.