Kampala — The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi, has told those opposing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill that it will not be withdrawn.
He has instead advised them to present their views before the parliamentary legal affairs committee for consideration.
"We shall consider your views but we cannot withdraw the Bill. It has to follow proper procedures," he said.
Ssekandi was on Monday responding to a petition presented to Parliament by a group calling itself AIDS service providers, spiritual mentors and counsellors.
It was led by the Rev. Can. Gideon Byamugisha. Also present were the HIV/AIDS activist, Rubaramira Ruranga, Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo and Florence Baluba.
"We are calling on you to reject this Bill and the hatred, intolerance, self-righteousness and violence it promotes."
The activists added that being gay was a right that needed to be respected.
Ssekandi asked: "Would you be happy if your son brought home a man or your daughter another girl for a partner?"
The Speaker explained that the Bill has two parts; one stating that homosexuality is unacceptable in Uganda and the other proposing punishments for offenders.
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Perhaps the leading issue is that the African country of Uganda is flooded with ignorant people. Perhaps, we should have continued to murder and enslave the blacks simply for being black? Was that not an issue in past centuries? If you agree with murdering and enslaving an entire race simply for something they have no control over (i.e. being born black) then why not kill the gays, right? If you do not agree with this, then you shouldn't agree with killing and punishing a group of individuals who have no control over their sexual preference. Also, I do believe, biblically - Adam and Eve...well they were white individuals, were they not? So apparently, God planned for their to be white, heterosexual beings only on this planet - so lets get to work on controlling the rest.
You're all dumb; perhaps attend school, and get real - I thought this were a pre-requisite for being a government official, but apparently not.
whoever is advocating for the anti-homosexual bill to be withdrawn from parliament is just joking as we ugandans cant allow our values and morals to be comprimised. And our friends who are threatening us to be violent when the bill is passed into law should be warned as they cant monopolise violence. we are against homosexuality and its related acts
I THANK MR SPEAKER EDWARD SSEKANDI AND THE PARLIAMENT AT LARGER FOR THERE DECISION NOT TO CHANGE THE HOMOSEXUALITY BILL, I THANK THE SPEAKER ONCE MORE FOR HIS QUESTION TO THEY PEOPLE OPPOSING THE BILL. HOW WOULD THEY FEEL IF THEIR SON OR DAUGHTER COMES IN WITH THE SAME SEX AS THEIR LIFE PARTNER? MEANWHILE, THEY HAVEN'T ANSWERED THAT QUESTION AND WE DONT NEED ANY REV, FATHER OR WHATEVER THEY MAY CALLE THEMSELVES TO BEG. PEOPLE THAT CANNOT ADHERE TO THE BILL SHOULD LEAVE THE COUNTRY, GOD DID NOT CREAT ADAM AND STEVE, HE CREATED ADAM AND EVE. FROM CHARLES, NIGERIA, RESIDING IN U.S.A.
God didn't create Adam and Steve? This is the same God who created all living creatures, all that is seen and unseen? What a stupid shibboleth. God created a companion for humans, because it is not good for them to be alone.
"Al-Fatiha upon your souls", is an Islamic expression in the situation of condolence, if you want to share the sorrow with the relatives of the deceased person you have to say this phrase. "Al-Fatiha" is a seven verses Sura in the beginning of the Holy Quran! The literal meaning of Al-Fatiha means the fresh start or the opening stage! The core of the word is the adjective "open" The very new usage for this word now you will find it in this article.
Before three years I received a letter from a strange organization, its name Al-Fatiha. The letter was an invitation for me to attend a conference of gays and lesbians in the Islamic world, but the strangest thing was the title of the sender! He was not the representative of the organization, but a Muslim Imam who said that he can prepare all things; the ticket, the visa to New York and the allowance and it will be a generous one. In addition for all that, he or she or (he-she) asked me "if you want to keep your participation secret you have the right" He/She said that he/she took my e-mail from a list of free African writers! I do not know any thing about this list. I thought at that time it was just a joke of one of my friends!
In the said document: (Al-Fatiha: Mission Statement: The Al-Fatiha Foundation is an international organization dedicated to Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trasngendered, those questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity, and their friends. Al-Fatiha's goal is to provide a safe space and a forum for LGBTQ Muslims to address issues of common concern, share individual experiences, and institutional resources. The Al-Fatiha Foundation aims to support LGBTQ Muslims in reconciling their sexual orientation or gender identity with Islam. Al-Fatiha promotes the Islamic notions of social justice, peace, and tolerance through its work, to bring all closer to a world that is free from injustice, prejudice, and discrimination. Goals and Objectives Support Muslims who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and those who are questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity. Provide a supportive and understanding environment for LGBTQ Muslims who are trying to reconcile their sexuality or gender identity with Islam. Empower LGBTQ Muslims by creating safe spaces to share individual experiences, advocating on their behalf in national and international forums, and providing information about institutional resources. Foster spirituality among LGBTQ Muslims. Encourage dialogue with the larger Muslim community around issues of sexuality and gender)
My comment: After that I realized that it was not a joke. It is a real organization, with many hidden branches in a number of Arab and Muslim countries. It has its website and premises. I traced it in the internet and I found many news and articles supporting it. One of the press releases said: (Participants- in the second conferences- came from the UK, USA, Belgium, .. (five countries), they represented more that a dozen nationalities and ethnic backgrounds, including: Arab, Pakistani, .. and Sudanese) (and Sudanese!) very strange! Other article said that many of the membership are Imams and Preachers! It is not a matter to practice homosexuality but the matter is your stance in this issue! I have no thing to say for them. What kind of relationship they want to establish between religion and immorality? Can preachers speak to people and preach them to practice homosexuality? I can just say, as in our traditions Al-Fatiha upon your souls!
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