Americans behind Uganda's "kill the gays bill"

[tangaroa]

The Parliament of Uganda is considering a bill to give the death penalty to homosexuals. As notable as this is in itself, it is notable how the Ugandan bill was influenced by the American Christian right. This bill is a result of American ideals being imported into Africa, and the evidence is in the rhetoric surrounding it. The bill's sponsor redirects the subject to child molestation; the association of homosexuality with child molestation is an American, Republican Party talking point that has no basis in reality in America or likely in Uganda either. The bill mentions H.I.V.; the association of homosexuality with H.I.V. is an American phenomenon. In Africa, H.I.V. numbers follow population trends. This Ugandan bill expresses the American right's ideals in pure form not watered down by the fear of losing power due to public opposition to what they really stand for. Since we are talking about oppressing and killing people because of how they were born, this is one of those cases where comparisons to the Nazis are perfectly appropriate.

Rachel Maddow of MSNBC has been covering the story but hardly anyone else has. There is a report of a similar bill in Rwanda.