World AIDS day 2009 and a huge step backwards for Uganda

December 1st was the International Day against AIDS and despite the fact that it already passed I want to include it my blog. I consider AIDS one of the worst pandemics that Humanity has ever experienced. The most affected of course are the poor and the ones without access to health care mostly in Africa.

Uganda like many other African countries has been devastated by this disease. In the early 1990's about 13% of Ugandans were HIV positive. In addition Uganda has taken measures to prevent HIV from spreading amongst their population. However Uganda is about to pass a bill inspired by American Anti-Gay Lobbyist known as "The Family". The Family is a group of powerful people dedicated to bash the LGBT community with whatever means they can. They lead the opposition against giving equal rights to Gay and Lesbian families and people. In addition they intend to criminalize and punish the LGBT community in the 3rd world countries like Uganda. Rachel Maddow made a report about this in MSNBC.

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This controversial and fascist bill mandates that:

1. Anyone convicted of having gay sex will be punished with a life sentence in jail.
2. If the accused had gay sex more than once or if he/she is HIV positive the sentence will be capital punishment or better known as Death penalty.
3. If the partner of the accused is under 18 years old he/she will be sentenced to death penalty as well.
4. In addition if the accused is known of having gay sex abroad. The Ugandan government will request his/her extradition so the person gets judged under Ugandan law which is likely death penalty. In other words if you have sex with someone of your same gender abroad you will get punished if you have Ugandan nationality.
5. Anyone who knows anybody who is Gay or Lesbian must report him/her to the local authorities within 24 hours. If you fail to do so, you will get punished with 3 to 7 years in jail.
6. Anyone who advocates for LGBT rights within Uganda is forbidden by law and will face a harsh sentence of 7 years in jail.

Insane isn't it? What about the dignity and human rights of those affected by this law? There is no Love on people who won't oppose this law in Uganda. Interestingly people in the religious community who have a say and have the power to change this won't do it. Instead they shield themselves by saying that they aren't going to interfere with Ugandan affairs ("Rick Warren")...

This law will definitely deteriorate the improvements that Uganda made with HIV. No one will want to even go to the clinic and get checked because they can get accused of having Gay sex and face death penalty.

This is what many Religious extremists and Right-Wingers want. Unfortunately the most affected here will be again the poor, the minorities, the ones that can't find protection. Ugandans will end up paying this bill with more infections and more innocent people. There is no way to criminalize homosexuality and fight AIDS at the same time. If you criminalize homosexuality, both heterosexuals and homosexuals will be affected. What the Uganda government does not realize is that Homosexuality is not a disease and neither is a choice. You can't eradicate homosexuality just as you can't eradicate a gene like brown skin or blond hair. Hitler tried it... he would know better... and look how he ended up.

On the good news... I finally got a job in an Agency, so no more being a Freelance Designer yayy!!