A controversial newspaper in Kampala published photos, names and home addresses of gay Ugandans today – for the second time.
The action has prompted a rights group to seek a legal injunction against the publication, although managing editor Giles Muhame said he plans to continue printing photos of gay men in order to ‘help them live responsible lives.’
Earlier this month the paper – called Rolling Stone but not linked to the American magazine of the same name – published a front page story featuring a list of what the paper said were Uganda’s 100 ‘top’ homosexuals.
Rights activists said the story prompted attacks against at least four gay Ugandans.
Sexual Minorities Uganda has asked the country’s highest court to issue an injunction against publishing the faces of gays in future editions.
‘We now live in fear,’ said Julian Onzeima, the group’s coordinator. ‘The Rolling Stone paper has led to people turning against us.’
Gays in Uganda say they have faced a year of attacks and harassment since a lawmaker introduced a bill in October 2009 that would impose the death penalty for some homosexual acts and life in prison for others.
The bill has not come up for a vote.
The legislation was drawn up following a visit by leaders of U.S. conservative Christian ministries that promote therapy they say allows gays to become heterosexual.
The bill became political poison after international condemnation, and many Christian leaders have denounced it.
Related Articles
- Ugandan court bars photos, names of gays in paper (msnbc.msn.com)
- Ugandan paper ordered to stop printing list of gay people (guardian.co.uk)
- Ugandan Court Bars Photos, Names of Gays in Paper (foxnews.com)
Thessalie
That is truly terrible. I feel miserable for them, i hardly understand how can someone be pointed out like this for his sexuality.
Dexter
When i learn of the situation i asked myself: When did we lose our right to be different ? Our right to be individuals? I may not agreed with you lifestyle or what you do, but i know think its my right to do something like this to you.
As harsh as it may sound, Christians or “so-called Christians” are mostly the ones to do things like this, they feel they have the inherent right by some means to do so.
I was raise by my parents to respect other and that others respect was a two-way street, i.e. i respect you, your choices and what you may do, so long as you do vice versa. People need to stop living other people’s lives and start living theirs.