Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Uganda and the Homosexuality Issue

By Anthony:

Recently a friend alerted me to a new documentary coming out called, "God Loves Uganda."  It's a documentary arguing that evangelical missionaries from the United States have been largely behind the strong passion of Ugandans to outlaw homosexuality.  You've probably read about this bill in the news in recent years.

I haven't watched the documentary yet but I have seen many short clips from it and I think it is important that I give you some information about this controversial issue from my perspective.  I think that the documentary is skewed from what I can tell.

Before I begin my analysis, let me just state my view on homosexuality.  I agree with the Christian Reformed Church that homosexual orientation (that is, same-sex attraction) is not sinful in itself, and most often it is not a choice.  But I do believe that acting sexually on that same-sex attraction is sinful.   However, as Christians we are called to love all people, no matter what sins they deal with, and we should respond to those people with same-sex attractions, with love, compassion, and a willingness to listen.  I also disagree with the proposed bill in Uganda that would make homosexual sex or related behaviors into criminal behavior.  While I think homosexual sex is sinful, I do not think it falls under what a secular government should condemn as criminal.

Okay, now let me explain why I think the documentary is skewed, and in doing so, I'll give you more of the context surrounding the issue of homosexuality in Uganda.

You can read about the documentary and the point of it here - http://www.godlovesuganda.com/film/story/

Next, you can watch the trailer below or watch it here.


This video below of questions and answers about the documentary is particularly enlightening.  This shows me that their agenda is not just to say that the bill is a bad in Uganda, but that the view that homosexuality is sinful, is also a wrong view.  I think it would be better for them to be honest about that up front.  If they believe that, fine, but then don't pretend the documentary is only about whether it should be a law or not.



You can view many more clips and videos from the documentary - here.

Okay, now these are some things that should be kept in mind if you watch the documentary, or discuss this issue of Uganda and homosexuality with any of your friends or churches.

1.  None of the missionaries I know in Uganda are trying to stir up bigotry and hatred towards homosexuals in Uganda, nor do I know of any of them that are supporting these bill proposals.  Maybe there are some out there, but if there are, I think they represent a small minority of missionaries in Uganda.

2.  The bill does not advocate for genocide of all homosexuals.  The death penalty is only for certain severe cases.  From Wikipedia - The bill divides homosexual behavior into two categories: "aggravated homosexuality", in which an offender would receive the death penalty, or "the offence of homosexuality" in which an offender would receive life imprisonment. "Aggravated homosexuality" is defined to include homosexual acts committed by a person who is HIV-positive, is a parent or authority figure, or who administers intoxicating substances, homosexual acts committed on minors or people with disabilities, and repeat offenders. "The offence of homosexuality" is defined to include same-sex sexual acts, involvement in a same-sex marriage, or an attempt to commit aggravated homosexuality.   I think there are great reasons to be against the death penalty in these cases too!  But it's important to have our facts straight when talking about this.

3.  Ugandans have been against homosexuality for a long time.  This is NOT a new passion that American evangelicals have brought to Uganda.  If you know the history of Uganda, you know that possibly the most important heroes in their history were young boy martyrs in the 1800's.  Read about them here - Uganda Martyrs.   These martyrs are more important to Ugandans than I think people like George Washington or Benjamin Franklin are to the average American.  Every year thousands and thousands of people come to Kampala to remember the martyrs.  They are celebrated by Catholics and Anglicans, the two biggest church groups in Uganda still today.  Why were they martyred?  Because as Christians they refused the requests of the king to have homosexual sex with them.  For the past 100 years these martyrs have been celebrated for resisting homosexuality.  The idea that homosexuality should be resisted is not some new thing promoted by American evangelicals!

4.  The violence suggested by the bill against homosexuals is also not new.  In our discussions with Ugandan friends about this issue, we were informed that if someone in a village is found out to have committed homosexual acts, mob mentality would quickly take over and that person would be put to death.  How often does this actually happen?  We have no idea.  But this is what we were told.  Again, I'm not saying this is a good thing!  But my point is that these are not "new" ideas implanted by American missionaries.

So, from what I can tell, the documentary doesn't take these ideas into account.  It seems quite biased, but I will try to watch it when I can.  If it comes out on DVD while we are in Uganda, feel free to send it to me :)

I do think there is some tiny bit of truth in the documentary.  I don't like a lot of what I see going on in Uganda regarding this issue.  And I don't like some of what a couple individual missionaries are saying in the documentary.  But it seems like a very poorly done and ridiculously biased documentary.  Please read this additional review of the documentary as it brings up many other important criticisms of the documentary that I have not addressed.  God Loves Uganda: In a documentary along the lines of 'Jesus Camp,' who's demonizing whom? by John G. Stackhouse, Jr.  It is an excellent review.  After reading it, I'm left thinking this documentary should rank as one of the worst documentaries ever made, almost totally false propaganda.

In the question and answer video above, they said that no missionaries stood up to say that killing of homosexuals is wrong.  Well, we have done so in our conversations in Uganda.  And here I am saying so again.  So let's all be in prayer for Uganda over this complicated issue, for guidance for their leaders as they sort out what to do, and for Ugandans to have the love of Christ for all people.  And let's pray for ourselves as well that we will be people of love and compassion to all.