I was in a taxi coming to work today, and I heard on one of the FM stations that there was a demonstration in town.

No, it was not a political one. Those tend to be met with police batons and tear gas. This one was led by Pastor Sempa, and it was about the recent vote in the South African Parliament to legalise same sex marriage.

I laud the South Africans. They passed through fire, and have come out with a sense of leadership for the continent that is refreshing. They will tackle what there is of the world as they see it, and see the clothing of liberty with hypocrisy as something that should not be. From Mandela to Mbeki. Just hope that it continues after them.

From what I read, the negative voices in the SA Parliament were ready to step in and quash the vote. But there was use of a 3rd whip by the ANC and all the members were ordered to be around and to vote for the bill. Very interesting. Reading what was going on with the parliamentary committee turned into a gay bashing event by the churches and traditional leaders, and of course just a few days after Zuma’s pronouncements, (forget the retraction), I thought the vote was going to fail. But it held, and the SA parliament made history in Africa and came up with the legalisation of same sex marriages.

Impressive.

I am really impressed.

Nevertheless, it is expected that the homophobic voices on the continent will not take this lying down. I wonder what Mugabe will do? And Akinola?

In Uganda, I was interested in the reaction. After-all South Africa is an African nation that is turning the tables on those who say that homosexuality in un-african. They had to respond to this challenge to their mindless dogma.

I have been impressed by the lack of comment. I mean, where has it been? Where is the condemnation? I wanted to see it.

Last week there was a reader’s letter in the New Vision newspaper. Someone was lamenting that South Africa had betrayed the rest of Africa.

Today there was something more, bet you it will be in the newspapers tomorrow. Pastor Sempa led a demonstration (he loves doing that) to the South African High Commission in Uganda, protesting the vote in the South African Parliament. He was talking about a ‘homosexual agenda’ which is very well financed etc, etc.

Who is Pastor Sempa?

A controversial figure. A fundamental Christian pastor. He was once in the US, for years I think. And since he came back he is pastoring at the Makerere University- the so called pool side fellowship. And to say that he is controversial is to miss the point.

His idea of sexuality is bizarre. Correction. It is bizarre to me because I am a normal human being, or at least I think I am. He believes that masturbation is a sin, so a good Christian should not masturbate. He is a huge factor in the Abstinence and Being Faithful movement in the country. He is the vocal leader, literally tearing up the HIV prevention movement, to the extent that he told an incredulous Beatrice Were that there was nothing wrong with his godly message. When she got infected on her marital bed despite being faithful, the problem was infidelity, not his message! Oh yes, he is supposed to be doing a lot of HIV prevention work. He has burnt condoms at ‘abstinence rallies’. He has led demonstrations against UNAIDS because they are promoting condoms in the country.

As for the homo word, he is a homophobe.

That is the word for him. He advocates abstinence (alone?) in prison. He was livid at UNAIDS for trying to have an HIV outreach program to homosexual people in the country. They were pushing the homosexual agenda.

But I wondered, as I listened to him going on about the so called homosexual movement that is well funded. I wondered, why does he hate us so much?

Could it be that he is really gay himself? Just wondering. A repressed homosexual that is trying to hide from himself? I am just speculating! I mean, they are there. Mcarthy, and of course Tom Haggins more recently. And others.

Is it the political support and power which comes from championing the anti-gay movement? There is a lot of support, coming into the country from the Fundamentalistic Christian groups in the US. Oh yes, it could be that. And he is so vocal and opinionated about it. Maybe, or maybe not?

Could it be that he is politically motivated himself? I mean, his championed ideas are on the side of hate and populism rather than God saving people. Maybe it is just plain political manoeuvring. Turn the hatred of the masses against a minority that cannot answer back and unite them. Hitler did it, and the Republican party in the 1994-2000 US elections.

It is a pet project of mine, wondering, and trying to figure out why certain people tend to go out of their way to hate homosexuals. To hate me!

It is in part the bewilderment of the hated. Why? What have I done to you to see me as so bad? Why do you think that I should not get the very basics of life, just because I am what I am? Why do you think that because I am gay, then I am no longer an African? Why do you preach of a god of love and then hit me with hate?

I may not be a Christian, but I can understand the strengths behind the anger of a man like Dr (Bishop) Ssenyonjo. He believes in Christ, in the real Christ. And to him that real Christ could not have preached the hatred that the Church of Uganda preaches. Ok, it is true that the said church has literally defrocked him. But he stands by his guns. And Desmond Tutu’s words that the current schism is not Christian. I am biased, but I cannot understand the hate which comes in ‘love’ from the likes of Archbishop Akinola of Nigeria.

Anyway, the South Africans have opened the way for us. Pioneers indeed. Cutting a swath of decisiveness through the murky waters of homophobia in Africa. I expect that we are going to have a backlash. But it is worth it to say that an African nation on the homophobic continent not only was the first in the world to outlaw discrimination on sexual orientation grounds in its constitution in the world, but it has gone ahead and written a law for same sex couples marriage.

Viva South Africa! Viva clear headedness! Viva reasonableness!

When will my nation see the light?

gug