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Gay Uganda's Blog Dealing with issues lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and other sexual minorities in Uganda face. Being Gay and Christian in Uganda 08/12/2006
A friend commented on the blog, that I tell it as it is. True, I try to write what is. According to me. Another gay Ugandan who is a Christian was unconfortable at the things I wrote concerning the Gay Ugandan and organised religion. The point was I was quoting the esteemed Sir Elton John, and just generally letting off my steam because of some residual anger- to the point that it is the Church, and Mosque, which is working hard to drive us away. Once upon a time, I was deeply religious. And religion does continue to play a strong role in my life. My partner is strongly religious (though my attitude seems to be affecting him of late!) But there was a time that we had to agree that, for our partnership to flourish, there were some issues that we could not continue discussing because we were both too passionately involved on opposite ends of the spectrum. One was politics, and the other was religion. I am deeply fascinated by the role that religion plays in our lives. Once, I remember, I was in bed with one lovely guy. A Christian, staunchly Anglican. He had these stickers 'I love the Anglican Church' on the walls of his room, and I asked him how he reconciles his sexuality with the severe opposition of his religion. He was not confortable discussing that. I did not see fit to pursue the issue. We as LGBT people in Uganda, Africa, and the world do have a right to religion. We have a right to spirituality. But the fact is that we tend to get so great a counter current of hostility against us that we end up being confused. Imagine the Pastor Tom Haggin. A flag bearer in the US 'war against the Homosexual agenda on Homosexual marriage'. Tom Haggin is 50 years. He should have got in touch with his own sexuality and spirituality. Sadly, he rises to the top as a spiritual leader, and fails in matters of accepting his sexuality. He is a figure to pity. The more so as he now has to undergo 'reparative' treatment. But his case does illustrate the dilemma of the Christian, or Moslem who is gay. We know that we are homosexual because we are. And nothing will take that away from us. But on the other hand we find that we are going to be denied a seemingly fundamental right of every other human being. The right to acceptance on the Spiritual front. All people do have a spirituality. (Isnt atheism a faith? It is a belief!). And gay people, especially in Africa, are denied this spirituality. Once I was talking to another guy. Frankly he attracted me on a very visceral level. But he was a young man who was deeply convinced of his 'Fundamentalist Christian' faith. Unfortunately he was one of the flock, with the ability to believe blindly, but not the capacity to reason why he believed. I told him that I was gay. And he was shocked. I then told him that homosexuality was not a 'moral' issue. I was undercutting his challenge to me; basically, I was arguing that because I do not believe, then he could not challenge me for being a homosexual. So, on what grounds would he challenge me? He told me that he believed that the fact that I was a homosexual showed that I was very far beyong god's pale. I was an almost unredeemable sinner, because I was so eloquently defending my sexual orientation. That is something that young people in Uganda, and for most of Africa, grow up with. I am a homosexual, and because I am that, the most effective moral forces in our lives teach that we are less than human. Because we are homosexuals. Breaking this barrier is hard. It is very hard in Africa. and in Uganda. Most gay men and women will not be able to do that. They will remain a prisoner of their bodies and their minds. Most of us are unschooled, and not able to challenge the things that our pastors say in church. When they condemn our actions, many of us agree, with a shudder of disgust at what we are. We have internalised our self disgust to such an extent that we can condemn ourselves before the masses. I have been following the discussion of LGBT issues with a group of Gay Anglicans. It is [email protected]. These are passionate people. Well read, both in the affairs of their church, and strong in their faith and sexuality. They believe strongly that they should be a part of their church. The current schism in the Anglican communion is affecting them strongly, and they feel let down by the Archbishop of Cantebury's apparent about turn. Yet they are strong in their spirituality. They are seeking to change this church from within. And they are self affirming as complete human beings. This is not very possible for most gay Ugandans. Think of it this way- one has to stay in the closet; that is a given. So, who will defend you when you are attacked? You may have to be a good hypocrite and smile and assent. Because you are not able to say anything else. Or, you may have to be like Hagin, and believe that you are bad, but you cannot change. Or, you may be like me and reject religion, starting from the simple fact that you would not like to be with those who reject you. (But I have too many blessings which are mine to think that another should do this!) or, you may just try to be celibate. It is a tough thing. It is very tough being gay and being Christian in Africa and Uganda. The internal conflict can literally be destructful to life. I have a friend who is going through this kind of thing. He is a very strong Christian, recently re-baptised with the immersion. Yet he is also feeling his way in accepting his sexuality. He is a bright guy, but I think that he still has a tough mountain to scale. Yet it is something that we have to pass through. Lets count our blessings. When you pass through this thing, and survive, you are much stronger than what you were before. One has to survive, because without that then there is no real gain. And we have to remember what Dr Ssenyonjo has done. He is the Church of Uganda Bishop who was defrocked because of the fact that he would not condemn gay people. He is an elderly man, a pensioner whose pension has been witheld because of his convictions. A PhD, a Bishop Emeritus, with more than 40 years of service to the Church, yet he is debased in his old age by the very church which he has been recommending to others. But through this one can see the strength of his faith. To him the Christ that he preaches is more than the politicking of the organisation that is supposed to preach it. He holds a fellowship for a few gay Ugandans. Those who are brave enough to identify with him. And the very fact that gay Ugandans do attend his fellowship, even if they are few, is proof of how strong our spirituality is. Because, if you attend that fellowship, you are literally being outed. Life is that simple! Anyway, we are homosexuals. We are also human being that seek spirituality. We will find this spirituality. Afterall, we are gay, and Ugandans, and some people seek to say that we are cannot be Ugandans and Gay! Thank god the South Africans did approve that marriage law. They just said we are also human beings. But it is a fact that we have to affirm our humanity by reclaiming our spirituality from those who seek to paint us sinners because of our sexuality. gug 2006-12-08 10:07:10 GMT
Comments (2 total)
Author:Anonymous
gug said "Or, you may be like me and reject religion, starting from the simple fact that you would not like to be with those who reject you. (But I have too many blessings which are mine to think that another should do this!)
2006-12-10 09:27:46 GMT
or, you may just try to be celibate'" Firstly on celibacy: In my view, a homosexual person does not cease to be a homosexual simply because he/she chooses or is forced to live a life of celibacy. You are still a homosexual even if you dont have physical homosexual sex. Secondly, I think that we should not allow the existence of our faith to be dependent upon our acceptance by others. Our faith is spiritual. It comes directly to us from the divine. Religion is human, and rejecting one's religion per se, should not compulsorilly lead to the relinquishing one's faith. --Bunjo
Author:gug
Hi Bunjo,
2006-12-11 16:32:22 GMT
On Celibacy, I agree 100%, maybe 200%!!! But, have you checked out the Catholic church's position on homosexuality? They 'agree' that some people may be born homosexuals. So, their holy advice is that such people should stay celibate, rather than follow their inclination to fall into sin. Sigh!!- I am no theologian, but that bit of convulated thinking is one that I have come across too often. On faith, personally, I exercise my right not to believe. Or at least not to subscribe to any religion. But I strongly support your right to believe, in whatever religion you do. And I find it reprehensible that others should say that you cannot be a Christian, or a moslem etc, because you are gay. They intimate that you are a bigger sinner than they are. Remember the parable of the prayer of the pharisee and the tax collector in the temple? 'Thank you God, because I am not a sinner like this tax-collector....' I will not argue religion vs faith. I have always prooved too big headed to 'just believe' anything. So, what right do I have to argue the intricacies of theology, faith and belief? None, in my view! gug
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