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Padsoc - May 2008

The Appalling Treatment of Gays and Lesbians in Uganda

May 24th 2008 03:39
Even as California is about to put its new law that allows same-sex marriage in place, some of the world's poorest nations are facing formidable difficulties in finding a voice and maintaining a positive self-image as they face widespread homophobia.

Somewhere in Africa, the protests continue...



From New Internationalist:

‘Maroon the gays’ - Elaborate plan by the Ugandan Government to end LGBT activities

In August radio presenter Gaetano Kaggwa was suspended for hosting a talk show that included lesbian activist Victor Mukasa – yet another development in the widespread crackdown on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community sweeping Uganda. Two years earlier, Victor, who is chair of SMUG (Sexual Minorities of Uganda), had her home raided by police who confiscated all documents with a homosexual content. A fellow activist from Kenya, Yvonne Oloo, was in the house at the time and was taken to the police station and detained. Members of SMUG believe the raid, and Oloo’s detention, was part of an elaborate plan by the Ugandan Government to end LGBT activities.

What the police did not anticipate was that Victor Mukasa would take out an ‘Application for enforcement of rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights’ in response to the illegal raid and the detention and sexual harassment of Yvonne and herself by the police. The case was heard in May 2007 but the judgment is pending. Despite demands by the LGBT community for equal access to information, materials and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and HIV, the Government continues to exclude them. MP Chris Baryomunsi, of the Parliamentary Committee on HIV and AIDS, has stated that the ‘inclusion of gays in the country’s AIDS strategy is very expensive for the Government, because of gadgets such as condoms for homosexuals, jellies and lubricants’. A number of organizations that benefit financially from the US ‘President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief’, such as the Uganda Youth Forum and the Campus Alliance to Wipe Out AIDS, have openly expressed anti-gay feeling, to the point of stating that homosexuals should not receive treatment for HIV.


The media has played a key role in the anti-gay campaign, with Government-owned newspaper New Vision calling on the police to ‘spy on the perverts, arrest and prosecute them’. In a gross violation of human rights, the Ugandan Red Pepper magazine outed gays and lesbians in their September 2006 issue with the headline: ‘Kampala’s notorious lesbians unearthed’. It then named and printed photographs of alleged lesbians, asking its readers to ‘give us the name of the lesbian in your neighbourhood and we will shame her’. Gays and lesbians have since suffered increased violence and many have been unable to return to their homes, families and jobs.

Religious leaders have also contributed to the growing anti-gay movement. In October 2007 Sheikh Ramathan Shaban Mubajje called for gays to be ‘marooned on an island in Lake Victoria until they die’. Pastor Martin Ssempa of Makerere University has been one of Uganda’s most vocal anti-gay leaders and is a member of the Church Interfaith Family Culture Coalition Against Homosexuality. He recently led an anti-gay rally in Kampala which included government ministers. The Coalition has also been responsible for outing lesbians and gays by posting their photos, names and addresses on to a website.

President Yoweri Museveni’s Government has been at the forefront of the campaign against the LGBT community ever since it signed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. In November 2007 it refused to allow representatives of the LGBT community to speak at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala. Members of the East African LGBT community gathered at the ‘People’s Space’ to address the meeting. They were denied access, beaten and forcibly removed by the police. But LGBT and human rights activists in Uganda vow to continue their struggle.

Article by Sokari Ekine
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Comments
18 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Jason King

May 24th 2008 04:13
That's hideous. I am grateful for where I am from. While we argue for marriage rights here people are basically being red listed in other countries. It's outrageous!!

Comment by postmoderncritic

May 24th 2008 04:15
I know, huh?

Not that the West is so progressive, but Uganda (and other countries in Africa, where atrocious treatment of sexual minorities is nauseatingly common) makes it look like heaven in comparison.

Comment by Mountain Fog

May 24th 2008 04:59
I note with interest that a "Sheik" and a "Pastor" are in their spreading their man made doctrines of ecumenical homophobic hate! Interesting that such normally dispirit groups can come together in agreement, but only over an issue of biogotry and hate towards a minority!

History repeats itself...because we allow it to!

I wonder what our own Government will do, in response to this abomination?

It constantly galls me, that many African nations plead for assistance with funding, for AIDS control, food etc, only to rip the system off, by selling the goods, and/or distributing only to their supporters, all the while abusing the International Human Rights accords within the UN, which is usually the entity supplying these monsters with the aid in the first place. oh, nearly forgot to mention the monetary aid...most of it is stored in Swiss bank acocunts owned by the leaders, under their wn name!

I think it is about time the West started to make demands, and use force if necessary, to make these despots come to heel, or, maybe take out their 'high' command.

I am a pacifist, usually, but what we are doing now only allows these low life scum to take our cake, and eat it themselves, while continuing to rain misery upon misery on their own people!

How do you think history will judge us for doing that?

If we really want to help these people, we need to remove the root of the problem causing the misery, then we can effectively help the suffering.

I would apply this rule to Zimbabwe, Uganda, etc, and Myanmar..the list is too long to type out frankly.

This is the only situation where I would support military intervention, are in these situations, outside of a declaration of war.

Instead, those who allege they hold good 'christian' consciences, allow our governments to invade and destroy countries so they can guarantee oil supply....

Gee..how proud should we of the West be for all that?

cheers

fog

Comment by Ahmed

May 24th 2008 13:46
I'll start worrying about the treatment of this minority after I'm done with saving all the starving kids. Actually there's the whole genocide thing in darfur that might need some taking care of first.

I think all this proves is Africa is a little bit, how you say? f*cked up in terms of human rights.

Comment by RubySoho

May 24th 2008 15:54
On a similar note the government of Gambia has apparently warned all homosexuals to leave the country immediately or risk prosecution. I just don't know where they expect them to go...


Comment by postmoderncritic

May 25th 2008 02:00
Hey Fog,

Interesting that such normally dispirit groups can come together in agreement, but only over an issue of biogotry and hate towards a minority!

This reminds me of Jon Stewart's comments on an anti-gay rally in Israel - "Oh, gays... is there anything hating you can't solve?"

I wonder what our own Government will do, in response to this abomination?

Sadly, I have never heard of the government refuse to help another nation because of its policy towards GLBTI citizens. At best, this issue is lumped under 'human rights abuses', I'm guessing.

I'm actually in favour of America waging wars on all dictatorships (I have a feeling Ruby will kill me?)...

But at least the West is trying, and occasionally learning from its mistakes - far from perfect, but better than caring only about our internal affairs.

Ahmed,

First of all, this is another postmoderncritic blog. I hope you don't visit again. But you raised an issue which I'm going to respond to because you might be helping to encourage apathy towards homophobia in Africa (and elsewhere).

First of all, homophobia directly leads to poverty. The Ugandans who lose their jobs and are shamed by their families have no way to make an income and often nowhere to live. Hence they become starving and/or homeless.

Choosing between helping out victims of homophobia and victims of hunger is like choosing between helping out the victims of the Burma cyclone and the China earthquake- they are both important causes which not only can be attended to at the same time, but should be.

Now, we all have preferences. I would give you the benefit of the doubt that your intentions are in the right place if I didn't know you to be homophobic. You have clearly demonstrated your fear, mistrust and abuse towards non-heterosexuals on Orble. In fact, you might be interested to know, I started this blog as a response to your panphobia. Therefore I suggest you think more carefully about why this GLBTI rights crisis should be treated as inferior to any other.

Hey Ruby,

That is truly awful... I'm not sure whether that's better or worse than Ahmedinejad claiming that there are no gays in the country, thereby refusing to deal with homosexuality in any way. I guess no news is better news than negative news?

Comment by Ahmed

May 25th 2008 02:18
First of all, this is another postmoderncritic blog. I hope you don't visit again.

oh... so it is O_o I never actually noticed, I'll give you that one. If there was a laughing smilie I'd so use it right now but sadly all I have is this: XD

Like I said, I don't have a habit of looking.

But you raised an issue which I'm going to respond to because you might be helping to encourage apathy towards homophobia in Africa (and elsewhere).

Oh bloody hell, this is going to be... interesting -_-

You should also know reply/respond carry the same meaning.

First of all, homophobia directly leads to poverty.

If you're going toa rgue that homophobia is the root of all the problems in Africa I'm seriously going to hurl.

Ok so you didn't argue that, thank god you still have an iota of commonsense left.

if I didn't know you to be homophobic

Your definition of homophobia is so PC I don't know whether to groan or *sigh* at that comment. Can I do both?

You have clearly demonstrated your fear, mistrust and abuse towards non-heterosexuals on Orble.

There are people who are gay on orble? Interesting, I never knew that much less cared. Does that make me homophobic even more so? (that's a rhetorical question, i.e. don't answer, it's meant to make a point and replying to it would just make you sound silly).

you might be interested to know, I started this blog as a response to your panphobia.

You did this over... wow, I'm both honoured and petrified. Talk about an insane reaction, 'gee I hate this guy so much I'm going to make an entireblog dedicated to bashing him!' haha, I know you won't admit that but it seems to be your clear motivation.

I'm not panphboic or homophobic but that probably will not gel with your brain which seems to be made of the same stuff brick walls are.

Therefore I suggest you think more carefully about why this GLBTI rights crisis should be treated as inferior to any other.

All these suggestions to 'think', practice what you preach and all that, sheesh -_-

Comment by postmoderncritic

May 25th 2008 07:34
Ahmed, Ahmed, Ahmed,

Jon said he would look into making the 'posted by:' section bigger in font. The best bet you have is looking at the header. Postmodern Critic, Daily Inspirations, Relativity Watch and now PADSOC are my four domain blogs, so if you recognise them then you will know to stay away.

As an English literature person I can tell you that reply and respond do NOT have the same meaning. Reply indicates the presence of speech, or, in this case, virtual communication. Response can happen through all of the senses. I can't 'reply' to you by crouching, only 'respond' by this action. If they were the same thing there wouldn't be two different words, so don't underestimate the power or beauty of the English language.

Now, I realised then and there that I would be acting differently than how I indicated I would to another one of your comments, and that's why I said I was going to respond, and outlined a reason as to why. Your interest in my supposed lack of ingenuity makes me laugh.

It's just like a homophobe to assume that homophobia is overrated. There is nothing in my post to indicate that I regard homophobia as 'the root of all problems in Africa'. I don't see this as a tenable position. That said, as a postmodernist I reject the notion of 'common sense' - as would any good sociologist.

I am proudly PC, and I don't see why people rail against it.

There are plenty of non-heterosexuals on Orble, as there are in any community, virtual or RL. There are statistics that indicate that 1 in 10 people are gay, and that's just gay people - you probably come into contact with non-heterosexuals much more than you realise.

Lastly, I don't know why you're so paranoid - I have never 'bashed' you and I never will. This blog is dedicated to discourse around anti-discrimination, and I like to focus on the positives in life. Take a look at the posts and you will see that I am not out to insult or offend anybody. What's more I don't even hate Hitler, let alone you. Hating people is a waste of time and energy, and only leads to more negativity in the world. I actually love you, and wish you would be more receptive to it.

It's sad that you don't realise that you're extremely mistrustful of homosexuals. My guess is that you have come across very few homosexuals in your life, and you've been taught to hate them by narrow-minded people who feel they have no control over their sexuality or lives. But homosexuals are everywhere. They create your favourite technology, they work in every industry, they smile at you in the street as you pass, they create the works of art you enjoy, and they are becoming more and more visible as fears and prejudices are eroded.

So there: I love you. Now bugger off?

Comment by Ahmed

May 25th 2008 07:58
Jon said he would look into making the 'posted by:' section bigger in font. The best bet you have is looking at the header. Postmodern Critic, Daily Inspirations, Relativity Watch and now PADSOC are my four domain blogs, so if you recognise them then you will know to stay away.

I think you're missing the point.

As an English literature person I can tell you that reply and respond do NOT have the same meaning. Reply indicates the presence of speech, or, in this case, virtual communication. Response can happen through all of the senses. I can't 'reply' to you by crouching, only 'respond' by this action. If they were the same thing there wouldn't be two different words, so don't underestimate the power or beauty of the English language.

As a non-english literature person I can tell you I don't see the difference between when you reply and respond to me ^_^

Now, I realised then and there that I would be acting differently than how I indicated I would to another one of your comments, and that's why I said I was going to respond, and outlined a reason as to why. Your interest in my supposed lack of ingenuity makes me laugh.

It's kind of weak to say you're going to do one thing but then go ahead and do another, not that I'd call you on that weakness but you're making it difficult for me to hold back.

It's just like a homophobe to assume that homophobia is overrated. There is nothing in my post to indicate that I regard homophobia as 'the root of all problems in Africa'. I don't see this as a tenable position. That said, as a postmodernist I reject the notion of 'common sense' - as would any good sociologist.

Are you sure you're an 'english literate person'? Because if you are then you've delibrately misread my comments severel times, including this time:

If you're going to argue that homophobia is the root of all the problems in Africa I'm seriously going to hurl.

Ok so you didn't argue that, thank god you still have an iota of commonsense left.

Are you sure you're even literate? Do you know what literate means exactly?

I am proudly PC, and I don't see why people rail against it.

I'll tell you why but I doubt you'd read what I write then put words in my mouth and respond to that. You'll feel all high and mighty that you were 'right' but it would be a fantasy, much like the other fantasy you have that I'm a homophobe or whatever.

There are plenty of non-heterosexuals on Orble, as there are in any community, virtual or RL. There are statistics that indicate that 1 in 10 people are gay, and that's just gay people - you probably come into contact with non-heterosexuals much more than you realise.

Well I'm not going to go into your statistics and claims but I am going to ask again, are you sure you're literate? Because what you've said there is besides the point I made which was that I dont recall demonstrating "fear, mistrust and abuse towards non-heterosexuals on Orble." I don't even KNOW the sexual orientation of people on Orble much less do I care.

What you're saying is so lame, so unjustified, so pathetic, do you just say what makes you feel good? Check your facts for crying out loud.

Lastly, I don't know why you're so paranoid - I have never 'bashed' you and I never will. This blog is dedicated to discourse around anti-discrimination, and I like to focus on the positives in life. Take a look at the posts and you will see that I am not out to insult or offend anybody. What's more I don't even hate Hitler, let alone you. Hating people is a waste of time and energy, and only leads to more negativity in the world. I actually love you, and wish you would be more receptive to it.

Of course you will never bash me, everytime you try to start I put you on the defense. You need to explain yourself to me because from where I'm sitting I'm pretty damned confused. I dunno, maybe it's the angle, maybe it's your desire to try and attack me by not actually reading what I write and making stuff up.


You don't delibrately misrepresent someones opinion or stance on an issue for the sole purpouse of attacking him unless you hate him. Say what you want about hate but you're only fooling yourself

So there: I love you. Now bugger off?

Now that you've professed your love for me? How can I just leave? ^_^

Comment by postmoderncritic

May 25th 2008 08:25
It's kind of weak to say you're going to do one thing but then go ahead and do another

I reserve the right to change my mind. It's called being flexible, darling. I will probably do it again.

Yes, I read your 'you didn't do that' paragraph, however I was mystified as to why you would suggest that this was something I might do in the first place.

Speaking of literacy, you may want to brush up on your spelling. Last time I checked, 'severel' wasn't in the dictionary.

We really don't get each other, do we?

You don't delibrately misrepresent someones opinion or stance on an issue for the sole purpouse of attacking him unless you hate him.

I have never attacked you, and if since you're on the internet you should know that you're bound to run into people with different interpretations than yours. If anything, you're misrepresenting yourself by saying you're not a homophobe.

Oh, and if I wanted to feel good about myself, I would not be having this conversation. I selected the most appropriate response to everything that you wrote that I could think of, and I'm sorry that you're so delusional that you cannot see where I am coming from.

I don't know what else to say, except Have A Nice Day, in both the sarcastic and non-sarcastic varieties because I'm postmodern like that.

Comment by Ahmed

May 25th 2008 08:42
I reserve the right to change my mind. It's called being flexible, darling. I will probably do it again.

That's an admirable thing except we are not debating matters of science or politics, you made a promise then you took it back. There is nothing daring about that. It's cowardly.

Yes, I read your 'you didn't do that' paragraph, however I was mystified as to why you would suggest that this was something I might do in the first place.

so you reply by trying to debunk an argument I never made....? That's... wierd, and you shouldn't be mystfied, I had quoted you.

Speaking of literacy, you may want to brush up on your spelling. Last time I checked, 'severel' wasn't in the dictionary.

I don't run around saying I'm an "English literature person", if you say you're something you should stand up for it.

We really don't get each other, do we?

Whatever the case may be I get you more than you get me, I know that much for certain.

I have never attacked you, and if since you're on the internet you should know that you're bound to run into people with different interpretations than yours. If anything, you're misrepresenting yourself by saying you're not a homophobe.

I do know one thing, you are very much inexperienced when it comes to meeting people who disagree with you. Now as for me misrepresenting myself, see that is what I like to call a load of bullshit, all you have in support of your argument is your patheticlly extreme definition of homophobia and your delusion that you are actually doing something good by being so PC. I dunno what to say, but I'm not here to try and convince you otherwise, someone who is as stubborn as yourself is not worth my time

Oh, and if I wanted to feel good about myself, I would not be having this conversation. I selected the most appropriate response to everything that you wrote that I could think of, and I'm sorry that you're so delusional that you cannot see where I am coming from.

*sigh* You're arguing because you want to be right, I mean right now what you really want is to have an intellectual victory over me. You simply never counted on the depth a persons opinion can reach and you didn't count on the fact there are people who do not find peace with themselves through blanket arguments about the world.

Your biggest failing is your absoloute inability to see things from my perspective, you're trying to rationalize it in such a way so that it might fit in your perfect outlook on life. It doesn't work, you're confused but are convinced that you are still right and that the world is as simple as you imagine and as obvious as you want it to be.

To you it's simple 'Ahmed questioned the potential typecasting of a gay character to an actor therefore Ahmed is homophobic'. You can't see beyond that because your outlook on life is too idealistic and as such extremely shallow. You lack insight into the complexities of opinion but refuse to acknowledge it by trying to hide behind the curtain of idealism thinking it will all be better.

Comment by postmoderncritic

May 25th 2008 09:22
First of all, I never made a 'promise'. I told you that I would not engage with your comments and delete them if they apparated on my websites, but since you raised an issue which I felt important to address, regardless of who was behind it, I changed my mind. You can think this cowardly all you like, I don't care.

Ahmed. You suggested that one thing I could possibly argue was that homophobia was the root of all ill in Africa. By saying that I had not argued this, you weren't excluding the possibility that it may have been withheld, and that I had simply decided not to 'go there'. Therefore I wanted to state that I did not believe this position tenable. Do you get it now?

I know perfectly well what I said, so your quoting me is irrelevant. I continue to be mystified, and, as I said, your homophobia is clear in your relegation of the Ugandans' plight as less important than issues such as poverty, when there is no other reason for you to do so.

you are very much inexperienced when it comes to meeting people who disagree with you

Why, because I don't want to continue this conversation? I realised that it would be mostly fruitless for me from the beginning, but I wanted to help the rest of Orble see what a homophobe you are, and you have done a wonderful job of playing into my hands.

right now what you really want is to have an intellectual victory over me

What I WISH is that we didn't have to argue because we were intellectually compatible, but that appears not to be the case.

You simply never counted on the depth a persons opinion can reach

That's funny - I see you as having a cartoonish mentality and possessing a very shallow, black-and-white way of thinking. Your previous avatar of a red cube said it all - boxed in on all sides by your fears and prejudices, full of fiery hatred for yourself and everyone else around you. And yet even despite all this evidence, I keep wanting you to be deeper than I have reason to believe.

you didn't count on the fact there are people who do not find peace with themselves through blanket arguments about the world.

If you knew the first thing about me you would know that I never assume anything. Any generalisations I may make for the sake of convenience are made to be questioned and deconstructed.

you're trying to rationalize it in such a way so that it might fit in your perfect outlook on life.

You understand me so little that you don't know what terminology to use to make your point. I am a postmodernist. I do not 'rationalise' anything, and I don't hold on to any 'perfect' outlook - I don't regard anything as perfect, and I pride myself on adapting my views to my environment.

Since you feel the need to impart all this supposed knowledge you have of me, let me tell you what I think of you too:

You pat yourself on your back for being so 'tolerant' and 'open-minded' when you can't stop your hardcore prejudices from spilling over into everything you write. But others are not fooled, Ahmed. You have a lot of waking up and smelling the scent of your inner decay to do, and I don't envy you in your position.

the world is as simple as you imagine and as obvious as you want it to be.

Considering I regard nothing as simple or obvious, you can only be projecting your own fears about yourself onto me. Behold: they are justified. But it's not too late - you can change.

Ahmed questioned the potential typecasting of a gay character to an actor therefore Ahmed is homophobic.

Ahmed, your fear that Heath Ledger's presence might result in The Joker questioning his sexuality is a real one.

But if you want to talk about homophobia, let's talk about the comment from you on Relativity Watch that I deleted. You know, the one where I mentioned I was homophobic and your first reaction was to suggest I go work in the pornography industry, with corpophilia, no less. Just because I mentioned I could be attracted to anything does not mean that I will be. Your reaction shows that you regard pansexual people as promiscuous, porn-happy, lacking in morals, and, essentially, open to corpophilia.

Panphobia is very similar to homophobia: It's based on an irrational fear of a certain kind of sexual behaviour which is perceived as outside the norm.

And, btw, I did read your 'Is Homosexuality Normal?' post, but the fact that you asked that question alone alerted me to your homophobia, hence my reliance on it alone to drive my point across.
And I'll do it again: Questioning the normalcy of homosexuality is a symptom of feeling so vulnerable about your sense of security in your own sexuality that you feel the need to make 'the other' so inappropriable, so different and irreconcilable to where you are that it can have nothing to do with you whatsoever. So basically you are telling me you are afraid of being homosexual. Read this.

Will this conversation never end?

Comment by Ahmed

May 25th 2008 10:49
So I wrote a bunch of stuff but I'm just going to go into the main points here:

Ahmed, your fear that Heath Ledger's presence might result in The Joker questioning his sexuality is a real one.

Yes it is (was) a real one, I liked 'Batman Begins' and Heath Ledger playing the Joker felt like a strange decision. I couldn't help but see him as a one trick poney and fresh off his relative success in brokeback mountain he might have been typecast for the position. So fear? Yes, but it's not because the Joker is going to be gay and I'm afraid of gays, it's because I don't want the joker to be gay, I don't actually want his sex to have anything to do with the movie. It was a silly passive comment that you blew out of proportion.

And, btw, I did read your 'Is Homosexuality Normal?' post, but the fact that you asked that question alone alerted me to your homophobia, hence my reliance on it alone to drive my point across.

Only a closed minded person would be 'alerted' simply by a question asked for the sake of knoweldge.

It is in fact, besides the other comment, your only supporting evidence for your silly position.

Now I've been withholding myself but you've made a lot of bullshit, I feel it's time I made you eat some of it.

So you have two off handed examples of my 'homophobia', now let's see just what a homophobic person does in his spare time:

If homosexuals are not hurting anyone then they should freely do as they please, they should have the right to wed and they should have a right to call it marriage. They should have access to welfare as according to their needs.

Acceptance of same-sex marriage or Civil Unions; Fighting Yesterday’s War

You don't like the idea of homosexuals being married then don't accept their marriage as 'holy' or whatever else. That doesn't mean you should try and deny them that right under a different religion, church or institution.

Gay Marriage

There are quite a few more but honestly I'm waaaay too lazy to track them all down and I don't want to be too overwhelming. Suffice to say a homophobe does not argue in favour of gay rights


Oh and just one laaaast thing:

Psychological Study Shows Homophobic Men Very Likely To Be Aroused By Gay Erotic Stimuli

I guess in that case I'm not homophobic =) So sorry to break it to you... yeah sorry, I dunno, where you hoping I was? Heh.

Actually you make me regret not going further in depth with a post I made earlier today which would have touched on the irony of it a little bit. A well.

Anywho, I'm done here. I'm going to have to step up and 'end it' since you've proven to me that you are unable to either keep your word or let an issue rest. You can take pride, joy, pleasure, whatever, in having the last word as you clearly yearn for it. So, enjoy =)

Comment by postmoderncritic

May 25th 2008 11:59
Okay, considering your choice of words about your reaction to the Joker, I want to give you the benefit of the doubt that *that* comment was not homophobic. But you can see how I got that impression, right?

I have gotten the impression from previous Batman movies that the Joker is not presented as having any romantic and/or sexual relationships, a sort of asexual figure for the purposes of the story. So I don't believe you have anything to fear there. Heath Ledger had played many (heterosexual) characters before (he was famous long before Brokeback), so I thought you were unfairly stigmatising him as representing homosexual characters.

Only a closed minded person would be 'alerted' simply by a question asked for the sake of knoweldge.


You supplied nothing in your post that negated my impression based on the title. Your argument is likely to cause non-heterosexuals to feel like there is something wrong with their perfectly natural desires, and I'm sorry that you don't get that homosexuality is as normal / weird as heterosexuality, but in the meantime you are encouraging people to experience hurt, alienation and prejudice from homophobes who take your argument and use it as an excuse to treat non-heterosexual people differently.

It is in fact, besides the other comment, your only supporting evidence for your silly position.

Yeah, and I notice you don't mention your 'other' comment at all. What do you have to say for yourself there? I complained to Jon about it and he said he would advise you to be more considerate in the future - did he in fact talk to you?

Now, I appreciate you taking the time to copy and paste previous comments of yours on gay marriage. But while I applaud those comments in themselves, just because you believe that gay people should have the right to get married does not mean that you necessarily aren't homophobic. Homophobia can be very insiduous, and sometimes elusive to the person it affects. It shows up in your reluctance to accept gay adoption.

I would like to be as wrong as possible about your homophobic tendencies, believe me. I have nothing to gain from writing you off as happy to discriminate against people.

You should know that I almost didn't read your post after 'bullshit'. You should know that I do not see swearing and explicit metaphors as a suitable way to conduct a discussion. If you're going to continue to talk to me, I suggest that you tone down your language, because next time I might not be so tolerant.

As for 'Homosexuals are Repressed Heterosexuals', I don't find that funny, mostly because there are organisations based on this very premise - that homosexuality can be 'cured' and is a false orientation. It would have been less conventional if you had argued the other way around, that Heterosexuals are Repressed Homosexuals, but again, that's not funny to me either.

I am not interested in having the last word, I'm interested in informing, enlightening, elucidating. Because this is my blog I try to deal with every comment thoroughly, and on most issues I *do* have the final say because there is always something to discuss, and people are content to let it rest after a while.

And what is your obsession with faeces? First you say that animals are different to humans because they throw 'poop' around, then you suggest I turn to corpophilia for financial gain, then you insist I eat my ********. Get your mind out of the gutter, boy! We'll all be happier for it.

Comment by RubySoho

May 25th 2008 15:16
You two are hysterical. If this was a movie or a sitcom, you guys would so get together.

Comment by postmoderncritic

May 25th 2008 15:29
Hey Ruby,

I've found some parts of this exchange quite amusing myself, but ix-nay on the et-together-gay!

Comment by Ahmed

May 25th 2008 15:29
You two are hysterical. If this was a movie or a sitcom, you guys would so get together.

I have to admit that did cross my mind, except my life is more like one of those annoying romantic comedies so we probably already know each other in real life and get along fine, haha XD

It's like that old movie with mel Gibson in it 'you've got mail' except in this case it's kind of the reverse. Could be a sequel? I dunno.

Comment by postmoderncritic

May 25th 2008 15:51
I have to admit that did cross my mind

Too much honesty

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