easily, by simply removing
Calling certain values and ways of thinking
the homophobic language
‘traditional’ does not legitimise them, it only serves
within the penal code and
establishing programs to lift
to further entrench those values in society, no matter
the homosexual community
how irrelevant they may be in the modern day.
out of second-class
citizenship and onto equal
footing with the rest of the
Kim, has reportedly stated that it is the ‘right moment’ to
population. The issue is not only one of bad governance, have a conversation about discrimination and how it
but also of intolerant society. Zambian society must relates to World Bank policies. Scotland has also reacted
undergo a shift in its understanding of the gay community to the new law, offering asylum to any Ugandans who
and its attitudes towards its members. Calling certain face persecution within their home country due to this
values and ways of thinking ‘traditional’ does not legislation.
legitimise them, it only serves to further entrench those
values in society, no matter how irrelevant they may be in Not to be outdone, the legislature of the US state of
the modern day. Zambia is a country with a wealth of Arizona passed an anti-gay bill, which would have
potential, but in order to meet that potential, it must ‘allowed businesses…to discriminate against gay and
uphold the rights of every one of its citizens.
lesbian people for religious reasons’.
Fortunately, the
Arizona Governor vetoed the law amid harsh criticisms
from groups like the American Civil Liberties Union,
companies such as Apple and American Airlines, and
Since this original article was published in May of 2013, even the National (American) Football League. Defenders
things have not gotten any better for gay individuals on of the bill used rhetoric of religious freedom and personal
the African continent.
The biggest news for liberty in their arguments on the legislation.
homosexuality in Africa has come this time from Uganda,
where its President Yoweri Museveni signed a harsh anti- Recent times have seen a growing interest in gay rights
gay bill on the 24th of February 2014. This bill set lengthy issues in the domestic and international spheres. Global
prison sentences for homosexual behaviour, and made it a civil society has never been in a stronger position to speak
crime to promote homosexual lifestyles. Mr Museveni out against rights violations within sovereign countries.
described homosexuals as ‘mercenaries’ and emphasised Even if there hasn’t been much in the way of concrete
the perverse nature of homosexual lifestyles as well, results on this front, bringing the issue of discrimination
adding a layer of heated rhetoric to an already strongly along lines of sexual preference to the international
worded piece of legislation. Uganda’s law has echoes of discussion has strengthened the rights claims of
a similar law, which the Russian Federation’s President homosexuals within discriminatory countries. Statements
Vladimir Putin signed in June of 2013. The Russian law from conservative, discriminatory, individuals make it
prohibits what it calls gay ‘propaganda’, and has placed seem as though there is a very basic misunderstanding of
Russia squarely in the international spotlight when it homosexuality among significant parts of the population.
comes to gay rights issues. Many international critics of Mr Museveni is one of the many prominent individuals to
this law have used the recent Winter Olympic Games in advocate ‘cures’ for homosexuality and ‘teaching’ gay
Sochi to highlight the injustices that Russia’s gay people to become straight.
American Christian
community face on a regular basis. The international evangelical groups are often considered the strongest
critique has featured parodies of Putin in flamboyant advocates of these abusive and destructive practices, and
outfits as well as serious statements from global leaders. while this has been the case in the past, and still is for
Despite some calls to boycott the Games, no country some religious groups in the United States, other
moved to do so which, while it does preserve the neutral, evangelical organisations have begun to move away from
global-community-building purpose of the Olympics, these sorts of practices.
does send a message of apathy to the domestic sufferers of
rights abuses within the Russian Federation.
There is progress being made towards a more tolerant
PROTOCOL-MAGAZINE
Update: 2 March 2014
International pressure has borne down on Uganda as
well. The World Bank 'postponed a $90 million loan' to
Uganda’s health infrastructure because of their tough antigay legislation. The Bank does not usually concern itself
with the non-economic domestic affairs of states, but its
strong critique of Uganda’s new law is perhaps a signal
that the World Bank is ready to get more involved in
domestic rights issues. The Bank’s President, Jim Yong
4
world for LGBT individuals, but it is a long, slow process,
which can only be sustained through debate and
discussion