Gay And Proud In Uganda

It boggles the mind, but a small gay pride event was held in Uganda this weekend. Alexis Okeowo reports at New Yorker:

“Can you imagine that the worst place in the world to be gay is having Gay Pride?” Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera asked a crowd of cheering gay men, lesbians, transgendered men and women, and queers somewhere in between. It was Saturday afternoon, and we were on the shores of the giant, cloudy Lake Victoria in the Ugandan city of Entebbe, where L.G.B.T. activists had decided to stage the country’s first Pride Parade. Nabagesera, a lesbian activist covered, for the occasion, in glitter and neon spray paint, with homemade angel wings, was being half-sarcastic. A barrage of media coverage has painted the country as a hell for gays—a place where they are suffering and being attacked constantly—and, despite the need to combat such threats, L.G.B.T. Ugandans were tired of hearing a story that ignored their nuanced experiences of both joy and hardship.

Hit the link for a slideshow and the rest of Okeowo's fascinating article. (Tipped by JMG reader Joe)

NH Chick-Fil-A To Sponsor Gay Pride

The only New Hampshire Chick-Fil-A franchisee has signed on as a sponsor of this year's LGBT Pride Fest. Via LGBT Nation:

The announcement by franchise general manager Anthony Picolia came as a surprise to Pride Fest organizers in light of the ongoing public relations debacle over the negative remarks by Chick-Fil-A’s President last month regarding same-sex marriage. Picolia, in an email to LGBTQ Nation on Tuesday, confirmed that his franchise will sponsor the festival, writing:

“In both my personal and professional life, I have had and continue to have positive relationships with family, friends, customers and employees in the LGBT community. It would make me sad if someone felt that they were not openly welcomed into my life or restaurant based on their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender,” In a statement issue by Pride organizers, Picolia added that his Chick-fil-A franchise “has gay employees and serves gay customers with honor, dignity and respect.”

The event takes place next Saturday.

Quote Of The Day - Frank Mugisha

"Many Africans believe that homosexuality is an import from the West, and ironically they invoke religious beliefs and colonial-era laws that are foreign to our continent to persecute us. The way I see it, homophobia — not homosexuality — is the toxic import. Thanks to the absurd ideas peddled by American fundamentalists, we are constantly forced to respond to the myth — debunked long ago by scientists — that homosexuality leads to pedophilia.

"For years, the Christian right in America has exported its doctrine to Africa, and, along with it, homophobia. In Uganda, American evangelical Christians even held workshops and met with key officials to preach their message of hate shortly before a bill to impose the death penalty for homosexual conduct was introduced in Uganda’s Parliament in 2009. Two years later, despite my denunciation of all forms of child exploitation, David Bahati, the legislator who introduced the bill, as well as Foreign Minister Henry Okello Oryem and other top government officials, still don’t seem to grasp that being gay doesn’t equate to being a pedophile." - Frank Mugisha, director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, writing for the New York Times.

Transwoman Confronts Black Israelites

For those unaware, the Black Israelites, who believe themselves to be the lost tribe of Israel, are probably the most vile and violent anti-gay street preachers in the nation. A recent expose revealed that many members are woman-abusing convicted felons with drug and alcohol addictions. Standing on street corners in their Earth, Wind & Fire costumes, they frequently rail against homosexuality and loudly call for the Godly murders of gay people. Watch this clip from their own YouTube channel in which a young transwoman bravely confronts them at great length. Clip description:

After brothers shut down the camp, an unclean spirit in the form of a homosexual/transvestite came and spewed all kinds of wickedness. This is the type of demonic activity America allows. This is what happens when you promote homosexuality. You cause a young black man to corrupt and castrate himself. Repent Israel! Be not partakers of her (America) sins.

UPDATE: YouTube has pulled the clip for violating their rules on hate speech.

RELATED: Last month a member of a Black Israelite-affiliated sect was arrested in North Carolina after murdering a four year-old boy for "acting gay."

CROATIA: Violence At Gay Pride

The Associated Press reports:

Stone-throwing extremists have disrupted a gay pride march in Croatia, a day after the Balkan country was given the green light to join the European Union. State television has reported that dozens have been detained and several were injured Saturday in the conservative coastal town of Split. Croatia has pledged to protect human rights as part of efforts at EU membership. EU officials said Friday that Croatia could join in 2013. State TV said around 200 people participated in the pride march, while thousands of opponents lined the streets in protest. The report says riot police prevented direct clashes. Extremists threw rocks, bottles and firecrackers at the participants.

RUSSIA: Police Arrest Activists At St. Petersburg Pride Rally

Five activists were arrested today at small gay pride rally staged in St. Petersburg, Russia.

About two dozen gay and lesbian activists gathered in the tourist-packed courtyard of one of the world's most famous museums, founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great, carrying banners and chanting "Homophobia is the country's shame." One of the organisers, Maria Efremenkova, said the Russian government did nothing to protect gays. "You do not notice us and (you) violate our rights and freedom," she said. Gay activists have been trying for years to get permits for rallying, but to no avail. The organisers of the rally in St. Petersburg were refused five locations, they said. Homosexuality was punishable with jail terms in the Soviet Union and though Russia decriminalised homosexuality in 1993, intolerance remains very widespread. Polls have shown more than 80 percent of Russians see homosexuality as immoral.

Although today's protest was not publicized in advance, a group of ultra-right Russian nationalists showed up and attempted to stage an attack. They were arrested as well.

Into The Belly Of The Beast

Edward Kimmel of Takoma Park, Maryland took his life in his hands by marching into the teabaggers in DC waving a "Public Option Now!" flag. Park Service police had to rescue Kimmel and escort him out.