GAY RIGHTS? I THINK

There is a very hot seat African leaders are occupying now. They are forced to choose between giving gays/lesbians their rights and criminalizing every attempt to have meaningful same sex relationships. They are stuck between Africa’s religious and societal morals -what the people want- and the ‘right thing to do’ according to the west.

In 2009, a Kenyan gay couple, Charles Ngegi and Daniel Chege caused a sensation when they tied the knot in the UK. This week, a prominent Nakuru writer Binyavanga Wainaina announced that he is gay. These are just two prominent examples among many other Kenyan gay couples including those under the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya.

Before I indulge you any further I should note that it is very annoying that western powers still see it necessary to bully Africa into doing anything at all. Threatening to cut aid, stopping investors or giving travel advisories won’t do the trick anymore. If anything, it makes our leaders act like hormonal teenagers, rebelling and rebelling. It’s pretty suspicious the amount of attention the US foreign policy is giving to gay rights in Africa – Less than 20 states in the US have legalized gay marriages. Worldwide only 18 countries have done the same. It should be easier to convince Africa if President Obama and all the other western heads of states started their campaigns at home.

Gay Right situation in Africa

That said I should also make a point that just like over 80% of Africans I have been against gay right for a very long time. Because I care about my society, the morals it holds dear and the culture it protects. I still do have a thing against homosexuality just like my grandfather will never let go of that anti trouser for women attitude.

However, I also think that the direction Africa is going with this anti gay campaign is more political than logical. Truth be told, some dude marrying another dude doesn’t affect me or you in any way – Unless you are the dude getting married. It doesn’t infringe on anyone else’s freedoms and therefore should not be punishable by law. Now, throwing a death penalty at those dudes is pretty cruel. It’s criminal and unjustifiable.

Gays should have their rights. The basic right of associating, befriending, being in a relationship or marrying someone – same gender or not, younger or older – should not be something people have to fight for at this age. African governments using this particular issue to act defiant to the west is not fair for the Nigerian who will face execution or the Ugandans who will suffer 14 years for their sexual orientation. The fact that countries even go ahead to ban organizations that offer help to these people is just inhuman. There will be better opportunities for Africa to say no to the west. Opportunities that won’t need us to hurt our own people.

Christians would say that it’s wrong. God does not accept such unions. They will bring up the story of Sodom and call this the end of the world. Let me tell you a short story. A few thousand years ago in towns like Jerusalem adultery was punishable by death. Anyone speaking of any other god apart from the Jewish God was stoned to death. Prostitutes also suffered the same fate. But Jesus changed all that, by dying on the cross he gave everyone the freedom to choose between life and death, between heaven and hell. He took the burden of judgment from the masses and bestowed it upon himself, Upon God.

Now everyone answers to God for their sins. Every sort of sin. It would be very wrong for Christians to decide which sins will be allowed in the law and which ones won’t because as children of God our judge is God almighty. Jesus said pick up your cross and follow me. He said bring your burdens to me. He never said take upon you the burden of gays.

Africans like me would say that it is against our morals. It is wrong to legally accept gay marriages. It’s against our customs. Think about this; lying is wrong. Our politicians lie all the time, lies that have a very large impact in your livelihood, no one jails them for 14 years. No one stones them to death. What is important is that gays and lesbians follow the common rules of decency. Whatever people do in their bedrooms – so long as it’s consensual and not with a minor – should not be the government’s business. The police should focus on the crimes that actually harm people and the economy instead of hunting for homosexuals.

Like I stated earlier, I do not support homosexuality, I just don’t want to see people suffer for being who they are. The question is not whether or not I support it, homosexuality is in Africa and people need to start thinking straight about this issue. The Nigerian Government claims that 90% of the population doesn’t support homosexuality. But then, do they support killing homosexuals? If you were a parent, would you rather have your kid killed by the government or let him/her marry someone of the same gender? If your sister liked girls more than she liked boys would you be happier if she went to jail for that?

The Netherlands was the first country to legalize gay marriages in 2001. Since then, some 15,000 gay and lesbian couples have tied the knot. That is two percent of all marriages celebrated in Holland. Nothing has happened to their morals or their economy because 15,000 gay couples married over a period of 13 years. What happens if you arrest 15,000 gay couples and imprison them for 14 years? You have to build new jails. The funny part is, even if you take gays to jail, how does that prevent them from sleeping with other men in the jails? How does the government protect them in jail from being sexually exploited? Or will the government take gay men to women prisons?

The issue isn’t just allowing them to marry. It stretches to protecting them from the vigilantes who think they are God’s hand. The people who take it upon themselves to attack and punish homosexuals should be taught a lesson. Those are the people who deserve to be in jail for having nothing better to do than to dish out violence.