An American Werewolf In The New Uganda: Discredited, Anti-gay "Researcher" Paul Cameron Preys Upon Gays In Moldova

It's Uganda all over again - same tired (but dangerous) play, with different sets and a few different cast members. This time, the ambassador of hate is one Paul Cameron, the setting:  Moldova.


Yes, Moldova.


Remember, the kill queers policy of the Christian Right has to pick on the poorest, most backward, most superstitious countries and it can't get a poorer, more backward, more superstitious country than Moldavia: it's a short hop to the Carpathian mountains, land of the Romanis (gypsies), Transylvania, Dracula,  Elizabeth Bathory (Countess Dracula) and...the Werewolf.


So they're sending discredited "researcher" Paul Cameron to state their case that homosexuals are intrinsically evil and that any law passed for anti-discrimination is an abomination.


Of course, Cameron doesn't usually address his audiences festooned in garlic, but his charisma is nonetheless odoriferous: he is passionate about imprisonment and execution of gays. His claims are so horrific, that no one in America has taken them seriously (Tony Perkins and Bryan Fischer excepted, of course): they regularly eat feces, they are natural pedophiles, they live shorter lives, they stuff gerbils up their rears, they recruit because they can't procreate. And to a backward, superstitious populace, these claims are horrifying music to their ears.



Box Turtle Bulletin

An anti-discrimination bill that prohibits unequal treatment on grounds including sexual orientation is before its Parliament, due for debate at month’s end.


In the days before the debate starts, Paul Cameron is coming to town. An e-mail from the Alianţa pentru Salvarea Familiilor din Moldova (Alliance to Save the Family in Moldova) announces that the “U.S. sociologist, founder and president of Family Research Institute” will stay from October 24-29, and “will share the U.S. experience in implementing anti-discrimination legislation.”

Of course, it makes no difference to the Moldovans that Cameron has been denounced by more reputable researchers and unceremoniously kicked out of most major professional organizations:


Individuals: 

Epidemiologists Morten Frisch and Henrik Brønnum-Hansen were vehemently against Cameron's crude and minimal attempts at research concerning the life-expectancy of gay men (he used obituary columns from gay newspapers during and after the AIDS crisis).
Psychologist Gregory M. Herek charged Cameron with deliberately misrepresenting his work researching child molesters.

Organizations:

The American Psychological Association: "We are concerned about Dr. Cameron because we do believe that his methodology is weak."
The Nebraska Psychological Association
The Canadian Psychological Association
...and the American Sociological Association:

It does not take great analytical abilities to suspect from even a cursory review of Cameron's writings that his claims have almost nothing to do with social science and that social science is used only to cover over another agenda. Very little of his work could find support from even a bad misreading of genuine social science investigation on the subject and some sociologists, such as Alan Bell, have been 'appalled' at the abuse of their work."

 MOLDOVA IS DOOMED

Unfortunately, this will not be Cameron's first visit to Moldova (he had previously visited the country in 2008). And his visits have been supported by appearances of premier anti-gay hate monger Scott Lively who was definitely instrumental in Uganda's Kill-The-Gays Bill. Through Lively and Cameron, the Christian Right has been delivering a series of one-two punches to Moldavia's humanity: an attempted gay pride parade in 2008 met with bashings of gays from skinheads while the police looked on approvingly. The situation for the passage of an anti-discrimination bill (at least one including sexual orientation) looks grim.

And if Cameron gets his way, Moldova will institute laws very close to that of Uganda's.

Poor, backward countries have little chance of surviving the onslaught of bigotry that both Lively and Cameron can produce and this latest foray into an Eastern European government might result in a death (or deaths) like gay activist David Kato's.

Poor Moldova. It's welcoming a werewolf in sheep's clothing.

Unfortunately, this will not be Cameron's first visit to Moldova (he had previously visited the country in 2008). And his visits have been supported by appearances of premier anti-gay hate monger Scott Lively who was definitely instrumental in Uganda's Kill-The-Gays Bill. Through Lively and Cameron, the Christian Right has been delivering a series of one-two punches to Moldavia's humanity: an attempted gay pride parade in 2008 met with bashings of gays from skinheads while the police looked on approvingly. The situation for the passage of an anti-discrimination bill (at least one including sexual orientation) looks grim.

And if Cameron gets his way, Moldova will institute laws very close to that of Uganda's.

Poor, backward countries have little chance of surviving the onslaught of bigotry that both Lively and Cameron can produce and this latest foray into an Eastern European government might result in a death (or deaths) like gay activist David Kato's.

Poor Moldova. It's welcoming a werewolf in sheep's clothing.

Uganda's "Kill-The-Gays" Pastor Accused Of Extortion And Bribery To Push Bill

"Poo-Poo Pastor" allegedly resorted to extortion several times.
May know who killed activist David Kato

Rev. Martin Ssempa may have a hard time getting his beloved "kill the gays" bill passed, even though he's tried for years to have Ugandan homosexuality criminalized and some gays put to death. Last week, it seemed that, with the help of Ugandan legislator, David Bahati, the bill would surely go through Parliament, but there were rumors that the bill would be killed. Yesterday, taking matters into his own hands, Ssempa brought what he said were two million signatures in support of the bill and even brought two "ex-gays" to testify how they had been indoctrinated by slain gay activist David Kato.


The two "ex-gays," Paul Kagaba and George Oundo summarily spoke to speaker of Parliament, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi in the company of Ssempa and Bishop Julius Oyet. They both related how they were "indoctrinated" by Kato by being raped by him after which  both became gay activists for a time until brought under the pastoral influence of Ssempa.


Ssempa, it seemed, had made his final, definitive argument for the (now internationally infamous) "kill the gays" bill.


Then an hour later, George Oundo was able to speak to the New York Times:

“David Kato was murdered; it was a plot,” Mr. Oundo said. “I don’t support the bill.”
I’ve always been gay,” Mr. Oundo said, in a timid but growing voice. “I didn’t choose it.”
“David Kato was the first one who taught me to protect my human right,” Mr. Oundo added.
Mr. Oundo said that his presence alongside Mr. Ssempa at Parliament had been to “protect” himself and that he had been contacted only that morning by Mr. Kagaba about the meeting and offered about $42 to attend. He said Mr. Ssempa had offered him about $2,000 in 2009 to repent and switch sides in the debate, but later reneged. Either way, Mr. Oundo became a poster-child for Mr. Ssempa’s anti-homosexuality movement.

Mr. Ssempa declined to comment on the allegations.

Mr. Oundo's last words to the Times: “If I live or die, I am gay, and if I am buried, bury me gay,” he said.


Martin Ssempa is an enigma of sorts: his siblings died of AIDS and he told himself that it was their promiscuity that caused their death. At the time, he was a celebrity: a national break dancing champion. He eschewed fame for membership in a local Baptist Church and performed in plays to educate students about AIDS. He studied sociology and received a Masters of Arts Degree at Philadelphia Biblical University. NOTE: there is no reference to Mr. Ssempa ever receiving a Masters of Divinity from PBU or any other institution. His own website DOES NOT MENTION ORDINATION OF ANY KIND, yet he insists on being called "Pastor" and dons all the trappings of ordained clergy (see picture above).


Ssempa also gained some international influence by working with George W. Bush's PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and Pastor Rick Warren's Saddleback Church. It should be noted that, for some unknown reason, the two had a falling out and Warren has since distanced himself from Ssempa.


While campaigning against homosexuality, Ssempe repeatedly portrayed gays as people who regularly eat feces and practice extreme forms of anal sex, earning him the sobriquet of "Eat Da Poo-Poo" Pastor. He has also been known to accuse his rivals of pedophilia and homosexuality. Such accusations, once substantiated, can lead to catastrophic straits and everyone in Uganda knows that people have been brutally beaten, ostracized and, like David Kato, killed. 


George Ounda's accusations may lead to an inquiry (if Ounda is willing to testify), but any full-blown investigation is doubtful: Ssempa's influence runs as high as President and Mrs. Mousseveni. Ssempa also has connections with the U.S.'s Christian Right: "Prophet" Lou Engle and organizations like Family Research Council and American Family Association. 


I've written before about Rick Warren's influence in Africa, particularly Uganda, so something puzzles me: just what was it that made Warren cut off association with Ssempa? It must have been something quite serious because after all, Ssempa has long held to Warren's motto:


"Whatever It Takes." 

High On Uganda's Hit List, Bishop Christopher Senyonjo Will NOT Go Into Hiding.

Even though he is an elderly Anglican cleric, a family man with children, Bishop Christopher Senyonjo has gotten many homophobic death threats - because he has been a champion for gay rights as well as the LGBT community's most loving friend and supporter. He risked his life by attending the funeral of human rights activist David Kato:

“I know that some [gays and lesbians] are discouraged and even not going to church because they are being abused. Even today they are being abused. But please don’t be discouraged. God created you and God is on your side,”

"Hang Them"

Bishop Senyonjo's picture was published on the now-infamous cover of Uganda's Rolling Stone tabloid along with human rights activist, David Kato and the yellow slash "Hang Them!" It should be noted that Bishop Senyonjo is a family man with two sons and several grandchildren. His sons have also received death threats. Of course, it should be noted that in a country trained to be virulently homophobic, Senyonjo is not immune to murder even if he holds the title of "Bishop." Rolling Stone certainly showed no respect in regards to Senyonjo's status when it published the article. Indeed, the latest news is that the tabloid has not the slightest regret in publishing the article and may take pride in its advocacy.

Giles Muhame, managing editor of the weekly Rolling Stone, said in a statement that he condemned the murder and felt "sorry for the family of Kato". But he also repeated various unproved allegations against the activist, and suggested he lived in an area where murder is common. "This looks like any other crime," he told the Guardian in a telephone interview. "I have no regrets about the story. We were just exposing people who were doing wrong." 

Muhame and other recent graduates of Makerere University in Kampala launched Rolling Stone late last year. With a circulation of fewer than 3,000 copies it would have remained obscure were it not for the anti-gay campaign (Guardian, UK)

The outcome of "exposing people who were doing wrong": many of the listed people were evicted from their homes and fired from their jobs. One woman was actually stoned by her neighbors. 

Several days ago, Bishop Senyonjo wrote an open letter to Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowen Williams. Please read the entire text here. You will be inspired, elevated, ... and relieved that such men still exist today. 

As human beings, we must respect our differences and be united in our call for listening and sharing with each other. To understand God, we are all called to understand the mystery of each other, including our sexualities.

He is incredibly courageous in this letter because he dares to do something which our own Christian Right would never do: point out past the mistakes of Christianity. That he even admits them is remarkable. Think of it: would ANYONE involved in today's Christian Right lower themselves to say such things? Remember, Bishop Senyonjo is telling the great CR that their religion has made errors, causing harm to an enormous amount of people! How can he insult people like David Barton, Tony Perkins and, above all, Bryan Fischer, who has recently, in print and on the radio, told our country that it was God's will that Native Americans lose their land and lives! 

BLINDED BY RIGHTEOUSNESS

There are some who will say that Senyonjo is not worth listening to, and that he's foolish for venturing out in such a hostile climate. Some may even say that he'll deserve what he gets. Scorn and venom will pour forth from the very places that should have love and concern. Those people are blinded by their own righteousness to have any compassion or concern for the bishop. They have whipped up emotions to create a mob mentality   that may be uncontrollable and may simply walk away from the situation in Uganda. Or they may look on in silence: Rick Warren, Scott Lively, Lou Engle and all their followers will watch.

And wait. 

BREAKING: Uganda Gay Activist Beheaded

Is this the result of Lou Engle's Rhetoric?

I couldn't find the proper color for the above title: Jungle Red was not available.

From 365Gay.com

Ugandan LGBT activist Pasikali Kashusbe was discovered murdered when Ugandan police found his severed head, which had been thrown down a latrine.

Kashube was a volunteer with Integrity Uganda, a gay rights group. He went missing in June, but Ugandan officials only found him when they were searching for another missing gay activist, Rev. Henry Kayizzi Nsubuga.

Nsubuga has been missing for three weeks, ever since he delivered a sermon in support of gay rights in Uganda.

 For further thoughts on Lou Engle and Uganda, please read the post below.