Dear Bill,
One of the things that I really like about you is that you and your wife Melinda set up a foundation to help people. And it would appear that it is successfully doing that. So it was with interest and dismay that I read your recent conversation with The Seattle Times' Kristi Heim. Here's the part that concerns me:
"Q: Looking at health efforts in Africa, such as HIV prevention and treatment, are you concerned about the Ugandan anti-homosexuality bill, and have you spoken to anyone there about it?
A: The spread of AIDS is a huge problem and obviously we're very involved. I talk in my letter about the great success with this male circumcision effort, and preventative drug trials. There's a tendency to think in the U.S. just because a law says something that it's a big deal. In Africa if you want to talk about how to save lives, it's not just laws that count. There's a stigma no matter what that law says, for sex workers, men having sex with men, that's always been a problem for AIDS. It relates to groups that aren't that visible. AIDS itself is subject to incredible stigma. Open involvement is a helpful thing. I wouldn't overly focus on that. In terms of how many people are dying in Africa, it's not about the law on the books; it's about getting the message out and the new tools."
I'm sorry Bill but what part of being sentenced to death for the "crime of being gay" is not a big deal? Sure, in some countries in Africa it's "only" a jail sentence, (including in Uganda at present). And sure, there's been noises that the Anti-Homosexuality Bill might be altered to remove the death penalty and life imprisonment as proposed punishments for homosexuality. But there will still be punishments and many of the other provisions will remain in place. How are these not a big deal? And who have you spoken to about the situation?
I get that in Africa, like America sometimes laws get conveniently ignored or unenforced, but it would still be on the books and it would still be an injustice. Moreover, take the recent case in Malawi for instance. One doesn't often hear, (at least here in the West) about Malawi's anti-homosexual laws being enforced. But we're sure hearing about it being enforced now, because two men who are in love with each other had the audacity to publicly announce their intention to get married.
In terms of preventing and treating AIDS in Africa it is about the law on the books; at least it will be in Uganda. You see, there's a number of important clauses in the bill that's going to directly affect the work that AIDS/HIV education and treatment program workers are going to take note of.
One of the objects of this bill is to prohibit the "promotion or recognition of [same sex] sexual relations in public institutions and other places through or with the support of any Government entity in Uganda or any non governmental organization inside or outside the country."
If one of your foundation's AIDS projects workers were found to be guilty of "promoting homosexuality", that project/organization would lose its certificate of registration and the "director or proprietor or promoter shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for seven years."
If one of your foundation's AIDS projects were to fail to disclose any offence under this Act within twenty-four hours, they've just committed an offence and are liable; the punishment: being fined or imprisoned.
There's more, much more. Basically Bill, this "little" anti-homosexuality bill in Uganda will affect a lot of decent people and it will also affect the organizations that partner with foundations like yours. Furthermore, your optimism on this issue is not shared by gays in Uganda, or organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission. The news reports aren't that optimistic either.
Yes, there's stigma associated with AIDS and HIV, and this law will bring about even more stigma. You can't get "the message" and the new tools out to fight AIDS and HIV if you're being hampered by such draconian laws. So unfortunately it is about the law that's on the books.
Please Bill, take a second look at this issue, because it's not going to go away and it's going to spill over into other African countries. And also take a second look at what's really going on in Africa in terms of human rights abuses and the laws against homosexuality. These things affect the work of your foundation greatly.
Many thanks for taking the time to read this letter Bill. I wish you, your wife Melinda and your foundation great happiness and success.
Sincerely,
Robin Anderson-Forbes
Publisher of Gay News Bits
P.S.: Please check out these posts I've posted on my site about the situation in Uganda:
Related Posts:
- Step 1: Transform Uganda
- The Commonwealth and Uganda – Business As Usual?
- Uganda’s Anti-Gay Bill Denounced In Canadian House of Commons
- Which MPs in Canada Support the Gay Purge in Uganda?
- Rick Warren’s Chilling Vision and the Uganda Connection
- Rick Warren’s Video Message to Uganda and His Critics
- American Anti-gay Activists & Uganda
- Video: Toronto Protest of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill
* A copy of this letter has been emailed to Bill Gates at The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
