***This is what "Human Rights" Means to Us***

This is what "Human Rights" Means to Us

I've always felt connected to the LGBT rights struggle of Africa. As a child, my family shared with me their fairy stories of growing up in urban Kampala during a time when being spat at or being called a faggot was not at all a common occurrence as it is applauded nowadays. And I, as a 29-year-old Ugandan lesbian, have had my own run-ins with homophobes and bigots, albeit not as severely as it is in North and west African countries.

But despite all this, things have gotten progressively better for the Gay rights movement in Uganda. We now claim our spaces both in the political and social arena. We have people who identify with our cause, finally. Unfortunately, not as much progress can be said for us, as evidenced by the overwhelming passage of anti-homosexuality bill this past October.

History books will mark October 4, 2009, as the historic day MP David Bahati tabled the Bill as the country's first barbaric law since independence. A classic example of taking one step forward, two steps back.


And if October. 4 2009 showed us nothing else, it certainly showed my generation what our cause must be whether we're gay or straight: LGBT rights.


The disturbing debate on gay rights has been estranged from the human rights struggle mostly by politicians and clergy people who prescribe to the archaic perception of human freedoms. The struggle certainly has it's differences; for starters, one is about orientation and the other is about and whether it's a choice. To pigeonhole the struggle to choice or orientation is to miss the significance of the struggle holistically. Furthermore, to assume the struggle will be over when the Bahati Bill dies is flawed--just ask the activists in Uganda who live in danger of losing their lives everyday.


It's easy to get wrapped up in the semantics of the debate when it comes to the ideas of 'gay rights' and 'human rights' It's also easy to assume that because this generation has proven to be more accepting of human rights it will embrace LGBT rights with the same ease. This is wrong.



We are among the ranks of underrepresented groups that are challenging Ugandans to embrace diversity. We have made 'human rights' the name of the game. And our latest accomplishment: We are undeniably a big reason that civil society in Uganda are for the first time throwing their weight behind us to fight the bill.


We, as a generation, view ourselves as extremely progressive. But while we have made strides in terms of visibility, we still have a way to go when it comes to LGBT rights.


So when you ask us what the term "human rights" means to us, we will undoubtedly include LGBT rights--but where it falls on our national priorities remains to be seen.


But rest assured, it's gonna be there. It will be there. But don't ask me when.

--
Posted By Val Kalende to ValKalende at 7/05/2010 10:43:00 AM