"The original headline on our website was, in hindsight, too stark. We apologise for any offence it caused. But it's important that this does not detract from what is a crucial debate for Africans and the international community.
The programme was a legitimate and responsible attempt to support a challenging discussion about proposed legislation that advocates the death penalty for those who undertake certain homosexual activities in Uganda - an important issue where the BBC can provide a platform for debate that otherwise would not exist across the continent and beyond"
The BBC does not understand that the nature of this poll is not only offensive, but provides a platform for homophobic and violent attitudes.
12/16/09: The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the subject of controversy over their latest 'Have Your Say' section asking "should homosexuals should face execution?"
The site discusses how Uganda is debating the death penalty for homosexuals, and asks users to weigh in.
Naturally this has brought up many intensely homophobic and some violent commentary. This is not a 'debate' to be had, and since it incites hatred and violence against LGBT people, this is totally unacceptable. The BBC has a rule against users leaving homophobic comments, yet many remain on the forum.
"Please take action to protest the detention and intimidation by police of Oundo George and Kiiza Brendah, transgender human rights activists in Uganda who were arrested at home for allegedly attempting to "recruit people to homosexuality." This is a spurious charge that does not exist in Uganda's Civil Code, though homosexuality is illegal and freedom of gender identity is not recognized. Oundo George and Kiiza Brendah were held without cause for seven days and upon release were ordered to return to the police station on September 24."
Lt-Gen (retd) Yoweri Musevini, Office of the President, Parliament Building, PO Box 7168, Kampala, Uganda
UPDATE: Mr. Nyombi was scheduled for deportation this past Sunday and refused to board a plane to Uganda. Officials allowed him to refuse boarding the plane. Currently he is being held in the airport, which gives us activists and legal groups more time to demand justice for him. Please continue to urge for his asylum to be granted.
We have two asylum granting cases in the U.K. dealing with a gay man (John Bosco) and a lesbian (Prossy Kakooza) who face a return to Uganda where they will likely be killed due to their sexual orientation. The U.K. has decided not to grant asylum to these two individuals, posing a serious threat to their security. Please ensure their asylum in the U.K. Please immediately contact the Minister of State for Borders and Immigration within the Home Office about granting asylum to both John Bosco Nyombi and to Prossy Kakooza.
Write to Liam Byrne, the Minister of State for Borders and Immigration within the Home Office Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk (Please ensure you put FAO Liam Byrne, Minister in the subject line)
"Prossy Kakooza is a 26-year-old woman seeking asylum in the UK. She fled Uganda after suffering vicious sexual, physical and verbal attacks due to her sexual orientation.
Prossy had been forced into an engagement when her family discovered her relationship with the girlfriend she met at university. Both women were marched two miles naked to the police station, where they were locked up.
Prossy’s inmates subjected her to gross acts of humiliation. She was violently raped by police officers who taunted her with derogatory comments like ‘’we’ll show you what you’re missing’’ and ‘’you’re only this way because you haven’t met a real man’’. She was also scalded on her thighs with hot meat skewers.
Prossy was eventually taken out of prison after her father bribed the guards. Her family had decided they would sacrifice her instead, believing this would ‘’take the curse away from the family’’.
Whilst her family were making arrangements to slaughter her, Prossy managed to flee to the United Kingdom to seek asylum.
When Prossy went for treatment to her local GP’s surgery in the UK they were so shocked by the extent of her injuries they called the police.
She was taken to the St. Mary’s Centre in Manchester, and she is still receiving counselling there for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Prossy’s asylum application has been refused by the Home Office, who acknowledge she was brutally raped and burnt because of the medical evidence, but have dismissed these appalling attacks as ‘’the random actions of individuals’’, and state she can be returned to a different town in Uganda.
This judgement ignores the clear danger to gay people throughout the country where the penalty for homosexuality is life imprisonment.
Also, in Uganda, you cannot settle in a new town without a reference from your previous village, and on the basis she is a lesbian, Prossy would be subjected to similar persecution wherever she went.
We consider that if Prossy is sent back, she faces the continuing threat of incarceration, and further sickening attacks - which next time may be fatal.
Prossy is a highly educated woman who can be a productive member of society.
She has a right to be free with her sexuality, which is causing no harm to anyone, and she has a right not to be raped, attacked, or murdered.
Please see below to discover how you can help Prossy to live a valued and productive life in safety and security." (MCC Manchester)
Prossy's Video Story:
How you can help
1. Download the petition, print it off, get it signed by yourself, your family, friends, work colleagues, drinking buddies and anyone else you know! Please return the petition to us so we can send it off to the Home Office - our address is at the bottom of the petition.
2. Sign the online petition and promote this to your friends and contacts via your emails, blog or personal website.
3. Write to Liam Byrne, the Minister of State for Borders and Immigration within the Home Office Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk (Please ensure you put FAO Liam Byrne, Minister in the subject line)
Or fax your letter to him on 0870 336 9034,
or write to him at:
Mr Liam Byrne MP Minister of State for Borders and Immigration Home Office 3rd Floor, Peel Buildings 2 Marsham St London SW1 4DF
"AIDS activists arrested last week for protesting the government’s unhealthy anti-gay policies: “The 3 Ugandan LGBT activists that were arrested at the HIV Implementers’ Meeting in Kampala on the 4th of June 2008, have been released on bail this morning. The charges against them HAVE NOT BEEN DROPPED. They have been charged with Criminal Trespass, under Section 302 of the Uganda Penal Code. All have pleaded “not guilty” and were released on a bail of 500,000 UGX ($310 USD)…The case was adjourned to the 20th of June 2008."
"KAMPALA, June 4 (Reuters) - Ugandan police arrested three gay rights demonstrators who stormed a major AIDS conference in Kampala on Wednesday in protest at the government's stance on homosexuality, which is banned in the east African nation.
Uganda's government said this week it would not focus any HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes on homosexuals because it is short of funds.
Ugandan courts can punish homosexual acts with life in prison, and even "attempted" homosexuality can draw a jail term of seven years."
Please exert pressure to demand the release of these prisoners as well as tell the government it is time to decriminalize homosexuality.
12/18/09: From the Director of BBC World Service:
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