It been a while

It's been a while since i last posted. So many things have happened since. So much has changed and yet everything seems to remain the same. It's nice to be back...while i was away, i came accross some interesting stuff.
Check out WHOF https://www.facebook.com/#!/WHOF1
Also check out this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EUifVn-TC4 it spoke to me; hope it speaks to you.

Sweetp

Vacation...

It has been an interesting 2 weeks so far. Being with friends and enjoying the company of family and relatives. But the best part is having a chance to hang out with the L in the LGBTI community in my town. Last night, I hanged out wit a group of lesbian women between the age of 20 and 40. I met some ineresting people in this group but the best part was watching how they interracted with each other... bottom line, things have changed. In my time...growing up in this town...hmmm...we would not even dream of having such seatings. It made me reflect back to those days...and I could actually see the openess of the 20year olds contrast the reserved nature of the 30 years and above.

How time changes everything!!

Sweetp

Of Cables, Wikileaks, David Kato and Bahati's Homosexuality Bill

I have still not been stung by the wikileaks bug, well, maybe just alittle. Still, as the stories of Assange rocked the world and wikileaks went leaking off cables, i just thought one thing " this dude and his cronies better know what they are doing".

Well, some information come in handy even though we might not like the source or how it is obtained. This may just be that kind of information. The Guardian published a story with the headlines US Cables: Uganda defends the Anti-Homosexuality bill. Read and judge for thy self here.

In other news, this is from the Washington Times. I am saddened by the turn of events after David Kato's murder especially its effect on the lives of gay Ugandans, what raises deep concern is to noting that even institutions that can defend our brethrens are distancing themselves.  Last but not least the last paragraph...Prescribing treatment to convert homosexuals to heterosexual lifestyle? How do you do that?

Food for thought:

The sources mentioned are western media. No information coming forth from the home ground. There may be lack of articles from the mainstream media houses in Africa, but that does not mean that there is no news on LGBTI people. Lets learn from the recent events in Egypt, the internet is a powerful tool which when used properly can be very effective. They may not want to write about us in the papers but we can surely make them.


Sweetp.

DAVID KATO - The World Reacts

Sad and shocking news.. It’s sad for LGBTI people in the world but even sadder for LGBTI people in Uganda who have lost a friend, family member, colleague, mentor, educator and all things that David Kato embodied.  I do not know David Kato personally but I do know this, he has done good work.  What else can drive a person to commit such an atrocity against another if not the hope to stop progress of good work? I am trying so hard to see the big picture here in the midst of all this…

When I first read this on African Activist, I felt sick to my stomach. I have still not found words to adequately express what i feel.

Giles Muhame, Pastor Eat the Poopoo et al, now you can see the result of your 15mins of fame! Am sure you can find some excuse to justify sleeping through the night after this; but I doubt that you like the reflection looking back at you when you look through the mirror from the time you learnt of David Kato’s death.

In solidarity with friends and LGBTI people in Uganda, here are some messages received from across the world.

2.       EU President

1.       President Barack Obama

3.       Joint Press Statement from EU

4.       Hillary Clinton

5.       Amnesty International

6.       Norway

7.       Kenyan blogger -Queeattitude

May David Kato’s soul rest in eternal peace.

The struggle continues. Keep the faith!

Sweetp.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT – ALL OUT

A picture is worth a thousand words, but a collection of pictures in motion says much more…

Take a look at this:

a collection of pictures in motion

That is All Out! Impressive huh?

In short, All Out is about Building the global movement for LGBT Community. Launched on 8^th December2010, All Out will run creative Campaigns from early 2011 to change culture­-and policy-so that LGBT people everywhere can lead lives   of dignity and share fully in the community life.

Coincidentally, this is about that time when we all sit back and evaluate our failures and achievements during the year which is a bad news, good news situation.

Its bad news because unfortunately, the year is gone nothing can be done about that; good news because we have what you can call a ‘fresh start’. A new year begins in a few days. It’s the time for making new resolutions for the New Year. And while you are out there thinking of New Year resolutions…consider this:

 "When a marginalized and scapegoated group decides to join together and demand the change they want to see in their nation and in the world, powerful social movements can arise.  That time has come for the diverse and expansive global LGBT community. All Out is giving each of us a platform to step up and speak out to make certain that this change comes sooner, not later." Julian Bond, former Chair of the NAACP.

The powerful social movements spoken about by Julian Bond needs me,you and all the friends that you and I can rally to join All Out. If there is something out there worth fighting for, worth achieving, this is it. Your right to live and love freely.

Join the movement at www.allout.org and spread the word to everyone willing to listen!

“ANYTHING WORTH HAVING IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR”

Sweetp

Furor at FIFA chief's Qatar 2022 gay sex comments

Now, why did that decision give me the shivers…

World cup 2022 in Qatar!!

Well it didn’t take too long.

The FIFA chief was in Africa again…South Africa. When I first saw this on BBC I thought that first statement was rather off…check out HERE

You have to be very keen to get the first part of the video...Mr.Chief says “Then I should say they should refrain from any sexual activity... (laugh).” That struck me as...ummh...' he didn't just say that, did he?' 

So I  made a post of it to one of the internal sites here(We keep it on the down low...this is ME after all). Pardon me for not naming the site. Anyways, I decide to go take a bath and contemplate what this means? The whole World cup in Qatar 2022 thingi; what does this mean if they do accept everybody for that one month? What if they don't? How is this going to play? Will Qatar 2022 be the key for us to the Middle East door?

Less than half an hour and I come across this from CNN

Check out

I guess it has just begun but there will be more on this am sure.

Now this is something...

Is it just me or someone opened the proverbial Pandora’s Box?

Sweetp

Educate and recruit Afican LGBT Activists

I have taken to reading the electronic media on the advances made by african activists in line with progressing the fight for LGBT rights. Since I accepted myself as who I am, I have tried to read any possible article on LGBTI issues in Africa and East Africa (Kenya in particular). I’m trying to educate myself on the progress of LGBTI issues across the world. I have had the opportunity to read stories from across the continent of Africa from the North to South; East to West. There are brilliant men and women out there risking their lives everyday for the rest of us.

Lately, I watched MP David Bahati of Uganda in an interview on the Rachel Maddow Show.  See here. David Bahati  known for the infamous Anti-Homosexual bill that has got many Ugandan gays living in fear daily was in the US to a ttend a conference (he wa not allowed into the conference..hehehe). Well, what struck me most in the interview is Mr. Bahati’s insistance that children were being recruited into “gayism” in schools. Even though he found himself hard pressed to explain the nature of recruitment involved; it all got me thinking…

Recruiting…maybe the LGBT Activism needs some recruitment. There are thousands of LGBT people of age and I mean over 18years old willing to join the ranks however with no idea of where to start.  The door should be openned for those willing to participate in the LGBTI freedom fight. We not only need to recruit but we also need to train our personnel adequately on strategy and methodology. Put our best foot forward not just any foot.

David Kuria in his article LGBTI RIGHTS IN AFRICA - DIVERSE STRATEGIES?  has highlighted a very critical issue for LGBTI in Africa. My two cents worth and please note that i am no expert in LGBTI issues and therefore this is not a critique of the article...  Althought Skill based migration may seem as a good option for most, it may end up eroding the work force that is currently the backbone of LGBT activism in Africa. Perhaps the focus should shift to educating the LGBTI community and recruiting more activists.  The LGBTI community all over the world has received increased media coverage and visibility. What we need are trained individuals to help progress the fight in the grassroots level.  If scholarships geared towards training of LGBTi individuals in key professional skills from financial to  healthcare with a requirement to serve a certain period of time in progressing the LGBTI Cause in their countries of origin; a major step forward would be made.

We may have many willing to join activism in any form; however, do they bring with them any expertise?

I for one would love to join in the fight. But the lack of knowledge on the first thing about activism let alone LGBTI activism tells me I need some sort of training. I could just join in to chants of “we want freedom now” with the best of them  but I believe there is more to the fight than this.

Do you have an idea on any such scholarships or internships? Are there any sites or groups offering such training for African LGBTI?

Well I grew up being told Education is Key…I say, just show me the door…

Sweetp.