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Government considers watered down same-sex marriage bill to minimise Tory rebellion
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Tory MP Nadine Dorries: 'The gay marriage bill is taking the sex out of marriage'
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Government to consider abolishing civil partnerships or opening up to straight couples
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Philip Hammond: 'No great demand for gay marriage and it's upsetting vast numbers of people'
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Bret Easton Ellis slams GLAAD and says gay basketball player Jason Collins treated like a 'baby panda'
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US Radio host: Gay news websites are covered with porn that is turning teens gay
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Lib Dem MP Sarah Teather tells Catholic newspaper 'I never went into politics to tackle equal marriage'
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Tory MP David Burrowes: 'I'm not anti-gay; I'm just pro-marriage'
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Christians called to pray at Parliament in opposition to equal marriage bill
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Russia: Tortured and killed gay man was 'raped with beer bottles'
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Robert in S. Kensington 811
Eddy 349
Jock S. Trap 278
bobbleobble 277
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I applaud Canada for not allowing her or her colleagues a visa!
How much foreign aid does Uganda receive from Canada? Is it wise to bite the hand that feeds you?
Yes but Uganda’s homophobia does seem to be based on their Christian beliefs and who forced the Africans to be Christians? The colonialists. I’m not excusing them, I think they are brainwashed but have a look at history before we start placing the blame. The Eastern part of Europe isn’t much better when it comes to gay rights either, in fact it’s only a small percentage of the world that promotes equal rights for LGBT people and it has only been within the last 50 years or so that the LGBT movement has been making a difference in the West.
But Uganda’s homophobia does seem to be based on their Christian beliefs and who forced the Africans to be Christians? The colonialists. I’m not excusing them, I think they are brainwashed but have a look at history before we start placing the blame. The Eastern part of Europe isn’t much better when it comes to gay rights either, in fact it’s only a small percentage of the world that promotes equal rights for LGBT people and it has only been within the last 50 years or so that the LGBT movement has been making a difference in the West.
Uganda’s record on homophobia is particularly appalling though. It is trying to (or has, I’m not sure) introduce a law making homosexuality illegal. Up until recently a national paper ran weekly articles and listings of people assumed to be LGBT. LGBT people are thrown out of their homes, chased out of town and many reside in squalid conditions, unable to find anyone willing to employ them. Some are in hiding and almost all fear for their lives.
This particularly vehement and extreme nationwide treatment to LGBT is not something that is historical to Uganda, it doesn’t date back to colonialism but is fairly recent, being fueled by fundamentalist churches from the West whom they have invited of into their country of their own free will. As a country they cannot operate in a bubble and must be held accountable for the decisions that they, and they alone, choose to make.
Unpleasant dissembling by Uganda. They know perfectly well it is nothing to do with gay marriage and everything to do with violent homophobic persecution. They only mention marriage to try and get sympathy from opponents of that, and a knee jerk reaction from homophobes at home.
Exactly! If Canada denied entry to diplomats, parliamentarians, etc. from every country that banned equal marriage, we would have representatives from only about 10 countries. It was Uganda’s overall appalling civil rights record that prompted the ban. As usual with the bigots, facts are distorted.
“Uganda does not share the same values as Canada” – let’s evaluate this remark:
Canada values each individual, and doesn’t openly promote the hatred, bigotry and oppression of its people. Canada has a wonderful record on human rights. Canada has one of the highest levels of economic freedom in the world. Canada is a secular state, yet one with full religious freedom. Canada has a stunning education system which is available to all.
…Speaker Kadaga is absolutely right. Clearly, Canada and Uganda do not share the same values at all. And the prejudiced scum should be ashamed to admit it.
“Uganda does not share the same values as Canada” Would it be possible to pay Canada a greater compliment?
Canada, arguably has the best democracy of all. FULL equality for LGBT people. I applaud its courage and integrity to issue such a ban. The UK should follow suit although we don’t even have our full equality yet. Canada is truly the beacon of freedom, especially for LGBT people and is light years ahead of the UK.. Well done!
Yes well only until very recently, Canada used to be a very conservative society itself. If you want to know how progressive Canada has been overall look at how it treated the native tribes and the Inuit. I’m not defending Uganda here but some perspective is needed, it’s only been in the lat 50 years or less that us good clean westerners allowed equal rights for gay people.
if “Canada used to be very conservative” until “very recently” (an affirmation I will heartily deny), you also need to compare what the REST of the world was like at the time you speak of.
I’m not sure you actually know what you’re talking about.
The province of Quebec was the first jurisdiction in North America to specifically protect LGBT rights in its constitution.
You criticize Canada for “the last 50 years”? What was happening in the rest of the world during that time? Where else in the world would you have been better off during that same time frame?
You say “Perspective”?
Canada never participated in the whole-sale slaughter of any of its aboriginal peoples, unlike the U.S.
The U.K doesn’t HAVE aboriginals. It’s easy for a Brit to criticize another country when they have never been in the sort of historic corrective situation. Canada has worked hard to come to terms with mistakes of the past.
Go get ‘em Mikey. My Canada is a great country. I am proud to be from Canada.
As a Canadian, I am allowed to criticize my own country. The way this country has treated its aboriginal people is abhorrent. But hey, we just stole all their land, ripped children from parents and forced them into abusive religious boarding schools, causing emotional trauma that has persisted generations. NBD.
Also, cut the LGBT crap when you really mean gay. Trans people’s rights are only explicitly protected in the NWT, ON, and MB. We aren’t protected in Quebec (some are, but only implicitly), and we aren’t protected nationally. And they probably won’t be, with the likes of Rob Anders painting us as bogeymen, and clueless cis gay men insisting that we already have “full LGBT equality” while ignoring the inequalities that don’t effect them.
As for democracy, our first-past-the-post voting system and the indifference of the public has sold this country to a neoconservative with no respect for democracy. Literally doing things he has described as undemocratic.
Your comment is ignorant
Britain DID have aboriginals they were called the Celts. After many invasions from Romans and Anglo Saxons there aren’t any aboriginal people now but there was.
Yes but, cut her some slack, she may be a holy person who is in favour of the right to persecute and discriminate according to religious beliefs?
If she were a true christian she would be in no position of power.
1 Timothy 2:12 “But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have authority over the man, but to be in silence.”
It is in her bibble.
The hypocrisy and ignorance of their own religion is astounding
the irony that she’s the speaker heh
No kind of Aid to ANY country that don’t grant equal rights the gay and lesbian community….
By cutting off the aid, we might as well be surrendering the LGBT community, and other minorities in places like Uganda to the ‘mercies’ of their government.
I would rather petition the government to reassess who it’s aid money gets spent on in these countries, rather than cutting the aid off altogether. That way, it might even make a difference.
Do you actually think the common man in the street sees any of this “aid”?
Actions have consequences, Kadaga. And the consequence of protracted acts of anti-gay mob pandering in Uganda means that other people do not welcome you, wish you to speak or wish to associate with you in any way.
Well done Canada – long may you stay progressive (get rid of Harper, it’ll help).
A list of the politicians would be interesting. For instance does it include the proposer of the “Kill the Gays and their Friends” Bill who was banned from a Presidential prayer breakfast in Washington?
Whenever I try to google for more info on this, I just get dozens of references to the various people and NGOs that Uganda has banned because they are “pro-gay”, something like 30 NGOs. Also mention of banning Oxfam for criticising violent land grabs by the government.
So it seems that Uganda is just getting a taste of its own medicine.
I’m reminded of this quote “Karma is only a bitch if you are” – Well done Uganda in demonstrating Karma’s effects.
Fine if you like Uganda and its values so much stay there, don’t come over here spreading your ignorance and bigotry.
Well done Canada. Very happy at this. I hope more countries start doing it.
This from Huffington Post:
Baird also took on the Ugandan government again for its treatment of gays and lesbians. He mentioned the case of a young activist who was recently beaten to death.
The criticism didn’t sit well with the speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, who asked for the opportunity to respond. She spoke of Baird’s “arrogance” and “ignorance” and demanded an apology.
“If homosexuality is a value for the Canadian people, that’s not a problem for us, that’s it’s issue, but one shouldn’t force Ugandans to accept homosexuality because we’re not Canadian citizens,” Kadaga said to applause from the floor.
“We have our problems, they have theirs.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/10/22/iran-quebec-canada-baird_n_2002523.html
ah, but Canada’s problems don’t involve officially sanctioned torture of its citizens.
It is universal human rights that “is a value for the Canadian people”! The Ugandans should be protecting the universal human rights of all persons just like Canada, but they’re not. Admitedly, the Ugandans have been encouraged in their disgusting hatred for GLBTQ persons by hate-pushing, right-wing christian fundamentalist “cults” from the US who went to Uganda to urge them to pass laws to make homosexuality a “capital offense”. As much as I hate to admit it, for once I have to give credit to the Harper Conservative government for taking these actions. I still want him and his government out in 2015 elections.
Brilliant.. I would recommend that the west stops providing ANY kind of financial help until they change their stance on LGBT rights and the treatment thereof. How can this minister state that they do not condone violence against us, when a law was very nearly passed that would have us thrown into jail, or worse. No we dont have the same standards, ours are higher.. I think ignorant and arrogant are words more fitting for the ugandans.. fancy wigs do not a civilised person make.
Silly cow has a short memory. I hope someone reminds her about the sanctions against South Africa during Apartheid. Perhaps she thought that was unjust too. She can stay playing dress up in her own Hell hole. Goodbye, pompous qunt.
“Delegates from the two countries responded by accusing Canada of interfering in their internal affairs.”
Unless one of them would like to now claim that Canadian soil now belongs to them, then they cannot claim that travelling to Canada falls under the umbrella of “internal affairs”.
Rather, this is Canada having it’s internal affairs interfered with by the likes of Uganda, and the other countries mentioned in the article.
GO CANADA!! ^_^
Quick enough in holding their hands out for money make me sick – why we give money to places like Uganda without any demands doesn’t make sense.
well done canada
Funny isn’t it they want our money( big time) , our passports ,social benefits, our comfort and quality of life , our technology but they hate us and what represent , I’ll tell you what stay in your pig stall of countries you are not welcome here till you change your vision on human rights!
Well done Canada.
Uganda isn’t worthy of any more consideration.
Frankly I think to blame it all on any empire is bland stuff.
They, and any other country, has had plenty of time to adapt.
If of course the will is there.
Bravo Canada, bastion of common sense. Why did these bigots want to go to Canada anyway?
To appeal for more aid money no doubt.
Incidentally over the years I have met some intelligent and charming Ugandans, so it is a shame they have politicians who play to their own and their public’s populist instincts.
Backward assholes – well done Canada!
“Delegates from the two countries responded by accusing Canada of interfering in their internal affairs.”
This is not a direct attempt to interfere with their internal affairs, just a direct statement that Canada does not want to give people with those views a stage where they could promote their views.
Interfering with their internal affairs would be sending a group of religious minorities into the country to influence policy changes to enshrine discrimination against groups of its citizens. This would look like the Catholic Church and Evangelical Christians…. not Canada.
Yes the same U.S. evangelical christians who went to Uganda to urge them to make homosexuality a capitol criminal offense!
Good!!!!
Speaker Kadaga said Uganda does not “share the same values” as Canada. That is true! That is why Canada is a wealthy First World developed nation with freedom and respect for it’s citizens and Uganda is poor, backward Third World developing nation that encourages violence against some segments of it’s population, i.e. sexual minorities!
Not surprisingly, these Canadians are in the dark over the state of the gay rights debate in Uganda, never mind the availability of knowledgeable contacts. If anything, a level of tolerance has been propagated and members of the community have hope that soon they will be free to live and let live, within the local context. Every citizen is minding their own business. The Parliament Kadaga heads has halted the passing of the Bill on homosexuality only to be rewarded thus! Unless there is something about the colour of the delegation.
Robert Atuhairwe
Kampala
Trying to imply that this is merely a racist decision, bizarrely against only black politicians from one African country, is utterly ridiculous.
A degree of tolerance? I did a earch and it seems that the Kill Gays Bill, has been re-introduced to Parliament this year, Gay people remain criminalised in Uganda, with no serious prospect of decriminalisation let alone any an attempt to combaet hatred, and just this month a Ugandan lawmaker was demanding that anti-gay laws be enacted accross the entire African Continent.
I agree you can’t believe all that you read int he media but it does seem to contradict your suggestion. I assume you have greater knowledge of the situation on the ground in Uganda could you give us some more information? I for one would be genuinely interested to learn more.
“Not surprisingly, these Canadians are in the dark over the state of the gay rights debate in Uganda,”
Not as much in the dark as you, it seems.
Applaud Canada for doing this to an under-educated population of a country yet ram through legislation at home to give the federal government of canada the right to allow a inter-provincial oil pipeline to be bulit, against the will of the people and even with the environmental impact concerns….for the country of CHINA to feed their economy in the decades to come….and what is their human rights like?????????????
Canada, you cannot cherry-pick who you can be aggressive with on their human rights stands, its has to be all or none.
Firstly, Jason Kenney is the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, not the Minister of Justice. Secondly, Canada does not have full rights for LGBT people. There are wide discrepancies amongst the different Provinces and Territories. Gender Identity/Gender expression rights are not yet defined as grounds for protection under Canada’s Human Rights Act and Criminal Code, although legislation is being debated by this parliament.
Finally, Canada’s denial of visa rights is problematic, in that it makes of colonialism and may even cause a backlash in Uganda. It certainly plays into the hands of extremist politicians like David Bahati who try to claim that homosexuality is being imported into Africa from Europe and North America.
The best possible solution is for Uganda to work through this on its own. Other countries who support LGBT equality can help by fostering dialogue (as opposed to demagoguery) and giving some financial or logistical support Uganda excellent LGBT organizations.
Education is the key here. The higher the standard of education the better chance that country has a higher standard of rights for everyone not just GLB people. As noted, the West has higher standards of education and that would tally with the higher standard of GLB rights here and those behind are currently working on improvements. This is particularly evident in microcosm in the USA where New England leads the way both in Education and GLB rights. It is in the New England states where Marriage Equality has been achieved and those remaining states are working on also making the change Maine and Rhode Island come to mind. In the Southern states where education is poor GLBs are struggling to achieve any rights never mind Marriage Equality. Look anywhere in the world and this is the case.There are few countries if any where there is poor standards of education, where Gay rights are recognised. Another factor prevalent in almost all is the high incidence of religious delusion……
Gotta love those Canadians. Well done! Just wish the UK was as wise as you lot!
What do these odious bigots expect? To be welcomed with open arms? Good for Canada!
I say “Go Canada”. I’m proud to be Canadian and glad we stand up for human rights!
Sending the message.
cYou change your homophobic19 attitude. or you don’t come in.
Its that simple.
Typo correction:
Sending the message.
You change your homophobic5 attitude. or you don’t come in.
Its that simple.
“Ignorance and arrogance, that is how I would describe Rebecca Kadaga,”
For history buffs, Canada took in 6,000 refugees of South Asian origin when Idi Amin gave them 90 days to leave Uganda in 1972. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expulsion_of_Asians_from_Uganda
I have no problem telling hate-filled bigots of any stripe to stay home – why give them an international spotlight to spread their lies?
Finally, I invite you to read this link about Canada’s Foreign Minister. Canadian tradition is to leave politicians’ private lives out of public discussion. http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/Glass_closet-12617.aspx
canada-you are fantastic!!!!!
Please shut her off. No money, no tourists, Make doing business with her Government a crime of treason. Oh and selective murder would wonder for those of the lesser gene pools that provided this wigged out turd.
She complains abut being not granted a visa as though that was a bad thing. Maybe she needs to realise that no-one loves a bigot.
As a Canadian I am proud to live in a country where we have great freedom and human rights protection. On the world stage our government walks the walk and talks the talk of human rights.
In recent years we have apologized for our own atrocities to our own aboriginals, Japanese internment, residential schools.
But make no mistake! many of the rights LGBT people here enjoy like equal marriage and non discrimination, were conferred upon us by our previous governments
Our current government may appear to have a conscience. Our current government ministers may speak out and win brownie points. No one should be fooled into thinking that our current prime minister gives full support to his government on LGBT rights.
It is only reasonable that any country takes a moral stand against atrocities around the globe. For that alone Canadians are held in esteem. Yes our prime minister is evolving… but don’t be fooled by his about face on LGBT rights! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFbP
Surprise surprise… the link does not appear to work from here! Can still be viewed on youtube as Stephen Harper Gay Marriage
T people don’t enjoy non discrimination protection in Canada, and won’t ever if Harper’s lot get their way.
It would be interesting to know the degree of encouragement Ms Kadaga would allow anyone who wanted to argue in favour of SS marriage and equal rights for gay people in the Ugandan parliament. I suspect none, which makes her whinge about the Canadian attitude somewhat hypocritical.
I see… discriminate against one group and then say you are the victim. Sounds like a very intelligent woman
What everyone seems to forget regarding the treatment of the First Nations in the New World is that SMALLPOX wiped out most of them before any fighting could start. Africa, being of the Old World, had immunity.
Yes, the religious schools did horrible things in an effort to wipe out what was left of a culture, but the whole point of Colonialism was to do just that. People were heathen and less than human – it was the ignorant philosophy of the era. Fortunately, education and awareness are replacing theocratic discrimination, at least in some places…
I love being Canadian. We are a young country who knows that we are NOT: neither American nor British… just an evolving work in progress.
Well done Canada !! Why can’t they see there action are apartheid
Good for Canada, maybe the UK should be taking a leaf or two out of their book…
Well done Canada!!!
I bet the UK would be brave as to do so this!!!