By Cathy Kristofferson, April 16, 2014
The AP is reporting plans to hold a mass anti-gay rally in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, have been cancelled. The two religious groups planning the rally announced last week it would be held on April 26th. The government-affiliated Addis Ababa Youth Forum and a religious group associated with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church reported an alarming increased rate of ‘homosexual acts’ had caused the need for the rally.
Chairman of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church group the Weyiniye Abune Tekelehaimanot Association, Dereje Negash, had previously told reporters at a press conference:
“Children are being raped by gay people in this country. … All in all, gay acts are against health, the law, religion and our culture, so we should break the silence and create awareness about it.”
Today, Negash said the cancellation is the result of people inside the church asking the government to prevent the rally.
Currently, same-sex acts are punishable by up to 15 years in prison or 25 years if convicted of infecting another person with HIV during same-sex acts in the country.
Also today, government spokesman Redwan Hussein, said the Ethiopian government does not support the anti-gay movements that have been building in the country. He said that the bill recently submitted, sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, which would have made gay sex crimes an unpardonable offense has now been dropped.
Maybe gay bashing isn’t so popular in Ethiopia after all. Let’s hope that sentiment spreads across the African continent.
For the record, THERE IS ZERO HISTORY of any gay person convicted or imprisoned in Ethiopia…Sorry if that fails to live up to Western racist ignorance lumping all Africa as one.
Western evangelical $$$ are sponsoring unknown loudmouths claiming to be “associated” with government or national church, which in turn are hyped by Western media…Please leave us alone!
Mimi are you trying to deny the threat of the impending anti-homosexuality law in Ethiopia that was just ditched? Or was that a figment of our collective imaginations? Are you denying the reality of this?: “The government-affiliated Addis Ababa Youth Forum and a religious group associated with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church reported an alarming increased rate of ‘homosexual acts’ had caused the need for the rally.” ???? Are you also denying that the law as it stands says “Currently, same-sex acts are punishable by up to 15 years in prison or 25 years if convicted of infecting another person with HIV during same-sex acts in the country.” ???? And who said any gay person had in fact been arrested as you seem to focus on such? Do you think that the mere fact that the law may not have been invoked serves to justify its existence at all? And who is clumping ALL OF AFRICA in an article that is indeed good news about Ethiopia and Ethiopia centric. Methinks you failed to read!!!!! er…. FOR THE RECORD me thinks you failed to read…
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
This is the way it should be!! Keep religion and government out of the private lives of law-abiding citizens!!
Are you denying the fact you have no evidence of any arrest or conviction for homosexuality in Ethiopia?
Are you denying Western evangelical groups are sponsoring global anti-gay movement?
Are you denying publicity motivated Bills are presented to Congress or Parliaments in Western world, even though zero chance of them being enacted into law?
Are you denying archaic laws exist as well in law books in Western world, but never enforced?
Are you just angry and intolerant not to even let others make an observation without attacking?
Yoga!
HERE ARE MY ANSWERS IN CAPS:
Are you denying the fact you have no evidence of any arrest or conviction for homosexuality in Ethiopia? OF COURSE I AM NOT DENYING IT – BUT THATS NOT THE TOPIC. THE TOPIC IS THERE IS NO NEW LAW NOR A RALLY. THAT FACT THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN ARRESTED UNDER THE LAW IS ALL THE MORE REASON TO ABOLISH IT – IF SLAVERY WAS STILL THE LAW OF THE USA AND THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE SLAVE WOULD THAT MAKE THE LAW RIGHT??? DUH
Are you denying Western evangelical groups are sponsoring global anti-gay movement? DUH READ THIS BLOG AND YOU WILL SEE 60% OF OUR WRITINGS ARE ABOUT THOSE DAMN US EVANGELICALS WHO HAVE CAUSED AFRICA’S HOMOPHOBIA.. DUH!!!!
Are you denying publicity motivated Bills are presented to Congress or Parliaments in Western world, even though zero chance of them being enacted into law? NOT MY TOPIC MAYBE YOURS WRITE YOUR OWN BLOG PIECE!! IRRELEVANT AND REGARDLESS – DOES NOT DEROGATE FROM WHAT WE SPEAK OF HERE.
Are you denying archaic laws exist as well in law books in Western world, but never enforced? SO WHAT DOES NOT MEAN ITS RIGHT!!!
Are you just angry and intolerant not to even let others make an observation without attacking? YOU ATTACKED!!! DID I SAY YOU ATTACKED? READ YOUR FIRST COMMENT-
Yoga! MEDITATE AND WRITE YOUR OWN BLOG MAY SERVE YOUR ANGRY RESPONSE
Reblogged this on JerBear's Queer World News, Views & More From The City Different – Santa Fe, NM.