Selling out on rights

The new Uganda anti-gay law can get one into deep trouble quickly. Suppose you protest this law. You would be convicted of the "related offense" of attempting to promote homosexuality. The penalty might be acceptable and, in the spirit of conscientious objector, worth the price. Suppose you do that a couple more times. Then you are convicted of being a "serial offender," one who is guilty of aggravated homosexuality. Penalty: life in prison. Meaning, you can't even protest the law.

Scott Lively is a nasty homophobe and one of the Fundies who went to Uganda five years ago to stir things up, resulting in this law. His opinion of the law: It won't be so bad. The law may sound harsh, but courts are usually pretty lenient.

Tell that to the 200 people who were outed -- name, address, occupation -- by the notorious Ugandan tabloid Red Pepper.

Several nations have declared they will withhold aid to Uganda, starting with Norway, Denmark, and Netherlands. I don't have a list of them all. In addition, the World Bank is delaying a substantial loan. The cost is being felt in Uganda. The currency is starting to drop. Global companies, who want to maintain their gay-friendly image (and protect their gay employees) may slow down, stop, or even pull out their investments. Alas, waiting in the wings are such countries as Russia and China.

James Schneider, in an article for The Independent, thinks the West's response to Uganda is wrong and likely to do more harm than good, though Uganda isn't an angel. We sexual minorities, along with women, are quite aware that governments have had a long habit of sticking its noses into the sex lives of its citizens. But it is new to see sexuality a part of foreign policy.

The West says our response is because of our commitment to human rights. But why wasn't the West this worked up when Uganda's military committed crimes at home and in nearby Congo? There wasn't much reaction to President Museveni's power grabs, flawed elections, arrests of opposition leaders, attacks on protesters, corruption scandals, increased surveillance, and approving a law that arrests women for incorrect clothes. It seems Obama (and other Western leaders) are merely burnishing the progressive credentials to keep constituents happy.

Yes, Museveni is also doing it for political reasons. And the sexual minorities of Uganda will suffer greatly. Gay rights leaders are thankful for our support, but they fear they will be the scapegoats when leaders feel the economic or international pinch.

When Western leaders are inconsistent in their condemnation of abuses of rights they blunt their argument. Support gay rights but not voter rights and your reasons for those rights become meaningless. Outsiders see the willingness to sell out on rights for political or strategic interests.

Museveni is telling his people that the West is promoting homosexuality and are social imperialists. If we get around to speaking out against all those other abuses Museveni can again accuse us of promoting homosexuality and social imperialism. The West is playing into his hands.

In the comments Schneider clarifies his main point: The West should not keep quiet about the anti-gay law. It should, however, be consistent and make noise about the other rights abuses. And while you're at it, start making noise about other rights abusers, such as Saudi Arabia.