Today is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. Yet only recently, Ugandan legislators passed the draconian anti-homosexuality bill, which they justified by saying that this is to protect our children and our country. This is a bill that includes the death penalty for some same-sex acts and 20-year sentences for promoting homosexuality.
It appears that the legislators’ definition of "our children" excludes those young people who are gay. As a mother of a gay son, I find this insulting and upsetting. When I remember my labor pains that brought my child into the world, my stomach ties into a painful knot. Nothing was different about the pregnancy and labor of my three children. I love all my children the same.
No legislation can change how I feel, nor will I accept that one of my three children is of less value because of sexual orientation. I am furious when I think about the fact that, according to this bill, one of my children has no right to exist and can be hunted down and killed like an animal. The world should know and do better than this.
About the author
Lois Chingandu
Lois Chingandu is the interim executive director of Frontline AIDS. A midwife by profession, Lois has more than 20 years of experience leading organizations working to prevent HIV and advocating for sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, and greater civil society engagement in public health in southern Africa.