|
|
 |
|
|
Obama's gay marriage endorsement not popular in africa by ferujkll sdff
|
|
|
Obama's gay marriage endorsement not popular in africa |
|
|
|
|
|
Business,Business News,Business Opportunities
|
|
DAKAR - American President Barack Obama's public support forsame-sex marriage has sparked criticism in sub-Saharan Africa,where gay men and women continue to face discrimination, violenceand jail time in many countries because of their sexualorientation. President Barack Obama's endorsement for gay marriage has prompteddebate in the United States and condemnation in many sub-SaharanAfrican countries. Desappointment The president's immense popularity on the continent is taking ahit, even in his father's native Kenya, says Nairobi residentVincent Ondera. "President Obama, I just can't imagine that he supports gaymarriage.
Why do I say so? In fact, I'm very much bitter withhim, the president of the USA supporting gay marriage? Lesbian? No, it can't happen" Homosexual acts are illegal in many sub-Saharan African countrieslike Kenya. Openly gay individuals on the continent faceimprisonment, discrimination and physical violence. Role of religion Many Africans, like Kenyan pastor Nelson Otieno, cite religion asthe source of disdain for gay marriage. "I would say to our beloved president of America to rethinkabout the statement that he made and know very well that it isagainst our religion; we as Christians, we cannot support gays atall costs," said Otieno.
In Senegal, which is 95 percent Muslim, angry mobs have dug up thecorpses of suspected homosexuals from Muslim cemeteries beforedragging them through the streets and depositing them at theirfamilies' doorsteps. A housekeeper in Dakar, Sokhna Fall, says marriage between twopeople of the same gender would sully this country and endanger itsprosperity. Islam says marriage can only be between a man and awoman, she says. Senegal is a Muslim country that has always knownpeace and unity and she says they cannot allow homosexuality todestabilize it.
Western import? Many Senegalese reject homosexuality as being "imported fromthe West." Indeed, pressure from the United States, theUnited Nations and other international powers to protect gay rightshas only further entrenched homophobia among many in Africa. Threats to withdraw foreign aid have been met with defiance. Amie Weeks, a mother of four in the Liberian capital, Monrovia,said gay marriage is out of the question. "Very, very wrong. We are not in favor of it at all.
So ifthey want to withdraw their support, let them. God will make wayfor us because God would never be in favor of such a thing,"she said. Even in South Africa, the only sub-Saharan African country to havea law legalizing same-sex unions, political analyst EusebiusMcKaiser says homophobia and opposition to gay marriage are thenorm. "In South Africa, we had a revolutionary break with the pastwhich is why our legislation in favor of gay rights is so much moreprogressive, even though it is ahead of social attitudes," hesaid.
Hope among homosexuals Still, Obama's endorsement of gay marriage has sparked joy and hopeamong homosexual men and women in Africa. Seydou Djamil Ba is one of a handful of openly gay men in Senegal,where homosexual acts are punishable by five years in jail. Violence and death threats have forced him to flee abroad twice inthe past five years. Ba says he wishes people in Africa, particularly in Senegal, couldunderstand that homosexuality is not the end of the world. He saysgays are people with the same rights as everyone else.
He saysObama has set an example that he hopes other world leaders willfollow. For now, however, Ba said he would settle for the right to live hislife in peace and without fear. I am a professional writer from Power Distribution Equipment, which contains a great deal of information about 40 hp tractor , soccer shoes youth, welcome to visit!
Related Articles -
40 hp tractor, soccer shoes youth,
|
Rate This Article  |
|
|
|
|
|
Do you Agree or Disagree? Have a Comment? POST IT!
| Reader Opinions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Author Login |
|
|
 |
Advertiser Login
ADVERTISE HERE NOW!
Limited Time $60 Offer!
90 Days-1.5 Million Views
|
|
TIM FAY
After 60-plus years of living, I am just trying to pass down some of the information that I have lea...more
|
|
|
|
|
GENE MYERS
Author of four books and two screenplays; frequent magazine contributor. I have four other books "in...more
|
|
|
|
|
LAURA JEEVES
At LeadGenerators, we specialise in content-led Online Marketing Strategies for our clients in the t...more
|
|
|
|
|
ALEX BELSEY
I am the editor of QUAY Magazine, a B2B publication based in the South West of the UK. I am also the...more
|
|
|
|
|
SUSAN FRIESEN
Located in the lower mainland of B.C., Susan Friesen is a visionary brand strategist, entrepreneur, ...more
|
|
|
|
|
STEPHEN BYE
Steve Bye is currently a fiction writer, who published his first novel, ‘Looking Forward Through the...more
|
|
|
|
|
SHALINI MITTAL
A postgraduate in Fashion Technology. Shalini is a writer at heart! Writing for her is an expression...more
|
|
|
|
|
ADRIAN JOELE
I have been involved in nutrition and weight management for over 12 years and I like to share my kn...more
|
|
|
|
|
JAMES KENNY
James is a Research Enthusiast that focuses on the understanding of how things work and can be impro...more
|
|
|
|
