At the Commonwealth Heads Of Government summit in Trinidad and Tobago this past weekend, the subject of Uganda's proposed anti-gay law was raised in private by both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Uganda chaired the summit, and there were hopes that the issue might be more publicly raised – possibly even considering suspending Uganda's membership in the Commonwealth – though eventually the issue of climate change dominated the agenda. 

 

After question period today, Xtra.ca's federal politics reporter Dale Smith spoke to the Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae and the NDP's LGBT critic Bill Siksay.

Bob Rae:
Q: Was it enough for the Prime Minister to discuss the issue in private with the President of Uganda, or should he have made a more public condemnation?
A: I don’t know what else the Prime Minister did. I do know that he spoke vigorously with the President of Uganda. Canada’s position is in no doubt – it’s been stated on the floor of the House of Commons. I think we’re all wrestling with how do we deal with governments that have passed laws that are deeply homophobic, and not just homophobic but deeply prejudicial to the very notion of human rights itself. It’s no longer the expression of a moral choice or a preference, if you like. It really does speak to the ability of people to be themselves. Sexuality is a very important way for people to express themselves, and when you say that how a certain percentage of the population expresses itself is illegal, and is subject to a prison sentence, and is subject to terrible punishment, it’s a deep offence against the human rights of all of us, and I think it’s something which we all have to be profoundly concerned about. Unfortunately, it’s not confined to Uganda.

Bill Siksay:
Q: Did you find the Prime Minister’s response adequate, to have a private chat rather than do something more publicly?
A: I think it would have been better to have the public opportunity, but I don’t know what the dynamics are for getting something on the agenda at a Commonwealth Heads Of Government meeting. I am very happy, very pleased that the Prime Minister took the initiative to at least have the private conversation.

Q: Does it say that to have it as a private conversation is that this is something that can’t be discussed in polite company?
A: Lest you scare the horses? I don’t know – I hope not. I’m not experienced enough in international diplomacy and those kinds of meetings. I would expect that those kinds of meeting, the agendas are set a long time ahead, so I don’t know. You’re right – it would have been better if it had been a public discussion, but at least the Prime Minister has made it clear directly to the government of Uganda and the [President] of Uganda, Canadians’ concerns about this legislation, and I think he deserves points for doing that.

***

Dale Smith blogs every weekday at Hill Queeries, Xtra.ca's federal politics blog. 

It's not often we get to praise Prime Minister Stephen Harper around these parts (umm, like, never!) but this weekend, he boldly went where no Obama has gone before in condemning Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni for his government's proposed new anti-gay laws. The bills would jail gay people for life (with a death penalty for anyone who transmits HIV) and would even jail others for not turning in any gay people they might know.  Here's Harper to the rescue:

"I did raise it directly with the president of Uganda and indicated Canada's deep concern, strong opposition and the fact we deplore these kinds of measures."

Oooooh!  I'm sure Museveni took one look into Harper's beady, dead eyes and felt the full, passionate weight of international law bearing down on him.

Well, maybe not.  But hey, at least Canada did something.  Obama's Secretary-of-State Hillary Clinton was silent on the issue but Rick Warren, Obama's favourite purpose-driven pastor, appeared on Meet the Press this weekend and, given his support for African AIDS relief, had this to say about Uganda's death penalty:

"As a pastor, my job is to encourage, to support. I never take sides."

Man, I hope never to be stuck behind this guy at a deli counter.  Corned beef or turkey?  Who could possibly say?  Here's a taste of Warren's famous Switzerland style in action, around this time last year:

Such encouragement.  Such support.

Guys like Warren and Harper and even Obama represent the new, blander face of homophobia. They may privately feel just sick about gay people losing their jobs, their homes or even their lives but it would be just be so rude to say so!  As Warren explained, "it is not my personal calling as a pastor in America to comment or interfere in the political process of other nations."

No, even in the face of homicide, we must remain objective and polite and never, ever interfere -- though our neutral leaders will, of course, cast glares of disapproval at those terribly outspoken lesbians and gay men who dare to advocate on their own behalf.  Why can't they be nice?  Everything would be fine if these Ugandan gays could just keep silent.  As we look to another World AIDS Day tomorrow, however, that's a song we've heard one time too many:

Alistair Newton’s Ecce Homo production of The Pastor Phelps Project made huge headlines during the Summerworks Theatre Festival last summer. Newton is reviving the play for a single performance at Uof T on Tue, Dec 1.

“It is potentially the blackest satire you can possibly imagine,” says Newton. “We don’t hold back, it doesn’t pull any punches.”

Aside from earning rave reviews, you may remember that last summer Fred Phelps, patriarch of the crotchety god-hates-randomly Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), threatened to send his gay-hating god-squad from its Kansas home to picket Newton’s play.

A hundred or so Toronto homos (and their enthusiasts) showed up to counter-protest but the Phelps crew never arrived. It was a fun night anyway.

Check it out.

Incidentally, WBC made headlines more recently for following Adam Lambert around on this summer’s American Idol tour. They’re like bizarro-groupies.

Why is Newton remounting the production now and only for one night? Here’s what he has to say:

“When I did the show the first time I had a few people say me, ‘Why are doing your gay issue play you live in Toronto? What right do you have to be talking about gay rights?

In light of the murder of Christopher Skinner…  Actually just the other day I was on a date in Dundas West and somebody yelled, ‘Die faggot,’ at me for holding hands with my boyfriend.

There’s an irony there in that we’re hosting World Pride and we had a hate crime murder. It engages with those ideas but is also a deconstruction of the reaction of left-wing voice that would shut down freedom of expression and censor Fred to try to protect themselves.

Censorship is not just a sliding slippery slope. It’s like a big chasm. It’s why I’m so obsessed with freedom of expression being for everyone or for no one. That Adam Lambert thing was so innocuous and so safe. There was so much sexual imagery in the rest of that broadcast but as soon as it’s gay it becomes this thing we have to protect our children from. I don’t like that pastor Fred called me a fag on the internet but the alternative was worse.

Phelps is so useful as a conduit to discuss ideas that are important like about religion and homophobia and censorship and freedom of speech. But on his own it’s irrelevant to waste your time on 70 people in Kansas with all the trappings of a cult.

The Pastor Phelps Project: a fundamentalist cabaret
Tues, Dec 1, 7:00pm Robert Gill Theatre
214 College St, 3rd Fl
University of Toronto
Pay what you can general admission at the door.



 

Brendan Burke made waves in the sports world when he publicly came out this week. The 20-year-old son of Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke has reignited a national discussion on homophobia in sports.

TSN spoke to Brendan Burke and his father this week. "Things like gay slurs... I think once players realize that there could be a gay person next to them or that there are gay people around them — they'll stop using it," says Brendan Burke. 

Watch the TSN segment below:

Apparently domestic violence is okay with ABC, but a gay kiss? No way.

Just days after cancelling Adam Lambert's scheduled appearance on Good Morning America, the ABC show announced it will host Chris Brown for an interview and performance next week. 

ABC cancelled Lambert's interview following his performance at the American Music Awards last weekend. The network said it was uncomfortable with Lambert's performance, which featured a gay kiss and some face/crotch grinding with a male backup dancer.

Brown was recently convicted of assaulting his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna, in an attack earlier this year. He was sentenced to five years of probation and 1,400 hours of community service.

An ABC rep tried to deflect criticism, saying that Brown was booked before Lambert's AMA performance. But really -- that's a weak excuse. An early booking didn't stop them from cancelling on Lambert. ABC should step up and admit what was really at play when they ditched Lambert: homophobia.

Listen to fab magazine's interview with Lambert, in which he talks about the AMAs, sexuality and censorship.