Friday, December 18, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Say NO to Anti-Human Rights Bill in Uganda
1193 Signatures
[Sign Petition]
Published by Holly on Dec 09, 2009
Category: Human Rights
Region: GLOBAL
Target: President Museveni, Members of the Commonwealth, Members of the UN
Web site: http://www.calebshope.org
Background (Preamble):
Do the right thing. Sign this petition and pass it on.
Uganda wants to introduce a new anti-gay bill. This bill allows for anyone who's been found HIV positive to be charged with the death penalty. I find this shocking coming from a country who's people have already suffered and have been tortured, enslaved, and persecuted in a 23 year long war with rebels.
This bill is being encouraged - pressured - to move forward by evangelical groups that are providing "aid":
http://www.thefamily.org/en/
http://www.familycareuganda.com/
'Human-rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the bill. They say it is a product of a campaign by evangelical churches and anti-gay groups that has led to death threats and physical assaults against Ugandans suspected of being gay.'
Caleb's Hope, along with countless other grassroots NGOs, works in Northern Uganda with women and children living with HIV/AIDS. This new bill could greatly impact the lives of those we are trying to assist.
Not only that, it's a fundamental human right to live free from persecution, violence and discrimination based on your sexual orientation.
To read more about the proposed bill: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gNOsUTPIL6zoTWAGRTzPqmx3__IgD9CFBHJ00
The bill is hateful, shocking, disgusting and appalling. Stephen Lewis, former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa & head of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, puts it best: http://www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/news_item.cfm?news=3212
In case anyone needs a refresher, here's the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (courtesy of the outstanding Human Rights Action Center). To read the declaration: http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
Petition:
Dear President Yoweri Museveni, members of the Commonwealth, and members of the UN:
We, the undersigned, call on you and the Ugandan government to re-examine the proposed anti-homosexual bill and the intentions for creating such a bill.
The ideas, belief systems and mandate from which the bill stems are not only severly archaic but in direct violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights carried out by the United Nations. The arguments and opinions by supporters of this proposed bill are unfactual, ignorant, delusive, perverse, colonialistic, and grossly misinformed.
You do not need to bow to the hateful and conditional ways of certain people and organizations (eg The Family) in order to get aid and support for your people.
The HIV/AIDS crisis is very real, as you know, and choosing to pass such a bill will only aggravate matters and jeopardize the progress of Uganda in the fight against AIDS. If one can face persecution merely by testing HIV positive, then very few Ugandans will step forward to be tested and seek treatment.
Stephen Lewis, head of The Stephen Lewis Foundation is quoted as saying that although there are many countries that still have laws against sodomy, that "nothing is as stark, punitive and redolent of hate as the bill in Uganda. Nothing comes close to such an omnibus violation of the human rights of sexual minorities.”
To further quote Mr. Lewis: “The credibility of the Commonwealth is hanging by a spider's thread,” he said. “The putative legislation declares war on homosexuality. … What is put at risk here – beyond the threat of the death penalty for HIV-positive homosexuals – is the entire apparatus of AIDS treatment, prevention and care.”
We couldn't agree more. The credibility of the Ugandan government and of the Commonwealth ARE hanging by a spider's thread.
We cannot support a government that wishes to take 10 steps backwards not only in the issue of basic human rights but in the fight against AIDS.
And for a country that has seen so much suffering in a 23 year long war - to intentionally create more suffering on its people is a travesty. Many of us care deeply about Uganda and its people; want to support and see the nation thrive. And because of that, we cannot and will not support this bill.
Sign the petition
[Sign Petition]
Published by Holly on Dec 09, 2009
Category: Human Rights
Region: GLOBAL
Target: President Museveni, Members of the Commonwealth, Members of the UN
Web site: http://www.calebshope.org
Background (Preamble):
Do the right thing. Sign this petition and pass it on.
Uganda wants to introduce a new anti-gay bill. This bill allows for anyone who's been found HIV positive to be charged with the death penalty. I find this shocking coming from a country who's people have already suffered and have been tortured, enslaved, and persecuted in a 23 year long war with rebels.
This bill is being encouraged - pressured - to move forward by evangelical groups that are providing "aid":
http://www.thefamily.org/en/
http://www.familycareuganda.com/
'Human-rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the bill. They say it is a product of a campaign by evangelical churches and anti-gay groups that has led to death threats and physical assaults against Ugandans suspected of being gay.'
Caleb's Hope, along with countless other grassroots NGOs, works in Northern Uganda with women and children living with HIV/AIDS. This new bill could greatly impact the lives of those we are trying to assist.
Not only that, it's a fundamental human right to live free from persecution, violence and discrimination based on your sexual orientation.
To read more about the proposed bill: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gNOsUTPIL6zoTWAGRTzPqmx3__IgD9CFBHJ00
The bill is hateful, shocking, disgusting and appalling. Stephen Lewis, former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa & head of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, puts it best: http://www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/news_item.cfm?news=3212
In case anyone needs a refresher, here's the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (courtesy of the outstanding Human Rights Action Center). To read the declaration: http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
Petition:
Dear President Yoweri Museveni, members of the Commonwealth, and members of the UN:
We, the undersigned, call on you and the Ugandan government to re-examine the proposed anti-homosexual bill and the intentions for creating such a bill.
The ideas, belief systems and mandate from which the bill stems are not only severly archaic but in direct violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights carried out by the United Nations. The arguments and opinions by supporters of this proposed bill are unfactual, ignorant, delusive, perverse, colonialistic, and grossly misinformed.
You do not need to bow to the hateful and conditional ways of certain people and organizations (eg The Family) in order to get aid and support for your people.
The HIV/AIDS crisis is very real, as you know, and choosing to pass such a bill will only aggravate matters and jeopardize the progress of Uganda in the fight against AIDS. If one can face persecution merely by testing HIV positive, then very few Ugandans will step forward to be tested and seek treatment.
Stephen Lewis, head of The Stephen Lewis Foundation is quoted as saying that although there are many countries that still have laws against sodomy, that "nothing is as stark, punitive and redolent of hate as the bill in Uganda. Nothing comes close to such an omnibus violation of the human rights of sexual minorities.”
To further quote Mr. Lewis: “The credibility of the Commonwealth is hanging by a spider's thread,” he said. “The putative legislation declares war on homosexuality. … What is put at risk here – beyond the threat of the death penalty for HIV-positive homosexuals – is the entire apparatus of AIDS treatment, prevention and care.”
We couldn't agree more. The credibility of the Ugandan government and of the Commonwealth ARE hanging by a spider's thread.
We cannot support a government that wishes to take 10 steps backwards not only in the issue of basic human rights but in the fight against AIDS.
And for a country that has seen so much suffering in a 23 year long war - to intentionally create more suffering on its people is a travesty. Many of us care deeply about Uganda and its people; want to support and see the nation thrive. And because of that, we cannot and will not support this bill.
Sign the petition
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
A Scientific Case For Gay Marriage (And Against Divorce): It Makes You Happier
http://www.queerty.com/a-scientific-case-for-gay-marriage-and-against-divorce-it-makes-you-happier-2009
Reviewing an astounding 34,493 people over 15 countries (or, rather, reviewing studies of those people), clinical psychologist Kate Scott has some great news for newlyweds: You're in for a lifetime of happiness. Just don't fuck it up.
Risks of depression, drug abuse, and anxiety plummet when two people get married, regardless of gender, Scott's research finds. And it doesn't even matter if the bride's mother-in-law wore white to the wedding, or nobody bought that new flatware set off the gift registry.
Just don't separate or divorce, because then the Sads will return.
"What makes this investigation unique and more robust is the sample is so large and across so many countries and the fact that we have data not only on depression… but also on anxiety and substance use disorders," Scott said in a statement.
"In addition, we were able to look at what happens to mental health in marriage, both in comparison with never getting married, and with ending marriage."
Scott said that the study found that getting married, compared to not getting married, was good for the mental health of both genders, not just women, as previous studies had found.
The study, however, did find that men are less likely to become depressed in their first marriage than women, a factor Scott said was probably linked to the traditional gender roles at home, as other WMH surveys have shown that as women get better educated, depression rates tend to fall.
The other gender difference the study found is that getting married reduces risk of substance use disorders more for women than for men. Scott said this may be explained by the fact that women are usually the primary caregiver for young children.
However, the downside of marriage, the University of Otago study shows, is that ending it has a negative impact on both genders.
"What our study points to is that the marital relationship offers a lot of mental health benefits for both men and women, and that the distress and disruption associated with ending marriage can make people vulnerable to developing mental disorders," Scott said.
But seeing as how marriage equality opponents do not, by definition, want what's best for gays, it's not like they're going to get behind marriage to improve homos' mental health.
Reviewing an astounding 34,493 people over 15 countries (or, rather, reviewing studies of those people), clinical psychologist Kate Scott has some great news for newlyweds: You're in for a lifetime of happiness. Just don't fuck it up.
Risks of depression, drug abuse, and anxiety plummet when two people get married, regardless of gender, Scott's research finds. And it doesn't even matter if the bride's mother-in-law wore white to the wedding, or nobody bought that new flatware set off the gift registry.
Just don't separate or divorce, because then the Sads will return.
"What makes this investigation unique and more robust is the sample is so large and across so many countries and the fact that we have data not only on depression… but also on anxiety and substance use disorders," Scott said in a statement.
"In addition, we were able to look at what happens to mental health in marriage, both in comparison with never getting married, and with ending marriage."
Scott said that the study found that getting married, compared to not getting married, was good for the mental health of both genders, not just women, as previous studies had found.
The study, however, did find that men are less likely to become depressed in their first marriage than women, a factor Scott said was probably linked to the traditional gender roles at home, as other WMH surveys have shown that as women get better educated, depression rates tend to fall.
The other gender difference the study found is that getting married reduces risk of substance use disorders more for women than for men. Scott said this may be explained by the fact that women are usually the primary caregiver for young children.
However, the downside of marriage, the University of Otago study shows, is that ending it has a negative impact on both genders.
"What our study points to is that the marital relationship offers a lot of mental health benefits for both men and women, and that the distress and disruption associated with ending marriage can make people vulnerable to developing mental disorders," Scott said.
But seeing as how marriage equality opponents do not, by definition, want what's best for gays, it's not like they're going to get behind marriage to improve homos' mental health.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
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