For those who have been patiently waiting for some scientific, authoritative vindication of their theories that homosexuality is immoral, a perversion or deviancy, not natural, etc., rejoice: Uganda’s ethics minister, James Nsaba Buturo, has just pronounced that homosexuality is “not natural in Uganda.” No doubt the rest of the civilized world will soon follow suit.
To put teeth into this irrefutable declaration, an Ugandan legislator, David Bahati, is sponsoring legislation to impose the death penalty on gays living with HIV and for other “gay offenses.”
According to USA TODAY, landlords who rent rooms or homes to gays could get seven years in prison if they fail to report them to authorities.
Also, anyone with “religious, political, economic and social authority” who fails to report anyone violating the law could face three years in prison under the legislative effort that has become known as “Kill the Gays Bill.”
Rachel Maddow discussed this issue with unlicensed “Gay-to-Straight Therapist” Richard Cohen, whose work on homosexuality has reportedly been used by Ugandan authorities “as one of their sources” for their legal decisions.
On the Maddow show, Cohen attempted to distance himself from ignorance about and prejudice against gays and from the Ugandan legislation.
To view the Maddox-Cohen debate, click here.
According to the Huffington Post:
During the segment, Maddow read passages from Cohen’s book, Coming Out Straight, including one based on discredited research:
Homosexuals are at least 12 times more likely to molest children than heterosexuals; homosexual teachers are at least 7 times more likely to molest a pupil; homosexual teachers are estimated to have committed at least 25 percent of pupil molestation; 40 percent of molestation assaults were made by those who engage in homosexuality.
Cohen acknowledged that he plans on withdrawing the quote from future printings so that it cannot be used against homosexuals in the propaganda war in Uganda. However, he struggled to remember that his book still includes race as a possible factor in homosexuality.
Maddow called the unlicensed “therapist” to task on other of his “made-up, fake authoritative stuff.”
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.