Rachel Maddow, Uganda & Me - By: Don Schmierer

Never in a million years did I expect to see my face on MSNBC. But there I was, plain as day – white hair, tanned wrinkles, looking every bit the grandfather I am- in a photo posted on Rachel Maddow’s show last night. Unbeknownst to me, she had decided to discuss a conference I spoke at in Uganda several months ago.

As Ms. Maddow accurately recounted, I did go to Uganda last spring to speak at a conference about my book, An Ounce of Prevention: Preventing the Homosexual Condition in Today’s Youth. In fact, I’ve been to Uganda many times and have addressed countless audiences in several countries over the years – including the World Congress of Families in Geneva, Warsaw and in Amsterdam. As a counselor with more than 50 years of experience assisting those with many life-dominating issues, I speak not just about preventing the development of same-sex attractions, but also about promoting and demonstrating Christ’s love and compassion to the gay community.

This international experience, however, turned out to be a bit different. For starters, I didn’t know much about the conference when I agreed to speak there. At first I thought I was the only speaker and was surprised to hear that Caleb Lee Brundidge of the International Healing Foundation and Dr. Scott Lively of Defend the Family International would be speaking as well. I disagree with several of their respective organization’s beliefs about this issue and have found several comments to be inflammatory. In retrospect, my decision to speak there might have been different, but one thing I did know was that Ugandans needed to hear a redemptive, compassionate view of this issue. So I set off to do my best in providing it. When my portion of the conference was over, a Ugandan gay bishop complimented me and remarked with gratitude that I “really understood” the gay community as well as the true nature of this issue.

Months later, as I scanned news reports I became aware of Uganda’s horrible Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009 – legislation that would punish homosexual behavior by death and would force all those who suspect such behavior to report them. The bill warrants outrage and shock from all groups and individuals to be sure, but I was surprised to hear Ms. Maddow assert that my message somehow contributed to “inspiring” this legislation – a claim that could not be further from the truth.

What is true, however, and worth all the news media coverage possible, is the tragic nature of and heartbreaking potential this bill holds. I remember the gay bishop I spoke with and am deeply concerned that if this legislation were to go into effect, he would be in danger. I am grieved that the church and social workers I met may now be faced with the gut-wrenching decision of whether or not to turn in a gay friend or loved one. It should not be so. That is why I have signed on to the letter below in speaking out against this legislation. Please join me, and Rachel Maddow by extension, in voicing your concern over this bill.

***

Here is the letter and relevant links follow:

November 16, 2009

President & Mrs. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
c/o Principal Private Secretary, Amelia Kyambadde
State House Nakasero
P.O. Box 24594
Kampala, Uganda

Dear President & Mrs. Museveni,

As evangelical Christian leaders dedicated to advancing the truths of the Bible worldwide, we commend your work to promote ethics in Uganda. In addition, your efforts to eradicate the HIV/AIDS epidemic have been appropriately praised internationally and we are praying for your continued success.

We want to humbly share our concerns regarding The Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009, introduced before the Ugandan parliament on October 14, 2009. First, we believe that sexual crimes against children, homosexual or heterosexual, are the most serious of offenses and should be punished accordingly. Homosexual behavior in consensual relationships, however, is another matter.

While we do not believe that homosexual behavior is what God intended for individuals, we believe that deprivation of life and liberty is not an appropriate or helpful response to this issue. Furthermore, the Christian church must be a safe, compassionate place for gay-identified people as well as those who are confused about and conflicted by their sexuality. If homosexual behavior and knowledge of such behavior is criminalized and prosecuted, as proposed in this bill, church and ministry leaders will be unable to assist hurting men, women and youth who might otherwise seek help in addressing this personal issue. The Christian church cannot and should not condone homosexual living or gay-identified clergy within its leadership, but it must be permitted to extend the love and compassion of Christ to all. We believe that this legislation would make this mission a difficult if not impossible task to carry out.

Many of us and those we know and work with have personally struggled with unwanted homosexual attractions and once lived as gay individuals, but have since found a new identity in Jesus Christ and have gone on to live lives that reflect the teaching of the Christian faith. We sincerely believe that such transformations cannot best be achieved in an environment of government coercion where the vital support, care and compassion of others in the Christian community is discouraged and prosecuted.

Please consider the influence this law will have upon those who may seek help in dealing with this difficult issue as well as church and ministry leaders committed to demonstrating the compassion of Christ to all. We are praying for you, for this matter and for the people of Uganda.

Sincerely,

Alan Chambers
President of Exodus International, Orlando, Florida
Former homosexual

Randy Thomas
Executive Vice President, Exodus International, Orlando, Florida
Former homosexual

Christopher Yuan
Adjunct Instructor, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois
HIV Survivor
AIDS Activist
Former homosexual

Warren Throckmorton, Ph.D.
Member of the Clinical Advisory Board of the American Association of Christian Counselors
Grove City, Pennsylvania

Don Schmierer
Board Member of Exodus International
Founder of His Servants Ministry
Member of the Clinical Advisory Board of the American Association of Christian Counselors
Sacramento, California

MORE:

Don Schmierer Added to Letter Opposing Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Charisma News Online Picks Up Ugandan Story

Exodus International Sends Letter Opposing Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Martin Ssempa Should Renounce Support for Proposed Ugandan Criminalization of Homosexuality

Ugandan Government Poised to Harshly Prosecute Homosexuals

PLUS:

Dr. Warren Throckmorton has started a Facebook group as a central point for news and information on the subject.

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This entry was posted on December 3, 2009 at 7:37 pm and is filed under Around the World, Church, Culture, Educate, Featured, Gay, Homosexuality, Media Mentions, Post-gay, Television, Uganda. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.