| @hollabackitsobi It was hardly a mindless "jab at Africa". My comment was just a reflection on the often violent homophobia which currently prevails on the continent. They are a long way behind in LGBT rights and show few signs of overtaking the Western countries you are referring to. In fact, some countries, such as Uganda are attempting to have the death penalty introduced for gay people. Take a look at the world map on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_by_country_or_territory. You can see that it is justified not to expect Africa or the Middle East to lead the way in this area. The really sad bit is that anti-gay sentiment is being inflamed by American Evangelical Christians, teaching audiences who idolise them that homosexuality is evil, and spreading slander that homosexuals are rapists and paedophiles. Stories like this are not uncommon - http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/world/africa/04uganda.html. These missionaries are treated like pop stars and instead of spreading a message of peace and love; they are spreading one of hate and animosity. In countries with low education they are taking advantage of people's faith to get homosexuals persecuted. You claim that other Western countries are in the "same boat" but there are many levels of gay tolerance. For instance, as lucia and bampote have mentioned, the UK isn't included in the quiz. However gay couples in the UK do have access to identical rights as heterosexual couples through a civil union. It is a marriage in all but name. In most of Africa it is a criminal offence that you will go to jail for. Just because two countries aren't on this quiz, doesn't mean they are equally close to accepting gay marriage. There is a big difference between the general attitudes in developed countries and those of Africa. Africa has a long journey ahead of it before changing these attitudes sufficiently to enact constitutional changes that give homosexuals truly equal rights. That is all I was getting at. I apologise if it sounded like a random, baseless attack. |
Instrumental Songs
Scrabble-Legal Countries
First and Last by Continent
