{"id":206,"date":"2012-03-27T12:06:37","date_gmt":"2012-03-27T16:06:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/web.colby.edu\/contemporary-issues\/?page_id=206"},"modified":"2012-05-11T15:19:20","modified_gmt":"2012-05-11T19:19:20","slug":"lgtb-rights-anthropological-analysis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.colby.edu\/contemporary-issues\/lgtb-rights-anthropological-analysis\/","title":{"rendered":"LGBTQ Rights in Uganda: Anthropological Analysis"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In terms of homosexuality legislation in Uganda, Anthropology provides a number of vital perspectives other fields may not touch upon.\u00a0 First, it allows the reader unique insight into the historical context of a situation. \u00a0This allows us to understand the past, present, and future of an issue\u2014<\/p>\n

Past<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

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Before colonialism, homosexuality was practiced in Africa without serious detriment to the individual or the community.\u00a0\u00a0 However, Ugandans seem to have a sense of \u201camnesia\u201d as Kristen Cheney puts it.\u00a0 They refuse to acknowledge the following The Langi society included males who lived as women and married men, the Iteso, Bahim, Banyoro, and Baganda recognized homosexuality.\u00a0 In fact, it was fairly well-known that Kabaka Mwanga, a king of Baganda, was gay.<\/p>\n

However, Ugandans of today seem to ignore this history.\u00a0 This is mainly due to missionary influence upon the masses.\u00a0 Anthropology allows us to examine this influence and the missionaries\u2019 techniques of manipulation (the ability to redefine what Ugandan values and understanding of their own past were).\u00a0 The history of homosexuality recorded before colonization appears to have been effectively \u201cerased\u201d by missionaries of the past, and continues to be suppressed by Evangelicals of the present.<\/p>\n

Present<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

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Looking at this historical heterosexism through an anthropological lens, we can grasp two pertinent impacts it has had on Uganda.\u00a0 First, the missionaries\u2019 influence on the population allows us to gain further insight into the current development of anti-homosexuality legislation, namely, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill by describing the basis for Ugandan prejudice.<\/p>\n

Second, as Sylvia Tamale explains, \u201cbecause homosexuals in Uganda do not feel a sense of belonging in relation to the dominant culture, they have had to reconstruct affirming identities for themselves.\u201d\u00a0 This manifested in a term\u2014kuchu<\/em> with which Ugandan homosexuals identify.\u00a0 Out of the hatred in the community grew a unifying identity.<\/p>\n

Without an anthropological lens, we would not fully understand the complexity of Ugandan prejudice and its effects on the LGBTQ community.<\/p>\n

Future<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

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The main contribution I believe anthropology can make to Uganda that news and other sources do not is that of solutions.\u00a0 Kristen Cheney had strong beliefs about what type of action would be effective and appropriate in Uganda.\u00a0 These opinions were strongly rooted in her anthropological work and showed a deeper understanding of how aid efforts are received and executed.\u00a0 She believes the only way to productively help other countries is by supporting organizations based locally in those places.\u00a0 She proposes we make ourselves available, then wait until they let us know what they need.\u00a0 This way, we will not assume to know what is best for a community in which we do not live.\u00a0 Hopefully by keeping an anthropological outlook on the problem, foreign organizations can provide Ugandans with the resources necessary to ensure safety and equality for homosexuals.<\/p>\n

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