Sodomy books invade schools
http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3692&Itemid=59
Written by Michael Mubangizi
THE OBSERVER, Monday, 08 June 2009 06:38
It states that we are all born homosexuals and that it is normal for teenagers to be sexually attracted to peers of the same sex. This book was distributed to schools and now the government is struggling to withdraw it
The government is investigating circumstances under which a book with content that promotes homosexuality was distributed to peer- educators in schools.
About 15,000 copies of the controversial book, The Teenager’s Toolkit, some of them in Luo, are in circulation.
An official of the Ministry of Education and Sports has told The Observer that the ministry was never part of the publication whose origin has been traced to Unicef, the UN agency that promotes education and health of children.
Of particular concern to the Ministry of Education are some sections in the book that state that it is normal for children to get sexually attracted to peers of the same sex because “we are born homosexuals.”
The first alarm over this book was raised about two months ago by the Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity, Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, when he told Parliament that Unicef-Uganda is one of the agencies promoting homosexuality in schools through books.
Buturo told The Observer last week that the UN agency had since apologised and offered to withdraw all copies of the book from circulation.
The apology followed a meeting that Unicef held with three ministers; of Health, of Gender, Labour and Social Development as well as Buturo.
“We met them (Unicef) and they expressed regret. They also agreed to withdraw the books and work with us in producing the right material,” Buturo said on phone.
The spokesman of Ministry of Education, Aggrey Kibenge, said in a separate interview, that the ministry is investigating how and where the books were distributed and parties involved. “We are also advising head teachers of schools where the books were distributed to disregard and withdraw them.”
“The Ministry of Education had no say in its compilation and distribution,” he added.
Nsaba Buturo told Parliament on April 14 that several other agencies such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Frontline Human Rights Defenders and East Horn of Africa Human Rights were promoting homosexuality.
These organisations, he alleged, were working with local groups that depend on them for funds, to spread homosexuality in Uganda.
BORN HOMO?
The 120-page book reads on page 86: “Many people are sexually attracted to people of the same sex…we are born with these feelings about who we like sexually, and who we do not like sexually. It is natural.”
The book adds: “It is quite normal when you are growing up to fall in love with some one of your own sex.”
The book then justifies same sex relations saying it is ideal when one is, “in a place where they do not meet people of the opposite sex for example in school hostels.”
It adds that homosexuality is okay where one is, “forced to have sex with someone of the same sex because the other person is violent or because they need money or food.” The book, specifically written for teenagers (between 15-19 years) adds that people with sexual feelings for people of the same sex are often unhappy because, “they do not understand their own feelings.”
It implores peer educators to support teenagers who aren’t “sure about their sexual feelings” and “support someone who knows that he or she is a gay or lesbian, but afraid to tell any one.”
The book also encourages young people to love lesbians and gay people. “The important thing is to be open-minded and to show love and respect to all your friends.”
DISOWNED
The book acknowledges “valuable contributions” from the ministries of Health, Gender Labour and Social Development and bears the Court of Arms that portrays it as a government publication.
But Buturo says government was never part of it. “It is not a government publication. None of those ministries and government agencies were consulted as the book suggests. They were brought in without their consent.”
He said there will be no disciplinary action against those who authored and distributed the book.
“The important thing is that they have regretted and offered to work with us in producing the right material.”
Unicef too has disowned the book, saying it is a publication of the government of Uganda. Chulho Hyun, the Chief of Communications at Unicef in Uganda said: “It is a government of Uganda publication which Unicef supported at government request.” Chulho Hyun said that in line with many human rights instruments that bar any form of discrimination, Unicef does not advocate for any sexual orientation.
He said that if there are concerns with any parts of the book, it is not Unicef’s responsibility to change it. He said Unicef would however sponsor publication of another book, if government so wishes.
But a copy of the book that The observer has seen states: “This manual was produced by Unicef -Uganda in collaboration with Healthlink Worldwide. The materials may be copied or adapted for non-commercial use provided that Unicef is acknowledged.”
About 10,000 copies of the book were printed in 2002 and 5,000 copies translated into Luo and printed in 2006.
FOR ADULTS
Stephen Langa, The Executive Director Family Life Network, a Christian organisation that preaches abstinence from sex before marriage and counsels couples, says the book is suitable for pre-marital counselling.
For instance while describing as half true the claim that it is a woman’s duty is to please the man when having sex, the book states: “Also, women like to be touched, kissed and talked to, to help them get excited before they are ready for sex. It can be very painful for a woman if a man puts his *** in her *** before she is ready and before the *** is wet.”
Langa added that the book generally promotes pornography, “Sex education should be taught in context of morality. If you don’t, like the book does, then it becomes pornography.”
He also criticises the book for emphasising condoms instead of abstinence among young people.
mcmubs@observer.
