Africans address Obama and LGBT Pride Month

If the average African knew that their “son”, Barack Obama, had declared June the Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender Pride Month, they would simply not believe it; and that in his proclamation for Fathers’ Day this year, he’d said that nurturing families comes in many forms, including being raised by two “fathers” –neither of whom is the true father-, they’d ask you to pull the other leg!

To top it all, Hillary Clinton tells us that gay rights are human rights and human rights, gay rights –in a reception at the State Department to celebrate LGBT month, and that her first concern for Africa is how LGBT persons are treated on the continent. She cannot be serious! The Bureau for African Affairs has taken a lead by asking every embassy in Africa to report on local LGBT communities. It is fortunate that the US does not have an embassy in Mogadishu, because if the word got round that THIS was the African priority for the present US administration, there’d be a repetition of Black Hawk Down, and worse. And not only in Somalia.

Of course, most Africans are completely unaware of this agenda, and would not see any danger to their way of life in any case, not suspecting that these issues are carried out covertly, patiently and using the legal systems. And before the electorate knows what’s happened, these new “rights” are in the Bill of Rights.

Joe Biden was in Nairobi recently. It was a typical operation: arrogant and extreme security measures; chaotic traffic jams; and the token visit to a Kibera slum. He went, at huge expense to the US taxpayer, to boost the proposed Kenyan Constitution, and promise that “once it’s approved” his boss will make his first official visit to Kenya.

The proposed Constitution leaves the way clear to sign the right to abortion –and later on, gay and lesbian rights- into the new document without passing through Parliament. And this seems to be one of the most pressing matters while the Obama/Biden/Clinton triumvirate is in control. If these issues can be pushed through in Africa –the toughest nut to crack-the rest of the world will be comparatively easy.

Kenya, often perceived by outsiders as the most “Western” African country after South Africa, is being used as a guinea-pig. The perception is mistaken; only some sectors of youth in the capital, Nairobi, are “Westernised”, by Afro-Americana, especially rap, rock and reggae, which fill in a cultural gap and are a sign of protest against the older generation. Even the cosmopolitan coastal resort of Mombasa staged a strong public protest when two “gays” tried to “marry” recently in a suburb, Mtwapa, known for its “strange” characters and commercial sex tourism. In any case, first Kenya, then pressure on the other member states of the East African Union: Uganda has already had its knuckles rapped by Clinton over the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

If the truth about all this were to get out, the embers of anti-Americanism, burning especially since Saddam and the Gulf War, might fan into a flame. That’s the apparent “ambivalence” of the developing countries: the US is still the land of promise. It’s if people here are saying: “Let us in to share your wealth, expertise, high standards and your experiment with democracy. Your hand-outs are welcome too, provided they reach the people they’re intended for, but with no strings attached; though we’d prefer our leaders were not so corrupt so we could develop without donor aid. But leave us to run our own affairs, and please DON’T interfere with our culture, our values and traditions. We may not have got our act together politically and economically, but we know what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. So, leave us alone!”

LGBT rights, a priority? When we’re starved for food, education, basic health care, shelter, food, work opportunities and humane working conditions, and accountability? Do us a favour!

Martyn Drakard is Spero correspondent in Africa.