Ugandan 'Scientists' Claim Gays Are 'Made, Not Born'

[William769]

A team of antigay lawmakers 'with medical backgrounds' have prepared a report for Uganda's president that claims to have scientific evidence that homosexuality is 'culturally acquired' and curable.

Antigay activists and scientists apparently took to heart Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's comments last month that he would not sign the country's "Anti-Homosexuality Bill" that imposes lifetime prison sentences on LGBT people, "unless [he] got confirmation from scientists that this condition is not genetic, but a behavior that is acquired."

Less than a week later, Ugandan scientists have apparently prepared a report that claims to prove that homosexuality is not only "socially acquired," but also curable. The team of scientists, backed by the ruling political party known as the National Resistance Movement, intend to present their findings to the president at a 10-day parliamentary retreat beginning today, according to Uganda's Observer newspaper.

The team of scientists is composed of lawmakers from the ruling NRM party who have a medical background, reports the Observer. One of those scientists, who is also a member of parliament, said that his researched proved that homosexuality is "socially acquired" and can be cured.

"From the research that I have engaged in for some time ever since we were assigned by the caucus, I have discovered that there is no gene that is said to produce [homosexuality] as claimed by some people,” Medard Bitekyerez told the Observer Monday.

http://www.advocate.com/news/world-news/2014/02/06/ugandan-scientists-claim-gays-are-made-not-born

And some people have the nerve to wonder why we fight for who we are.

[Initech]

2. So if we extrapolate this argument, we are all Iron Man.

[Egalitarian Thug]

3. In view of this and the recent "debate", it is apparent that literally everybody

is now "a scientist". All you have to do is claim a diploma.

[shenmue]

4. Such ignorance

I can't with some people. I just can't.

[William769]

6. Now to be fair, it not ignorance.

It's fucking stupidity!

At least ignorance can be fixed.

[dembotoz]

5. so how long before they make it to fox news

[Behind the Aegis]

7. You really can't make this crap up!

Seems every time we turn around, the same old shit keeps popping up!

[ck4829]

8. This sounds like something Paul Cameron would do

"Medical background", what does that really mean?

I know first aid and I helped an animal give birth once, does that give me a medical background?

The article mentioned one of the MPs, Medard Bitekyerez(o), saying there is no 'gay gene' and that he couldn't get a gene to produce it either, he must be some sort of top secret genetic engineer, because I can't find anything confirming he knows anything about genetics.

And they are the same people who passed the bill, do they really think it is ethical that they can be the experts to produce a report once they were shot down?

[Behind the Aegis]

9. Yes, it does.

There is a name I hadn't heard in awhile. These people are scary as hell.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. More people need to read this!

[RainDog]

11. they must have cited fundie therapists

this is horrid to see happening in that country, but it seems that homophobia and protestant religious fundamentalism are allies in the fight to maintain bigotry.