The issue of Gay Marriage and Gay Equality has been one of the most pressing discussions in our country and the world in general. It's one of those issues that is as easily divisive and sensitive as much as abortion and gun control. But if there's one thing we can all agree on: Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals AND Transgenders SHOULD and MUST be treated as our fellow brothers and sisters of our Human family.
However, that's not the case in Uganda... The Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill is an Act to prohibit any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex; prohibit the promotion or recognition of such relations and to provide for other related matters. The means by which this is carried out is by criminalizing and condemning those who are of a different sexuality. One of the first proposals to be included in the bill for gays was a criminal charge by death penalty, hence the bills' infamous nickname "Kill the Gays". This was dropped from the final version. Despite strong and vocal opposition from multiple governments (including the U.S.), religious groups and even Popes' Emeritus Benedict and Francis, the bill was signed into law by the President of Uganda on February 24. Wiki Info on the Bill: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda_Anti-Homosexuality_Act,_2014 While the death penalty may not be in the passed law, the 7 year to life imprisonment just for simply being Gay is cause for alarm. This bill, rather than engaging both opposers and supporters in an open, civil dialogue, has taken an unnecessary extreme, without any regard to their fellow Gay Ugandans as brothers and sisters and as human beings. We may or may not have stated in the past our views regarding the discussion of Gay Marriage, but it is our sole principle that marriage is defined by one man and one woman and the family, being the "cell of society", is the sole true union of that bond. Still, hearing events such as what is transpiring in Uganda defeats the one golden rule that Jesus Christ commanded not only to Christians & Catholics but to all of us, even Gays: Love Thy Neighbor As Thy Love Thyself. In the words of Pope Francis: "If a person is gay and seeks the Lord and has good will, well who am I to judge them?" In December of 2009, a Vatican legal attaché to the United Nations stated that "Pope Benedict is opposed to 'unjust discrimination' against gay men and lesbians". While we, as All Is Love, has and will continue to stand by our principle of Marriage as God-defined between one man and one woman, the discussion of Gays must be conducted in a civil, peaceful and free from discrimination. But more importantly, to engage in lifelong friendship, brother and sisterhood fostered and rooted in nothing but #LOVE. Christ commanded us to love all of God's children, gay, lesbian or straight. We hope and pray that by our actions and yours, that we all be an example of tolerance, brotherhood and love towards those different from us. All Is Love and those who work for it CANNOT be the symbol of this love unless YOU become the symbol of #LOVE. We stand for self-sacrificial #LOVE, not passion-driven #LOVE. We pray that the Parilament of Uganda and it's President reconsider this law and, taking into account their brothers and sisters in Christ, engage in a PRINCIPLED but accepting dialogue with Ugandan Gays and Lesbians. #allislove
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