Uganda's parliament is set to pass a brutal new law that punishes gay people with prison or death. Initial international criticism drove the President to call for a review. But after a well-funded and vicious lobbying effort by extremists, the bill looks set to be passed – threatening widespread persecution and bloodshed.
Opposition to the bill is rising, including from the Anglican church. Ugandan gay rights advocate Frank Mugisha writes, "This law will put us in serious danger. Please, sign the petition and tell others to stand with us – if there’s a huge global response, our government will see that Uganda will be internationally isolated by the proposed law, and strike it down."
The bill proposes life imprisonment for anyone convicted of having same-sex relations and imposes the death penalty for “serial offenders”. NGOs working to prevent the spread of HIV could be imprisoned for up to 7 years for “promoting homosexuality”. Even members of the public face up to three years in jail if they fail to report homosexual activity to the police within 24 hours!
The bill’s advocates claim that it defends national culture, but its strongest critics come from within Uganda. The Reverend Canon Gideon Byamugisha is one of many who’s written to Avaaz.org – he says, "It is violating our cultures, traditions and religious values that teach against intolerance, injustice, hatred and violence. We need laws to protect people – not ones that will humiliate, ridicule, persecute and kill them en masse."
By rejecting this dangerous bill and supporting the breadth of opposition to it, we can help set a crucial precedent. Avaaz.org is organising a massive global outcry to stop this brutal bill: click here to sign the petition. The petition will be delivered to President Museveni, members of the review committee and Ugandan embassies worldwide this week before it’s too late, as well as to key donor governments.
Melinda Tankard Reist and Julie Gale, contributors to Getting Real, will be speaking at Barefoot magazine's "Our girls, Our bodies, Our selves" event on Wednesday 24 February at 7.30pm. Jane Hardwicke Collings, independent midwife and workshop facilitator, will also be speaking.
The event will discuss body image and sexualisation for women and girls; pop culture, social pressure and other influences, and related issues like rites of passage and self-worth.
Wednesday 24 February, 7.30pm Eltham Community and Reception Centre 801 Main Rd, Eltham Victoria 3095 Melways 21 J5 $15/$10 concession, includes a light supper.
After reading Earth's Breath, Jordie Albiston reflected on Black Saturday:
"I have spent this morning & yesterday in the grip of Earth's Breath. I have been tossed around & torn apart by it, put back together & placated by it. I love it. Having lived many years in Kinglake & surrounds, I was very affected by the fires this year. Unexpectedly, I found your book relevant & moving in terms of the Black Saturday context. I guess one natural disaster speaks to another."
Barefoot magazine presents "Our girls, Our bodies, Ourselves", an event exploring girls, women and their bodies. It delves into popular culture, sexualisation, social pressures and negative messages, self worth, true value, action and rites of passage.
Speaking will be Melinda Tankard Reist and Julie Gale, both contributors to Getting Real: Challenging the Sexualisation of Girls, and Jane Hardwicke Collings (independent
midwife and workshop facilitator). Please note: the content of this evening is aimed at adults. Babes in arms welcome.
Wednesday 24th February at 7.30pm $15/$10 concession, includes a light supper. Eltham Community and Reception Centre, 801 Main Rd, Eltham Victoria 3095 Melways 21 J5 RSVP by 18th Feb to Charlotte Young 0417 509 756/9722 2525 or charlotte@barefootmagazine.com.au
For more information and to receive the flyer, email anna@barefootmagazine.com.au
Melinda Tankard Reist speaks out on Roger David's 'rape chic' t-shirts
Melinda has been quoted in the Courier Mail's article "Sexual message offends as T-shirts labelled 'rape chic'" on the online furore about the "Blood is the new black" t-shirt range from Roger David:
"These T-shirts reinforce the message that girls are there for sexual gratification and sexual amusement. I really think that's a very dangerous and harmful message."
Congratulations to Patricia Easteal, author of Voices of the Survivors, who has been awarded an Order of Australia for service to the community, education and the law through promoting awareness and understanding of violence against women, discrimination and access to justice for minority groups.
Vandana Shiva, author of Soil Not Oil and the upcoming Staying Alive, has an exclusive interview with Ms Magazine online. In 'Copenhagen: A Feminist Response', Vandana Shiva tells Ms. what should have happened at the U.N. climate change conference — and why women's voices are essential to head off a planetary crisis.
Watch two dramatic works from Filipina-Australian poet and performer Merlinda Bobis on her website. 'River, River' is adapted from her short story 'Fish-Hair Woman' and has been performed internationally and broadcast on ABC Radio. 'Cantata of the Warrior Woman Daragang Magayon' has also been performed across the globe as a solo and collaborative work featuring opera, piano and chanting.
Melinda Tankard Reist on those photos of Jennifer Hawkins
Melinda Tankard Reist has spoken out about Marie Claire's latest unairbrushed photos of Jennifer Hawkins, that are supposed to inspire body confidence in readers:
How can these pictures possibly help women feel good about themselves?
Labelling hips, a little dimpling on the thigh (anyone got a magnifying glass?), a small waist crease (which looks like what happens when any woman sits down) and supposedly uneven skin tone as "flaws" is already problematic. Who decided these were flaws and not part of being a woman? And if these are "flaws", how are other women supposed to feel?
Mary Daly (1928-2010) died on Sun 3 January in West Massachussetts. Mary Daly was a giant of the women’s movement and a foremost radical feminist thinker. Her theoretical works changed the ways in which we think. She was the author of The Church and the Second Sex, Beyond God the Father, Gyn/Ecology, Pure Lust, Outercourse, Websters' First New Intergalactic Wickedary of the English Language and Quintessence as well as numerous influential articles. Spinifex Press published her autobiography Outercourse in 1992. It is the only edition of this book still in print.
Help stop Ugandan persecution of gay people 
