UGANDAN LESBIAN ASYLUM:
In an amazing twist worthy of a real-life romantic comedy but actually way better than a romantic comedy because this actually matters, Ugandan lesbian Brenda Namigadde was finally granted at least a temporary reprieve against deportation from the UK. Namigadde has been seeking asylum because of the hostile climate towards homosexuals in Uganda; the British government was reluctant to grant it without some kind of ‘proof’ of her sexuality. While literally seated on the plane that was meant to take her back to the country where her existence was punishable by death, Namigadde received notice that she had been granted a temporary reprieve, allowing her to stay in the country until a more permanent decision can be reached on her case.
The shadow justice minister, Andy Slaughter, was quoted as saying: 
“Whatever the circumstances surrounding Ms Namigadde’s presence in Britain, it is clear that she cannot be deported to Uganda at present. Both the public mood and the official stance towards homosexuals in Uganda are lethal at the moment – we should not be contemplating sending my constituents back to a society where she will be in grave danger of her life.”
Namigadde’s case is now “being looked at again.” In a way, it’s awful to have the best news of the week be that one person was going to be sent to a terrible fate by an unfeeling administration but was (temporarily!) saved from that. It’s certainly true that this was only a barely decent way for the UK to respond to what’s happening in Uganda. But in another way, this is exactly the good news we’re looking for; this is what we want, what we’ve been fighting for. We are asking for this: for decent treatment from one human being to another. In the end, every good thing in our world comes from one person deciding to be decent to someone else, and overcoming those personal or cultural predispositions that tell them not to. So in the endless procession of unqualifiedly terrible news coming out of Uganda, it’s okay to take one minute and feel good about one person being okay for now. Let’s just go ahead and do that. Okay? Okay.
HAWAII CIVIL UNIONS:
The march of progress towards equality in Hawaii is moving forward; this week the Hawaii state Senate passed the bill for civil unions 19-6. A virtually identical bill was put through the process in 2010 before being vetoed by Hawaii’s then-governor; the current governor has pledged to sign the bill into law. “For years we have strived to secure equal rights for all families in Hawaii and today we are one step closer to realizing that dream,” said Alan Spector, Co-Chair of Equality Hawaii. “We thank the Hawaii State Senate for recognizing the importance of this bill and for advancing the cause of equality in the Aloha State.”
LADY GAGA LOVES ELLEN:
Remember how it was Ellen’s birthday this week? Of course you do. So did Lady Gaga. I am too dumb to embed the video but the important thing is Lady Gaga singing over the phone: cutecity!
HOMOPHOBIA AND BISEXUALITY:
Hey do you need to feel a little more optimistic about the fate of the world? Maybe try reading about this teen whose homophobic upbringing had her telling her best friend that she was going to hell for being gay – and who is now out and proud with a girlfriend of her own. It’s getting better, you know?
TRANS VISIBILITY:
In a move that’s kind of incredible in how perfectly it seems like the photo negative of most companies’ approach to trans and visibly queer people, a Thai airline has committed to making 10% of its flight attendant staff trans – and has reached that goal. 3 of PC Air’s 30-person flight attendant staff is now trans.
GAY TRAVEL IN INDIA:
India’s stance towards homosexuality is fragmented and confusing, but at least now some are courting gay and lesbian travelers!
WOMEN AND MONEY:
Tired of hearing about how bad women are with money? Good, because it’s not true. “In Bangladesh, Nobel Prize-winner Muhammad Yunus, creator of the micro-credit phenomenon, has found that women not only repay loans more often than men, but that when women control the money, their families were more likely to benefit from the income. And a study in the Philippines reported that when women have control over a couple’s savings accounts, expenditures shift towards the purchase of family-targeted durable goods, such as washing machines or kitchen appliances.”
SEAN CONNERY:
Sean Connery has a bronze bust built in his honor in Estonia.
OLD PEOPLE DANCING:
It’s the new otters.
These old people are dancing sweetly to a romantic song:
And these old people are dancing to Poker Face. You’re welcome.
omg i think i dance like that guy
Although I was delighted to hear of Brenda Namigadde’s reprieve on Friday, her case to stay in the UK has since been rejected by a judge who claimed there was no proof that she was a lesbian (because she didn’t own any gay magazines or similar literature regarding sexual orientation). There will be a hearing in High Court later this week.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/01/30/ugandan-lesbians-asylum-appeal-rejected-because-she-didnt-own-gay-magazines/
oooh, good link. i think the article is talking about the original trial?
that’s totally fucked up she wasn’t given asylum because she didn’t have gay magazines or books. i guess i’m not a lesbian either, then.
the whole need to create a standard is pretty crazy/ interesting/ disturbing.
i guess that actually would have been a hearing, not a trial.
anyhow it makes one wonder what sort of effect these standards might have in the future, in other areas of law. hopefully none. but it kinda freaks me out.
Yeah, I think it was the original trial/hearing. Late night, one too many beers and lesbian fury at the article = my mistake. But the whole thing is still ridiculous… I dunno. just can’t wrap my head around it really.
I feel like maybe making a joke about checking her closet for flannel and plaid but that would probably be going a bit far.
But seriously, wtf? To be exercising your freedom to be gay you should read gay magazines/books? Even if she were actually straight, she’s still screwed now that her face and her name have been splashed all over the media proclaiming her as a lesbian, she’ll be in danger in Uganda regardless of her actual orientation since she’ll be perceived as a lesbian by the Ugandans. She’s still in danger, but now she’s expected to just hop on a plane and go die because she doesn’t have all the right papers. How screwed up is this world?
I was just coming here to post that.
On the positive side, clearly reading Autostraddle isn’t just megafun, it could also like SAVE YOUR LIFE, if you ever need to go prove your lesbosity.
“The airline set a quota to ensure it would have trans staffers among its 30 new hires,” not 30%, as you stated. Pretty sure it’s just a typo though cause you later say that it’s 10%.
Nice article though! Those old people make me happy.
I have decided that I want to be like that dancing guy – by which I mean, I’m making a conscious effort to live my life having fun and just not giving a fuck.
“In the end, every good thing in our world comes from one person deciding to be decent to someone else, and overcoming those personal or cultural predispositions that tell them not to.”
This is all you people need to read for the rest of the week. You can all go home now.
Yes. And all you need to watch is that elderly gentleman dancing. He is your new hero.
He’s a model for how to live. I detect some gayness in him.
“Decent treatment from one human being to another”–is that too much to ask? Some days it feels that way, but today I feel like this could possibly be achieved. :)
“…women not only repay loans more often than men, but… when women control the money, their families were more likely to benefit from the income.”
I’ve run across countless anecdotal evidence of this in economic development work in Africa. Women buy clean water, food, clothes, medicine. Men buy beer and sex.
Also, diversifying the societal role of women (i.e. more than just cyclical baby-ploppers) is proven to lower birthrates – a key factor in raising a country’s overall quality of life, and greatly lessening the global pressures of urbanization and deforestation.
Yunus is the only man who’s ever rocked my world.
“In the end, every good thing in our world comes from one person deciding to be decent to someone else, and overcoming those personal or cultural predispositions that tell them not to.” This is the best of the sentences I have read today and I read a boatfuckload of sentences today. thanks.
In my idealism, I’d say that the better good would be when being decent to someone else becomes an inherent feature of the personal and cultural predisposition.
I’d like to live in a world like that, but I don’t. Like, where decency didn’t require subversion.