General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGay Community Under Attack in Liberia Over Ebola Outbreak
(Note: This story is over a week old, but I think it's important. -- WhiteAndNerdy)
http://allafrica.com/stories/201410231716.html
Dakar/New York Leroy Ponpon doesn't know whether to lock himself in his flat in Monrovia because of the deadly Ebola virus, or because he is gay. Christian churches' recent linking of the two have made life hell for him and hundreds of other gays.
Ponpon, an LGBT campaigner in the Liberian capital, says gays have been harassed, physically attacked and a few have had their cars smashed by people blaming them for the haemorrhagic fever, after religious leaders in Liberia said Ebola was a punishment from God for homosexuality.
"Since church ministers declared Ebola was a plague sent by God to punish sodomy in Liberia, the violence towards gays has escalated. They're even asking for the death penalty. We're living in fear," Ponpon told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by telephone from Monrovia.
<snip>
Earlier this year, the Liberian Council of Churches said in a statement that God was angry with Liberians "over corruption and immoral acts" such as homosexuality, and that Ebola was a punishment.
orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)bad here in a supposedly enlighten country. For some, it just feels damn good to persecute others for no F'en logical reason. IMO religion is one of the most evil forces.
SkyDaddy7
(6,045 posts)It were not American Christians who planted the seed in their heads that Ebola was a plague from god "for sodomy/homosexuality"...American Christians have done worse in Africa before when it comes to drumming up fear & hate of gays!!
SAD...Yet DISGUSTING!!
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)veil of religion so they can practice evilness and hatred while professing to be oh so holy, pompous and religious. Many of the high and mighty IMO are akin to terrorists. We see that all of the time for eons, but they get a free pass. The human mind is so easy to propagandize and control. And in this country at least, religion is often big $$$$$, Religion, Inc.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)But the name most associated with Liberia is raging anti-gay crusader Pat Robertson, whose connections to Charles Taylor and blood diamonds was woefully underreported by the press. For those unfamiliar with the story: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/01/14/825050/-Pat-Robertson-Freedom-Gold-and-Blood-Diamonds#
"Rev" Scott Lively, current gubernatorial candidate for Massachusetts, has been slapped with a lawsuit for crimes against humanity by a Ugandan LGBT rights group. In Sept. of 2013 a federal judge ruled that the case against him can move forward.
Rick Warren is infamous for being integrally involved in Uganda's "Kill the Gays" bill. See: http://www.politicalresearch.org/2014/03/06/scott-lively-rick-warren-the-pr-campaign-to-whitewash-the-rights-anti-gay-uganda-history/#
rurallib
(62,443 posts)all evil in the world is caused by homosexuality and abortion, don' you know?
I would say this is sarcasm, but sadly it is how many religious/ religions view the world
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)God hates gays so much that he'll kill millions of innocents with tsunamis, hurricanes, diseases, earthquakes, famine, tornados et al just to make his point. Rather like an omnipotent incarnation of the late Rev. Fred Phelps.
shenmue
(38,506 posts)"I don't think we evolved from apes. I think we're evolv*ing* from apes."
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Just clever chimps with deadlier toys.
Heather MC
(8,084 posts)In fact their god seems to go out of it's way to attack christians. Hmmmmm
And you would think, considering this god is suppose to be all powerful that one punishment would do.
But no
There's Aids, HIV, Cancer, Ebola, Hurricanes, Snow Storms, Floods, The Flu, a bad economy, oh and Overdue library charges
god is a fucking pathetic joke, and people would be better off if they stop using it as an excuse to be assholes to other people SMH
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Guess the idea is to kill 'em all and hope he strikes down a few lesbians in the process.
Heather MC
(8,084 posts)And the christian god is certainly not oppose to kill infants, children and unborns if it punishes the wicked.
Virgin girld always get to live though, aka recently pubescent teenage girls of childbearing age
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)by the 'righteous people of God' is motivating the punishment. So if they go attack gay people, God will spare them.
stillwaiting
(3,795 posts)Heather MC
(8,084 posts)jesus name. they believe they are going to the same heaven as all other christians who believe that.