I am a 25yr old lesbian woman. I have been in one committed relationship for the last five years. I call this marriage, since some heterosexual couples who cohabit for many years regard themselves as married. But what I have really failed to understand is why all HIV/AIDS activists always preach about safer-sex measures for men and women in heterosexual relationships and not same-sex relationships. I know you are all going to say that it’s because homosexuality is illegal. Many acts are illegal in Uganda, but still exist. Corruption, for instance, is illegal, but it’s rampant in the highest positions of government. Don’t use this reason when defending the exclusion of homosexuals in the fight against HIV/AIDS. As much as many of you will pretend that homosexuals do not exist, they do and they live, work and eat with you.

There is a myth that gay men are infected with this disease the most. Let’s say this is true. Do you know how much that is harming Ugandans? Many gay men are forced to marry because that’s what society wants them to do. But remember you cannot keep your feelings to yourself forever. So these gay men will marry, but may still have boyfriends. Because they do not receive proper HIV/AIDS prevention education, they will have unprotected sex. Even if you say use condoms, condoms given out in Uganda are not meant for anal sex, but vaginal sex. So it will definitely break during sex. If they cannot have one partner because their secret affairs will be revealed, they may have multiple partners. If they are married, they may have unprotected sex with their wives. In this cycle, gay men can transmit any STIs, including HIV.

Suicide is another tragedy that homosexuals face daily. You may wonder why a rich and handsome married man would kill himself. It’s simply because he is not happy about not being able to be who he really is. He may also fear stigma and discrimination if he came out as gay. He would rather take his life than suffer for the rest of his life in a forced marriage. Next his parents will be among the people calling into Radio Simba and blaming it for hosting gays who make the public aware about their existence.

Many lesbians think they cannot get AIDS, as the risks are very low, but that does not mean they should have unprotected sex. AIDS activists should supply lesbians with dentals dams or latex gloves. This will protect a man who is also living a false marriage with this lesbian woman from contracting STIs and HIV.

But how will homosexuals get all this information of how to protect themselves? The only way they can get this information is if the government accepts that homosexuals exist and starts helping them. Already the rights to which they are entitled as any other citizen of Uganda are violated, but if their right to health is violated, not only will it affect them, but also the whole country because they are hidden everywhere due to fear of prosecution. If gays were given freedom, they may not hide in forced marriages. It could help all Ugandans from living false lives. Imagine spending the rest of your life in a marriage with a woman who sleeps with other women. Her feelings are not with you, but with a fellow woman. This woman is married to you because she wants to be accepted in society. Who would like to spend the rest of their lives with someone whose heart is somewhere else? Of course, no one would. But I can assure all Ugandans, even those who think they have happy families, are living false lives all because of one law. This law not only affects homosexuals, but also all Ugandans. Since it was made by a human being it can be changed by a human being. Yes, it certainly can be changed with the help of all Ugandans.

I hereby call upon all those who believe in equality for all to join hands and put a stop to homophobia against homosexuals for the good of all Ugandans. If Ugandans could just admit that homosexuals exist and tackle issues like HIV/AIDS, maybe this scourge would subside. Discrimination against homosexuals is affecting all Ugandans.