Ruth Institute Blog

Clinton’s “first concern for Africa is how LGBT persons are treated on the continent. . . it is fortunate that the US does not have an embassy in Mogadishu, because if the word got round that THIS was the African priority for the present US administration, there would be a repetition of Black Hawk Down.” For reals! I think they’d probably just laugh, and be disappointed. “Crazy Americans!” they’d say.

by Martyn Drakard

Let the Secretary of State lavish praise on her LGBT employees. But she mustn’t expect to be applauded in Kenya.

If the average Kenyan knew that their favourite son, Barack Obama, had declared June the Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender Pride Month, they would simply not believe it. Nor would they believe that in his proclamation for Fathers’ Day, he’d said that nurturing families comes in many forms, including being raised by two “fathers” — even if neither of them is the true father.

To top it all, Hillary Clinton recently told “LGBT members of the State Department family” that gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay and that her first concern for Africa is how LGBT persons are treated on the continent. “Our regional bureaus are working closely with our embassies on this issue. The Bureau of African Affairs has taken the lead by asking every embassy in Africa to report on the conditions of local LGBT communities. And I’m asking every regional bureau to make this issue a priority. ”

This was greeted with thunderous applause in Foggy Bottom. But I wonder if she would dare to make this announcement in Nairobi. Indeed, it is fortunate that the US does not have an embassy in Mogadishu, because if the word got round that THIS was the African priority for the present US administration, there would be a repetition of Black Hawk Down. And not only in Somalia.

Of course, most Africans are completely unaware of Ms Clinton’s agenda. They sense no danger to their way of life from Uncle Sam’s quirky obsessions. But they should. Issues like these are achieved covertly, patiently and using the legal systems. And before the electorate knows what’s happened, these new “rights” have been enshrined in a Bill of Rights.

US Vice-President Joe Biden’s recent trip to Nairobi seemed part of an effort to impose Uncle Sam’s values on Kenyans. It was a typical operation: arrogant and extreme security measures, chaotic traffic jams, and the token visit to a Kibera slum. He went, at huge expense to the US taxpayer, to boost the proposed Kenyan Constitution, and promise that “once it’s approved” his boss will make his first official visit to Kenya.

The proposed Constitution leaves the way clear to sign the right to abortion – and later on, gay and lesbian rights — into the new document without passing through Parliament. From an African point of view this seems to be one of the top priorities of the Obama/Biden/Clinton triumvirate.

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