Rachel Maddow interviews the author of Coming Out Straight
Rachel Maddow has an interesting discussion with Richard Cohen, the author of Coming Out Straight : Understanding and Healing Homosexuality. Rachel discusses in the first video those who are being used by the Ugandan government to justify it’s anti-homosexual bill. Here is the background on the bill:
Background
* The existing law, Section 140 of the Ugandan penal code, penalizes “carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature” with imprisonment of up to 14 years. This legacy of British colonialism was introduced to punish local practices of what the colonial powers deemed to be “unnatural sex.” The laws stand as proof that same-sex sexual practices and gender diversity are, and always have been, part of Ugandan culture. The draft bill tabled today seeks to imprison anyone convicted of “the offense of homosexuality” for life.
* Paragraph 3 of the draft bill sets out provisions on what it names as “aggravated homosexuality,” which will incur the death penalty, contradicting the global trend toward a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
* The final section of the bill provides for Uganda to nullify any of its international or regional commitments that it deems “contradictory to the spirit and provisions enshrined in this Act.” As both the African Commission and the UN Human Rights Committee have held, a state cannot, through its domestic law, negate its international human rights obligations.
Over recent months, there has been increased campaigning against homosexuality in Uganda, led by churches and anti-gay groups. The media have joined this campaign, and have publicly pointed to individuals they accuse of being gay or lesbian. SOURCE
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December 9th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Dang! What a weasel this Richard Cohen… It really took Rachel Maddow to pull out of him the fact that he is not a licensed anything, the fact that he has no training in psychotherapy but that he practices psychotherapy because of his life experiences …
Dang! the man sounds like the bottom of a deep trash can. And, as Rachel states … other clinicians who are licensed, have studied, and are licensed in the practice of psychotherapy state, Change Is Not Possible. (And, when RM asked Cohen if he has been attracted to other men since his marriage, he answered just too quickly, shook his head on an imperceptible affirmative motion and then moved it to a negative motion … this man is a weasel who is not even honest with himself).
Sage Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I think the “heal homosexuality” movement is dangerous. I think it attracts people who are desperate and the idea that someone can be healed of homosexuality is certainly not scientifically based. While I believe people have a right to believe what they believe, they do not have a right to prey on the desperate. Religious homosexuals struggle with their sexuality and faith as it is and for those not able to change there comes a load of condemnation about not having enough faith.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
I should start a church. I’m not even kidding. I’m so tired of the way the word of God has been used to JUDGE people…… it’s very frustrating. I’m in a hyper minority,,,, I just made up that term.