By Francis Oyieko
It is still anyone’s guess why Prime Minister Raila Odinga decided to broach the controversial gay debate. Could he have been pushed by some cleric or had he been informed of some clandestine goings-on among the youth in his Lang’ata backyard?
Although he has since denied ordering the arrest of gay couples, he has maintained that homosexuality is unlawful in Kenya. From his speech at the rally, it was also clear he abhors the practice.
So, is Mr Odinga trying to have his cake and eat it too or could this be a sign that the reality of some of the clauses in the new Constitution are finally sinking in?
One of the reasons many people gave for opposing the draft constitution was that it apparently “legitimised” homosexuality, among other moral concerns.
Whenever these concerns were raised, the ‘Yes’ camp would dismiss ‘No’ campaigners as liars. But a critical study of the document revealed that we would have to “learn to live with men who have sex with other men and women who have sex with other women”.
Under the new Constitution, homosexuals and lesbians are considered to be a minority group, and their rights and freedoms are protected under the Bill of Rights. Specifically, Article 27(4) prohibits discrimination on any grounds, including sexual preference.
However, the drama that followed Mr Odinga’s comments has made us lose sight of the need for sober debate on the place of same-sex unions in our society.
Personally, I hold the view that as a society, we should respect and treat homosexuals with dignity. This is for the simple reason that they are human beings.
However, we should not approve of their lifestyle because it is against the order of nature. And in their heart, most gays know it. Maybe the only problem is that they don’t know how to get out of it.
It is unfortunate that rather than listen to the concerns of society, gays and their supporters brand those who hold contrary opinion crass, insensitive, homophobic, bigoted and intolerant.
I listened to a very interesting live debate about “homosexuality and the church” on a Christian radio station last year. The host got the shock of his life when people confessing to be gay started calling in, not only to discuss their sexual orientation, but to proudly talk about “their faith in Christ”.
“I am gay and Christian. And I don’t believe it is a sin,” one said, maintaining that people do not choose to be gay.
One is compelled to ask which Bible they believe in, for the one Christians live by condemns homosexuality in no uncertain terms and clearly calls it sin.
The callers argued that homosexuality was in their genes. But the truth is that study after study has shattered that myth and concluded there is no scientific evidence of a gay gene, which establishes a predisposition to homosexual behaviour.
But suppose, just suppose, there was a genetic connection, would that justify gay “marriage”? If it was established that there was a genetic connection to criminal behaviour, would that excuse crime?
What our gay brothers and sisters forget is that human beings, unlike animals, are not meant to live life by base instincts. Instead, we live by some set standards by which to control our desires.
We all have desires and appetites — some very weird. But that is no excuse to do whatever we please. Any desire and appetite will have its own destructive consequences if uncontrolled. Unchecked sexual appetite is no exception.
Mr Ayieko is the editor of ‘The Shepherd’, a monthly Christian publication. (francisayieko@yahoo).com
Source: Daily Nation
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