A Zambian AIDS activist who’s also a Jesuit priest says same-sex relations should be decriminalised, and that the existence of laws banning such relations is “fanning the spread of HIV”, says Ekklesia, the Christian think tank.
But there’s a “but”.
Michael Kelly told a workshop on the role of the media and parliamentary involvement on HIV and AIDS, held in the Zambian capital recently, “The continued prevalence of such laws is driving people in same-sex relations underground and making authorities stubborn to the fact that even prisoners are having sex in prison.”
He said that instead of “criminalising” sexual orientation, southern African countries should follow the South African example and legalise gay partnerships, “to ensure access to prevention and treatment, as well as the involvement of these people and prisoners in the battle against the epidemic”.
But here’s the rub. Ekklesia says, “Still, Kelly later told Ecumenical News International, ‘I am not saying I support men-to-men sex.’ ”
Well, Mr Kelly, if you came out into the real world and did openly support it, and campaigned for acceptance as well as legalisation – important thought the latter is, of course – you might manage to change some hearts, and that might lead to changing some laws.
Saying, “I don’t approve of this but I think you ought to let it happen” is less likely to work.
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