UK Threatens to Cut Off Foreign Aid to Countries that Persecute Gays

Posted by Kevin Farrell on Oct 10, 2011 in Politics | 11 comments

British Prime Minister David Cameron runs a tight ship.

Poor African countries which persecute homosexuals will have their aid slashed by the Government in a bid by David Cameron to take his gay rights crusade to the Third World.

International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell has already cut aid to Malawi by £19 million after two gay men were sentenced to 14 years hard labour.

And he has warned the country’s leaders to scrap plans to introduce draconian new anti-lesbian laws.

‘We now allocate funds every three months, rather than every year, so that we can review a country’s performance, for example on human rights, and take swift action when governments fall short. We only provide aid directly to governments when we are satisfied that they share our commitments to reduce poverty and respect human rights.’

On one hand: Oh heck yes. David Cameron is no longer messing around when it comes to LGBT rights, having announced his plan to legalize gay marriage in lieu of civil unions througout the UK. It’s inspiring to see a world leader actually put his money where his mouth is when it comes to human rights and liberties.

On the other hand: Malwai, Uganda and Ghana are the three countries to be most affected by this new policy, and their citizens are already some of the poorest in the world. Cutting critical aid to these nations will most likely result in an even poorer education climate, which in turn will breed further ignorance and more homophobia, and higher incidents of THIS.

It’s a total lose-lose.

Do you agree with Cameron’s decision to tie foreign aid to LGBT rights?

(via Daily Mail)

http://www.facebook.com/Hamilin89 Thomas David Hamilton

ok Now all we have to do is make the US do the same thing but also internally.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1624430438 Amy Cain Newsom

yes!!!!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=757179124 Michael Jones

I love you, Kevin/UB. You just get it.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=592796245 Trenton Flock

The concern about decreased aid causing more problems down the road is legitimate, but I agree with Cameron’s administration. A portion of aid (often a frightening amount) is used to fund corrupt governments…governments that are willing to demonize LGBT people (and others) as a smoke screen to maintain power and avoid dealing responsibly with the many crises in Africa, especially AIDS and other STIs. Tying the officials’ hands on the ways they can shape policy to kill, maim, and imprison sexual minorities is definitely a good move. They won’t turn that aid money down. Even hate groups like The Family can’t offer enough money to compensate these countries should they choose to foster hate in lieu of funds.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Christopher-Burhoe/1433402815 Andrew Christopher Burhoe

Look yes on one hand this not going to help, but look at this way. What country you know of saying, “Hey treat gays better or we will stop helping you.” And I mean the UK is not the most progressive in terms of homosexuality, but at least they are taking steps bigger than most. It’s not the best way to do it, but it’s better than nothing.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3LT467BG5UOO74MYVNKJPXWLPU Kevan

It’s just another way to sanction another country into complying. The U.S. does that all the time. The legitimacy of those reasons can be debated and the manner of those sanctions can also be debated in regard to their effectiveness. However, I think the UK is doing the right thing, and the reason is right.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=35004685 Kyle Gauvin

absolutely agree with this guy. The money given as aid we all like to think of it as going to the poor people who live there. However there is a reason the vast majority of the populace is in extreme poverty and the government officials particularly the higher up the all ready flat hierarchy of those countries. When the money (aid) comes in it is distributed to programs where the majority of it can be extracted in administrative costs and pocket lining for the people persecuting the majority. It would be best to let those not used to starving (the people persecuting) to starve along side the actual poor so that they are forced to use future funds for actual infrastructure improvement.
http://twitter.com/ArtDirectorGuy James Baran

David Cameron has made the right choice. The people of Uganda, Ghana, and other countries that persecute their citizens on basis of sexuality need to remove the leaders responsible for those crimes by any means available. When more appropriate leaders are in place in those countries, then they can expect financial aid to be reinstated. Kudos, compliments, and congratuations to the PM for taking the appropriate stance on this issue. Furthermore, the US’s President Obama needs to take a stand on this issue as well. The US wastes a great amount of money each year by supporting countries whose leaders not only persecute gay and lesbian people, but women in general. The habit of sending money to such nations must stop.
Anonymous

I agree with him. Cut off aid.I wish the US would.
http://www.facebook.com/michaelrcooke Michael Cooke

It’s a no brainer and easy because it involves keeping money rather than donating it.

I’d rather see the money in escrow, and a group in charge of distributing the money to the offending countries be composed of openly gay people from those countries.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Sarah-Murphy/100000342339473 Sarah Murphy

It may seem like a lose/ lose at first blush, but this forces the hand of certain areas that decide to be extreme in there decisions on discrimination. If they want the support, if they want the help, they have to be Tolerant and more understanding. This causes these areas to cease the barbarous attacks on people and make them think, HMMMM, do we need our Prejudice more or the Aide moneys??? Well, I for one think they will get in gear and decide to go for door number two. Because setting people on fire and putting them in Labor Camps is just going to be more and more costly to them. They will get on track. Its a swat on the rump from a stronger economical leader and they will eventually learn not to pee on our proverbial lawn.
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