So it is said that the Uganda Anti-homosexuality law will be most likely passed. The law would include banning sex between the same gender, and condemn the death penalty for people who engage in homosexual sex with a minor or while infected with HIV. It would also subject parents up to 3 years in prison if they know their children are having gay sex and do not tell authorities. This law has caused alot of chaos and even some European nations have condemned the law and announced they will withhold aid if the law passes. The United States are on the other hand, have prefered to lobby against the measure in private meetings with the authorities of Uganda and not withhold aid because they believe it will cost too many lives. I believe the United States is not taking a strong stance in this situation. They are not being helpful because regardless of the law passing, they will in some way or another still help Uganda. I think that is very unfair. If they believe that aid will cost lives, then they should also know that criminalizing homosexuality will also COST EVEN MORE LIVES. This law is a violation of human rights and it should NOT BE PASSED.

How can this be? The soldiers that fight for this country have to abide by  the military's 1993 congressionally mandated "don't ask, don't tell" law prohibiting gay, lesbian and bisexual and service members from coming out. These soldiers that put their life on the line for this country can not express their sexuality. The soldiers can not even keep their lines of communication open with their partners back home. The conversations that they have are very brief. These brave soldiers end up living double lives. How unfair is it for soldiers who risk their lives not have the chance to live normal lives? Not only are they risk their lives but being on active duty in the military causes a whole life change for them.

Changes need to be made. It  has been argued that gays in the military would "cause a breakdown of unit cohesion and morale" The reasoning for this does not even make sense. Why should someone's sexuality cause "a breakdown of the unit" The mission of all the soldiers is to serve their country, NOT judge someone's sexuality. There are openly gays in the military of Irasel and Great Britain. They are doing just fine. Instead of blaming "the breakdown of unit cohesion and morale" , why dont they just say that they don't approve of homosexuality? Some things just do not make sense.

Criminalizing homosexuality?!!!!!!!! What is this world coming to? I was so appalled to hear that Uganda will be likely to pass a legislation that would convict gay sex as liable to life imprisonment. Facing the death penalty?!!!!  Contracting HIV is not just from having gay sex, HETEROSEXUALS CAN ALSO CONTRACT OR GIVE HIV TO ANYONE. This is WRONG! The government DOES NOT have the right to criminalize homosexuality!!! Will criminalizing homosexuality reduce HIV rates? NO! Homosexuals are still going to have sexual intercourse. If a person is HIV positive and knows she or he will face the death penalty, why would the person even THINK  about getting treatment???? The number of deaths would increase!

I just do not understand why such a law would even be in the process of being passed. Uganda has made such great progress. HIV prevalence rates were reduced from  25% in the 90s to the current 6.4%. This is incredible! Though progress has been made, there is still a need for more improvement!. There are 1.1 million people living with HIV and AIDS in Uganda. There are also been a rise in the number of new infections at 135,000 per year. The stats clearly show that this Anti-homosexuality law would first destroy all the hard work Uganda has done and add to the 1.1 million people who have HIV and the new infections. Something needs to be done! Sweden has already stated that they will cut their aid after hearing about the appalling anti-gay law. Why about the United States? What is their position??? When will we hear what they have to say? Something needs to be done RIGHT NOW!

 Advocates’ youth activists from Jamaica, Ethiopia, and Nigeria have been using video to document what young people think are some of the main sexual and reproductive health issues and challenges facing them and their peers.    This blogger attended a special screening.  The video is up now - check it out here!

A hanger? A hanger?! Why would anyone in their right mind use a coat hanger to abort a fetus out of a young girl? That was my question when I watched the documentary presented by the International Youth Speak Out project at the 2009 Urban Retreat. Why haven’t these practices been eliminated? Why do girls and women feel that they need to find ways to abort that can harm their lives? She is not just one of the million girls who have gone to these extreme means. There are many young girls who do not have access to reproductive and sexual health education that can enable them to make healthy and safe decisions.

As I listened to the many other stories presented in the documentary, I was appalled that young people in Nigeria, Jamaica and Ethiopia do not have access to reproductive and sexual health education. I was very surprised to hear that in Jamaica, many young people feel that they are not at risk for sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDs. Young people emphasized that the environment and cultural background of individuals dramatically impact their decisions. Reproductive and sexual health is a taboo topic that is seen as negative in the eyes of many people. How can we change these negative views to positive?
 
The documentary piece in Ethiopia described that sexual and reproductive health topics cannot and should not be talked about with families. Moreover, young people who are currently students described that at the school meetings, they are told to not have sex. The students are not provided accurate sexual and reproductive health information. The young girls explained that they would not take contraceptives because they feared that they would gain weight and that they would not be able to get pregnant after using the medication. These two fears are misconceptions that have been created to scare individuals from having sexual intercourse. Why do schools not provide young people with accurate information, so they can protect themselves? When the statistics clearly show that young people are engaging in sexual intercourse, why not provide them with accurate information?

Furthermore, a medical doctor explained that information about sexual health is not accessible and distributed in colleges and universities. I was taken aback when I heard that information is not well distributed at colleges and universities, knowing that I am a university student. I would be lost without the abundant information offered here at my campus about sexual and reproductive health.

Though most of the young people interviewed emphasized that sexual and reproductive health is not provided, one girl in the school stood out. She said “I WILL USE A CONDOM” and if my boyfriend does not want to use it, “I WILL MAKE SURE TO BE ON BIRTH CONTROL.” These words from this girl showed that there is hope, hope that someday girls around the world will stand and speak up for their rights. Change starts with one voice and that voice is her.