Well it was only marginally less-offensive while it lasted

Well, yesterday morning it appeared that Uganda's awful President would delay the signing of it's reprehensible proposed law making being gay illegal. Forced, it appeared by the power of moral condemnation, by the international community -- including the American government.

Appeared being the operative word.

At a public ceremony in a packed room at the State House in Entebbe, Yoweri Museveni formally initialled the anti-homosexuality act, which also outlaws the promotion of homosexuality and requires citizens to denounce to the police anyone suspected of being gay. "No study has shown you can be homosexual by nature. That's why I have agreed to sign the bill," Museveni said in a speech at the presidential palace near the capital, Kampala.

"Outsiders cannot dictate to us. This is our country. I advise friends from the west not to make this an issue, because if they make it an issue the more they will lose. If the west does not want to work with us because of homosexuals, then we have enough space to ourselves here."

Ironically, and just as tragically, with a few replaced words a Dixiecrat of the 1950s could not have stated it more offensively.

There is, of course, substantial economic pressure the West can bring on Uganda (foreign assistance is one-third of the nation's government budget).  Unfortunately, a huge portion of that aid comes in the form of food and medical assistance.  

Because clearly famine and illness are not Uganda's problem, gay people are.  And yes, it it hard to roll my eyes that much.

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]