OUR LATEST ISSUE
Widespread condemnation of BBC decision to debate gay execution
BBC
BBC caught up in storm over gay execution
The row over the BBC’s decision to pose a question on the legitimacy of gay execution continues today, after the public broadcaster altered the wording of its original debate.
Yesterday, the BBC’s ‘Have Your Say’ website posted the question, ‘Should homosexuals face execution?’ in reference to Uganda’s anti-gay bill which is currently passing through parliament. But following a huge wave of revulsion, ranging from senior politicians to users of social media site Twitter, the BBC decided to change the wording to, ‘Should Uganda debate gay execution?’, apparently after being lobbied by BBC Pride, the corporation’s LGBT body.
The BBC decided to close down the debate altogether at 4pm yesterday.
Condemnation of the BBC’s woefully insensitive decision to post the topic has been widespread. Liberal Democrat Equality Minister Lynne Featherstone wrote to the Director General of the BBC saying, "I would be the first person to stand up for open debate and free speech, but any conversation that starts 'should homosexuals face execution' is completely skewed and unacceptable in this forum.
"Suggesting that the state-sponsored murder of gay people is OK as a legitimate topic for debate is deeply offensive. The BBC are only fanning the flames of hatred as many of the comments demonstrate. They must act and apologise for their gross insensitivity."
Peter Tatchell, equal rights campaigner and OutRage! spokesperson, said, “ I think it perfectly reasonable for the BBC to host a debate about the current Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill, but not in the terms that it was framed.
“The BBC would not hold online debates such as: Should Jews be exterminated? Was the Rwandan genocide justified? Should the people of Darfur be massacred? Is it right to stone women to death in Somalia?"
Labour MP Eric Joyce told the House of Commons, "We should be looking at what is going on in Uganda with abhorrence. We should be condemning it, and the BBC should be condemning it, just as we do sexual violence in the Congo or genocide in Rwanda or Darfur."
Tory MP Peter Bone, also speaking in the Commons, added, “If I hadn’t heard it from Mr Joyce I would have doubted it was true.”
Perhaps worrying of all, however, is the reaction of a considerable number of the BBC’s readers, who appear to commend Uganda’s proposed law.
“Totally agree,” said Chris of Guildford. “Ought to be imposed in the UK, too, ASAP.”
“Bring back some respectable family values,” he continued. “Why do we have to suffer 'gay pride' festivals? Would I be allowed to organise a 'straight pride' festival? No, thought as much!! If homosexuality is natural, as we are forced to believe, how can they sustain the species? I suggest all gays are put on a remote island and left for a generation - after which, theoretically there should be none left!”
Aaron P, from Freetown, was almost ecstatic. “Bravo to the Ugandians (sic) for this wise decision, a bright step in eliminating this menace from your society. We hope other African nations will also follow your bold step.”
