Unbelievable BBC!

[billynomates]

BBC condemned for hosting web debate on execution for gays in Uganda


MPs have criticised the BBC for hosting an online debate asking whether homosexuals should be executed.

The debate on the Have Your Say website, which was originally entitled “Should homosexuals face execution”, has attracted more than 600 comments, only 200 of which were deemed suitable for publication. Last night it was listed as the most popular forum on the BBC’s website.

The corporation changed the headline to “Should Uganda debate gay execution?” after lobbying by the BBC Pride board, which is composed of gay and lesbian staff at the corporation.

The forum’s introduction said: “Should homosexuals face execution? Yes, we accept it is a stark and disturbing question. But this is the reality behind an Anti-Homosexuality Bill being debated on Friday by the Ugandan Parliament which would see some homosexual offences punishable by death

While many contributors expressed shock that the question was up for discussion, some agreed with the notion that gay people should be put to death.

Chris from Guildford, wrote: “Totally agree. Ought to be imposed in the UK too, asap. Bring back some respectable family values. 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!”

Another, from Aaron in Freetown, said: “Bravo to the Ugandans 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.”

The Labour MP Eric Joyce told the House of Commons that he was completely mystified why the BBC had posted the forum. He said: “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.”

Peter Bone, the Tory MP for Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, described the situation as extraordinary. “If I hadn’t heard it from [Mr Joyce] I would have doubted it was true,” he said.

The BBC said the forum had been designed to provoke discussion before a World Service programme, Africa Have Your Say. It said that it had tried to “reflect the hugely diverse views about homosexuality in Africa”. David Stead, the programme’s editor, said that he had thought “long and hard” before allowing the question to be asked. He added: “We agree that it is a stark and challenging question, but think that it accurately focuses on and illustrates the real issue at stake.

“If Uganda’s democratically elected MPs vote to proceed with the AntiHomosexuality Bill this week they will bring on to the statute book legislation that could condemn people to death for some homosexual activities. We published it alongside clear explanatory text which gave the context of the Bill itself.

“This issue has already sparked much debate around the world and understandably led to us receiving many e-mails and texts. We have sought to moderate these rigorously while trying to reflect the varied and hugely diverse views about homosexuality in Africa.”

Liliane Landor, the BBC World Service acting head of Africa region, said the programme was “a dignified exchange between people who have differing beliefs” adding that it had allowed gays and lesbians from Uganda to talk about the impact the legislation would have on their lives.

[maverick35]

Old Mav realizes exactly internationial Genocide is still a major problem around the entire world and so leave it to Africa to dis criminate against their own people and so Africa is about the worst place when it is up to leaders to unite all their own people alas u old Mav would think with the history Africa has for being exploited then to see learn this is happening more discrimination by their own leaders and so exploitation of their own people alas a real shame a real shame and so from Somailia to South Africa to the Ivory Coast Africa is in a real mess a real shame they no not may find a way manner to meet and so deal with their own differences butt alas old Mav realizes after all they have been through thru hard to find a way manner to deal with the exploitation they been through thru and so still go through thru and so Diamonds Gold Ivory so on living in Africa and so is like living in H*ll sorry right... sorry old Mav

[billynomates]

But a so called civilised countrys main media broadcaster should not be asking it's viewers to comment on such questions!