A Blessing or a Beating?

Early in October of this year, I was honoured to be present as the Niagara Rite was performed by an Anglican priest to bless the civil marriage of a same-sex couple who "wish(ed) to receive the blessing of the church and to affirm their life commitment to each other before God in the community of the church." I watched the ceremony being performed and listened to the priest's exhortation to all those gathered to relate to each other in peace and harmony. I saw the two who were being blessed looking at each other with love in their eyes, and I saw, too, the obvious regard in which they are held by parish members, friends and family. As I witnessed all of this, I couldn't help thinking of the most homophobic place in the world, as Jamaica is known to human rights groups, worldwide. My thoughts were occasioned by having read a report in "The Economist" magazine not long before the ceremony, that detailed the September 2009 murder of John Terry, a British honorary consul in Jamaica. Beside the man's body was found a note calling him a "batty boy", homophobic Jamaican slang for a homosexual. I kept thinking of Terry's murder while I watched the beautiful ceremony being conducted in front of me. I thought of how peaceful an occasion it was, and how much these two men were surrounded by love and well-wishing on that day, in contrast to how dangerous a situation it would be for them to live in other places like Jamaica. I cried as the ceremony progressed, as much for those who live in constant fear in such places as Jamaica, as I did because the Bible readings chosen by the couple were so beautifully appropriate. I puzzled over why so many fear what is different so much that they are ready to kill those who embody the difference.
Today, I heard about Uganda's proposed anti-homosexuality law and I thought all over again of the loving ceremony that I witnessed. Every one who chooses such a life-style should be left in peace to live out their choice, but if the bill passes in Uganda, it will perhaps wrest Jamaica's "worst place" title from that homophobic country. Among other things, the bill would effectively criminalize the legitimate work of national and international activist organizations working for the defense and promotion of human rights in Uganda, and put major barriers in the path of HIV/AIDS prevention. The draft bill also includes a provision for imprisonment for up to three years of anyone, including heterosexuals, who fail to report the identities of those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered, as well as anyone who supports human rights for the aforementioned people, within 24 hours of learning who they are.
Kate Sheill, an Amnesty International expert on sexual rights declares the bill to be immoral. It will certainly fuel the fires of homophobia that already burn in Uganda, and be used as an excuse to attack and even kill anyone even suspected of being different. Proof would not be justification but neither will it be a requirement. Thugs and mobs never stop to enquire after such formalities. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu are both widely regarded as great men, and both these men declare homophobia to be as bad as racism. Why can't the governments of Jamaica and Uganda step up to the plate and take action to stem the tide of hatred directed at their citizens who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered? Why can't every country in the world that condones such discriminatory behaviour see the truth in Mandela's and Tutu's words and understand that the difference these people represent is not a dangerous difference?
Why do so many fear what is different so much that they are ready to kill those who embody the difference? I don't understand.